Slovenia national team player Josip Ilicic was the hero of the match between England and Slovenia, yesterday, Tuesday, in the final round of the group stage of Euro 2024.

The veteran star was one of the most prominent Players in the Italian League with Fiorentina, especially with Atalanta, before he left in 2022 after terminating his contract by mutual consent.

Ilicic’s departure from Atalanta was not primarily due to a decline in his level, Rather, it was due to mental and psychological problems, as the player suffered from depression and psychological illnesses.

The 36-year-old player suffered from these psychological and mental illnesses, after he saw his wife, Tina Polovina, cheating on him with one of his friends. Close friends, during the Corona epidemic (2020).

Ilicic got to know Tina Polovina while watching her on television, as she was a runner before her marriage to him, and a year after Their relationship, the couple married in 2019, and they have two daughters, Sofia and Victoria.

During his treatment for psychological and mental illness, the player gained his weight very significantly due to the medications he was taking. , before joining the Maribor team in October 2022.

The veteran star was able to regain his fitness after hard work. Last season, he also managed to play 36 matches and score 9 goals. He made 12 assists with Maribor.

After Iličić’s brilliance with Maribor, he earned the honor of representing his country in Euro 2024 after an absence of 955 days, and he participated as a substitute yesterday against England, as midfielder. Warm applause from the fans who were present at the match.

Ilicic said after the England match: “I am very happy. After I entered the match, Declan Rice (the England star) told me that He respects me a lot, and this made me happy because I thought that my story was known only to a few.”

The Slovenia national team qualified for the round of 16 of Euro 2024 as best third, within the third group competitions that includes England, Denmark and Serbia, and this tournament may be the last for Ilicic before his retirement.