Following his appointment as sporting director of Cucine Lube Civitanova, Marko Podrascanin is preparing for a new professional challenge at the club that has seen him play for over a decade. A new phase of his career begins for the former Serbian center-back, one he will approach with the same enthusiasm and determination that characterized his career as an athlete.
The new sporting director’s first words were addressed to the red and white leadership: “I thank the owners and management for the trust they have placed in me. It is a great honor for me to receive such a significant recognition. I grew up with Lube, and this club is a part of me. I feel a great responsibility: Lube has given me so much over the years, and now I want to give back all the affection and emotion I have received.”
Next week, Podrascanin will get straight to the heart of his new role. A trip to Ljubljana is on the agenda, along with head coach Giampaolo Medei, to closely follow the Slovenian leg of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League. This choice demonstrates the desire to immediately serve the club: “I canceled my vacation in Sicily with my family because I want to be up and running immediately and make myself available to the Club. From my home in Novi Sad, Serbia, I will travel to Slovenia with our coach Giampaolo Medei to attend the second leg of the VNL. It will be an opportunity to meet athletes and agents and really get this new adventure off to a flying start.”
After a successful career, Podrascanin brings to his new role a wealth of experience gained at the highest levels of international volleyball. This knowledge could prove invaluable in managing relationships with athletes and building the team: “As an athlete, I have always tried to make myself heard in the locker room and contribute to team cohesion. Obviously, the role will be different, but I believe that my charisma and experience can help me. I’ve been fortunate to share the field with champions from different generations, and this experience will be useful in my relationships with the players.”
The values that have accompanied his long career in the red and white jersey will remain central to his new role. “Definitely hard work and sacrifice, the elements that make a club, an athlete, and even a manager great. At Lube, you learn something new every day.”
