PETALING JAYA: Terengganu’s new attacking midfielder Marin Pilj (pic) has left many of the supporters baffled with his choice of jersey numbers.
When the Turtles announced his signing, the Croatian chose an unusual no. 60 for his shirt.
Players in his position usually pick the number eight or 10, but those figures have already been taken by Filipino international Manuel Ott and Uzbekistani Nurillo Tukthtasinov.
But that’s not the only reason why Pilj, who joined Terengganu from Croatian club NK Varazdin, opted for what he calls his significant no. 60.
He has strong sentimental reasons for doing so.
“My father passed away last year at the age of 60. That is why I chose that number as I want to remember his last age,” he said.
“I owe much of my football career to my father. He sent me to the football academy and was the first one who motivated me to make a career out of it.
“When I started professionally, I only thought of him. He kept backing me to go all the way in the game and thanks to him,
I have played for top clubs in Croatia and also experienced a season in Slovenia when I played for Olimpia Ljubljana in 2022.
“Now, I am on my first stint in Asia with Terengganu. So the number I’m wearing for them is for my father.”
The versatile Pilj, can also operate as a defensive midfielder, is expected to further bolster a middle department that already boast the likes of Ott, Tukhtasinov, Akram Mahinan, Engku Nur Shakir Yacob and Saiful Haqim Shahrul.
Terengganu have made some considerable investments during the transfer window to boost their challenge for the 2024-2025 season.
Apart from Pilj, the new signings are Akram, Ott, Nigerian striker Ismaheel Akinade, Dutch centreback Matthew Steenvorden, winger Akhyar Rashid and playmaker Safawi Rasid.
