It is a chilly Tuesday in Podgorica, and if you walk past the Stadion pod Goricom, you can almost hear the echoes of the "Brave Falcons" roaring through the narrow streets. Honestly, being a fan of the Montenegro national football team is a bit of a rollercoaster. You’ve got these incredible highs where they look like they could take down any giant in Europe, and then you have those "wait, what just happened?" moments against teams they should probably beat in their sleep.
It’s a tiny nation. Only about 600,000 people live there. Yet, they consistently punch way above their weight class, producing world-class talent that ends up in the Premier League or La Liga. But let's be real—the last year hasn't been a walk in the park.
The Mirko Vučić Era and the 2026 Shift
Right now, everyone is talking about the coaching situation. After a pretty rocky World Cup qualifying run in 2025, the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG) decided to stick with a familiar face. Mirko Vučinić, the legendary former captain who used to terrorize defenders for Roma and Juventus, was officially retained as the head coach for the 2026 campaign.
He took over the reins from Robert Prosinečki in September 2025. It was a chaotic time. The team had just suffered a bruising 4-0 loss to Croatia and a 2-0 defeat at home against the Czech Republic. People were worried. You could feel the tension in the stands.
Vučinić brought some of that old-school grit back. Since he stepped in, it’s been a mixed bag, but there’s a spark. They beat Gibraltar 2-1 and Liechtenstein 2-1, which, okay, you expect them to win those, but a win is a win. Then they went and lost 4-0 to the Faroe Islands. That one stung. It was one of those results that makes you want to turn off the TV and go for a very long walk. But then they turned around and gave Croatia a massive scare, narrowly losing 3-2 in a game where they actually looked like the better side for long stretches.
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What’s the Current Status?
If you're looking at the numbers, the Montenegro national football team currently sits at 83rd in the FIFA World Rankings as of early 2026. Not their highest ever, but they are climbing back up.
In the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League, they finished at the bottom of Group B4. It was a tough group with Wales, Türkiye, and Iceland. They only managed one win—a brilliant 3-1 victory over Türkiye in November 2024—but lost the other five matches. That relegation to League C is a pill that’s still hard to swallow for the fans in Podgorica.
The squad itself is in a weird transition phase. We’re watching the twilight of the "Golden Generation" while desperately hoping the kids are ready to step up.
The Legends: Jovetić and Savić
You can't talk about Montenegrin football without mentioning Stevan Jovetić. The man is 36 now. He’s currently playing for Omonia in Cyprus, and his contract runs until May 2026. Even at his age, he’s still the heartbeat of the team. He’s got 34 goals in 86 caps. When he’s on the pitch, everything just feels more composed. But let’s face it, he’s not going to be around forever.
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Then there’s Stefan Savić. He’s 35 and currently at Trabzonspor in Turkey. He’s been a rock in defense for over a decade. He’s had some injury trouble lately—a hamstring issue kept him out of action in late 2025—but he remains the captain and the vocal leader of the backline.
The New Blood: Who is Taking Over?
So, who's next? That’s the question everyone asks at the kafana.
Nikola Krstović is probably the biggest hope right now. He’s been putting in work in Serie A, and he brings a physical presence that the team has lacked. Then you’ve got young guys like Miloš Vračar, a 19-year-old defender who just signed with Sutjeska Nikšić after a stint in Serbia. He’s been a standout in the U19s and represents that next wave of talent the FSCG is trying to nurture.
The strategy for 2026 is pretty clear:
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- Integrate more youth players from the U21 and U19 ranks.
- Focus on defensive solidity (they’ve been conceding about 1.5 to 2 goals per match lately).
- Use the March and June 2026 friendlies to stabilize the tactical setup before the next Nations League cycle starts in September.
Basically, the "Brave Falcons" are trying to find their identity again. They aren't the team that almost made the Euro 2012 playoffs anymore, but they aren't pushovers either.
What Most People Get Wrong About Montenegro
A lot of casual fans think Montenegro is just a "defensive" team because they have Savić. That’s actually not true. Under Vučinić, they’ve been trying to keep the ball more. In their recent qualifiers, they averaged about 51% possession. They actually want to play football; they just sometimes lack the clinical edge to finish off the chances they create.
The stadium, the Stadion pod Goricom, is a fortress for a reason. It only holds about 15,000 people, but it feels like 50,000. The atmosphere is hostile, loud, and incredibly passionate. Most big European teams hate traveling there.
Practical Next Steps for Following the Team
If you want to keep up with the Montenegro national football team this year, here is what you need to do:
- Watch the Friendlies: Keep an eye out for the March 2026 international window. These games will be the first real test for Vučinić's "retained" philosophy.
- Follow Krstović's Club Form: His performance in Italy is the best indicator of how sharp our attack will be.
- Monitor the Nations League Draw: Rebuilding in League C might actually be a blessing in disguise. It gives the younger players a chance to win games and build confidence without being hammered by elite nations every week.
Montenegro is a team of fighters. They have this "Inat"—a specific Balkan word for stubborn defiance. Even when the stats look bad and the ranking drops, they show up and make life miserable for the opposition. That’s why we keep watching.