The discreet everyone’s friend who dragged everyone into his trap: who is Dejan Veljkovic? | operation zero

“It must have been about ten years ago. Suddenly a cardboard box was delivered to the editors… It contained a sweater by Milan Jovanovic. The sender: Dejan Veljkovic – I didn’t know him, never spoke to him.”

In an episode of Extra Time, shortly after the football scandal, presenter Frank Raes recalls the memory. He is one of the many who dusted off an anecdote about the broker during the period in question. One was offered a brand new iPhone, the other a few expensive bottles of champagne or an invitation to go shopping together in Antwerp.

The Serbian Sinterklaas, it seems.

He shakes just as many hands in the stands of Belgian football stadiums. The tall Veljkovic invariably shows up in a fine suit with an expensive watch on his wrist. He chats smoothly with players, board members and journalists in excellent Dutch with a juicy Balkan accent.

“My friend”, sounds his regular salutation. Some will now laugh green…

Until that particular 10 October 2018, Dejan Veljkovic is an unknown figure to the general public. His name sometimes falls in the columns of the football newspapers after a successful transfer, but the Serb is a lot less prominent than, say, fellow broker Mogi Bayat. Prefer the lee.

Veljkovic’s football career went almost as quietly. In 1992, the 22-year-old attacker ends up at second division team Eendracht Aalst – he plays there with Gilles De Bilde and Vincent Mannaert, among others. His sporting legacy is not great. And due to a knee injury, Veljkovic has to hang up his shoes early.

Veljkovic will remain active in Belgian football. When his former club is looking for a goalkeeper, he guides former teammate Vladan Kujovic to Aalst. His first steps in the real estate world. Thanks to his extensive contact list in Eastern Europe, Veljkovic would bring many more ICs to our country. After the bankruptcy of Aalst, they mainly move towards Lokeren, Lierse and Mechelen.

Veljkovic becomes the real estate agent there. Club leaders such as Lokeren chairman Roger Lambrecht like to see the jovial Veljkovic visit their desk. Especially after he manages to sell to a rich Russian team with a considerable additional cost. Many deals are made via “smart” financial constructions, lucrative for all parties.

Veljkovic is also very popular with a circle of players and trainers. He does everything for the regular customers in his portfolio. When goalkeeper Zvonko Milojevic is paralyzed by a car accident, Veljkovic has his car converted. Does a player not have a babysitter? Is controlled. A trainer with a wish to leave? Dejan will fix it.

Anyone who touches one of his confidants will also get to know the other side of Veljkovic. Because the Serb doesn’t shy away from making a threatening phone call or wiping out a club director in his office.

Veljkovic’s approach seems to be working. After a lot of transfers at basement clubs and middle-class players, the Serb is also starting to squeeze in at the top of Belgian football. Especially thanks to the transfer of Milan Jovanovic to Anderlecht in the summer of 2011, Veljkovic is causing a furore. He manages to disrupt the complex file. Manager Herman Van Holsbeeck is very grateful to the broker. Another “friend” added.

Veljkovic has also become a regular customer at Club Brugge, Racing Genk, Standard and AA Gent. For example, he arranges the million-dollar transfer from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to Lazio Roma – an Italian sub-topper. His tentacles are spreading like an inkblot over Belgian football.

For Veljkovic, there are barely enough hours in a day to maintain all his friendships. His white iPhone sticks to his ear 24 hours a day to catch up with everyone. Sometimes little by little, mostly about football.

What Veljkovic didn’t know: the Belgian judiciary is also listening to the chat. They follow with increasing amazement the conversations with his “friends”. Especially the conversations with referees Sébastian Delferière and Bart Vertenten set off all alarm bells.

On October 10, 2018, the bomb explodes. Dejan Veljkovic is arrested on suspicion of money laundering, membership of a criminal organization and bribery. For three years, the Serbian broker hides from the outside world after his release under conditions. Only in February 2019 will he – 10 kilograms lighter – appear again in the grandstand of Anderlecht. A statement.

It was already clear that Veljkovic would become the first regret-optant in Belgian history. One by one, he talks his “friends” to the gallows in exchange for a reduced sentence. Veljkovic’s rock-solid memory and his detailed black accounts spare no one. Dozens of trainers, managers and administrators are settled in 47 statements.

The final end of friendships.