Serbia's Stojković offers resignation after 1-0 loss to Albania

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS BRIEFING OF SERBIA COACH DRAGAN STOJKOVIC SAYING HE IS THE ONLY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS TO ALBANIA, OFFERING RESIGNATION, ALBANIA COACH SYLVIO MENDES CAMPOS JUNIOR 'SYLVINHO', SAYING THE MATCH WAS DIFFICULT AND HE IS PROUD OF THE PLAYERS (RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT) SHOWS: LESKOVAC, SERBIA (OCTOBER 11, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. SERBIA COACH, DRAGAN STOJKOVIC, ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE 2. SERBIAN COAT OF ARMS 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) SERBIA COACH, DRAGAN STOJKOVIC, SAYING:     “I spoke with the president and general secretary (of the Football Association of Serbia), and I believe I am a responsible person; therefore, I offered my resignation. I personally did not expect this defeat, and to a team that is the major contender for second place (in the qualifying group). I am someone who accepts full responsibility and is solely accountable. So, you shouldn't be worried about it. I regret that we lost the match, but that's how it goes in sports, life, and in soccer.” 4. STOJKOVIC SEEN ON JOURNALIST'S MOBILE PHONE SCREEN 5. STOJKOVIC LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE 6. ALBANIA COACH, ALBANIA COACH SYLVIO MENDES CAMPOS JUNIOR 'SYLVINHO’, ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE 7. JOURNALIST TYPING ON LAPTOP COMPUTER 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ALBANIA COACH, ALBANIA COACH SYLVIO MENDES CAMPOS JUNIOR 'SYLVINHO’, SAYING:     “Well, in 10 or 15 seconds; it was a very good week of work, but with a lot of pressure. It was a decisive match. The match against Latvia was also decisive for us to get here with this many points. And now that we won today, we move on the next match and it means we are on our way to qualifying. And this was clearly a very tough match, a difficult match, but we won on a tough pitch against a powerful opponent. We prepared very well and I am very proud of all of them. We represented our country very well, and yes, I took a 200-kilogram weight off my shoulders, at least 200. I weigh 75kg, and I took off 200.” 9. JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES ON A PHONE 10. 'SYLVINHO’ LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE STORY: Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic resigned following a 1-0 home defeat to Albania in their World Cup qualifying clash on Saturday (October 11). Stojkovic, who took charge in 2021, led Serbia to the World Cup in Qatar but has recently overseen consecutive defeats: a 5-0 loss to England in September followed by Saturday's home defeat, decided by Rey Manaj's late first-half goal. "I spoke with the president and general secretary … and I offered my resignation," the Serbian manager told reporters. "I personally did not expect this defeat … I am someone who accepts full responsibility and is solely accountable." Serbia sit third in Group K on seven points, with England top with 15 and Albania second on 11, having played one more game. The result also moves England to the brink of qualification for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as Thomas Tuchel's side can clinch their place with a win in Latvia on Tuesday. (Production: Branko Filipovic, Kurt Michael Hall)

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