Op was OK, but Darko’s career ‘over’
The heart operation on Olympiakos striker Darko Kovacevic in Spain was 100 percent successful, the Greek soccer champions announced yesterday. «Kovacevic underwent a coronary angioplasty in San Sebastian, Spain, this morning,» the club statement said yesterday. «He is in a very good condition and if all goes well he will leave hospital [today].» The 35-year-old Serb is expected to return to Greece next week, although it is highly unlikely he will ever play professional soccer again, which was also the recommendation of his doctor in Spain. «Our advice to Darko is to stop soccer at a high level. He can still practice but not at a professional level, and he will lead a normal life. There is no reason for him to take risks at this age,» said Dr Mario Lerna. Olympiakos has refuted reports about its interest in strikers Fernando Morientes and Fanis Gekas, but sources from France spoke about the Reds’ interest in Lyon’s Brazilian striker Frederico Chaves Guedes, or Fred. His contract expires this coming summer, but his high wages (250,000 euros per month) are likely to prevent his move to Greece. Also yesterday technical director Yiannis Chrysikopoulos informed Raul Bravo and Mirnes Sisic that they are no longer needed by the club and can start looking for another team, even though it may be difficult to terminate their high-value contracts.
