The famous football manager and former professional player Niko Kovac frequently talks about how beautiful he thinks the game of football is. He is from a nation with a strong football culture, where the game is regarded as an art form that tells stories in addition to being a competitive sport.

Kovac has devoted his career to coaching behind the scenes as well as playing on the field, where he has seen innumerable moments that perfectly encapsulate what it means to be a part of this international sport. For him, football is about the stories that are told via cooperation, resiliency, unanticipated turns of events, and personal development rather than just about winning games or scoring goals.

Think of football as a huge stage where players execute elaborate, spontaneously choreographed dances. Every match is like a chapter in a story that is being told, with characters who have to cooperate to overcome obstacles and accomplish their objectives. The excitement of scoring that game-winning goal, the drama of a hotly contested match, or the heartache of losing—all of these moments combine to create stories that fans find incredibly compelling.

Every player has a distinct story to tell through their actions on the field, which is the foundation of Kovac's belief that football is a storyteller. These tales are not only about specific players; they also highlight their contributions to the team's overall story and, eventually, to the beautiful game itself.