Less than a year after the Fiorentina career of Adem Ljajic appeared to be over following an astonishing pitch side bust up with then coach Delio Rossi, the young Serbian came of age with a starring role in his side’s 4-1 victory over Inter on Sunday evening.
The events of Wednesday 2 May 2012 will live long in the memory of everyone associated with the club, and almost brought the curtain down on a fledgling Viola career that had failed to ignite since a big money move from Partizan Belgrade in 2010.
Trailing 2-0 at home to Novara just half an hour into their crucial relegation six-pointer, Rossi elected to withdraw the ineffectual Ljajic in favour of Ruben Olivera.
Embarrassed and insulted at being made a scapegoat, Ljajic appeared to offer a few choice words and a sarcastic round of applause in the direction of his coach. Rossi snapped, and a season’s worth of frustration erupted in a flurry of punches aimed at the withdrawn striker.
The images were broadcast globally, with even media outlets with no prior interest in the world of calcio attracted by the sheer absurdity of a sporting coach assaulting one of his charges in a fit of rage.
As unedifying as it was to see a 51-year-old coach raining blows down on a slight 20-year-old striker, public sympathy was initially with Rossi, particularly amongst a Viola support that had spent an entire season disgusted at the seemingly aloof attitude of an ill disciplined squad.
While Rossi’s actions were inexcusable, a question mark has always loomed large over Ljajic’s character and temperament. In the aftermath of the incident, it was intimated that Ljajic had insulted Rossi’s deceased mother, a claim vehemently denied by the player.
Less than a month later, Ljajic was dropped from the Serbian national squad by Sinisa Mihajlovic – ironically Rossi’s predecessor in the Fiorentina dugout – for refusing to sing the country’s national anthem prior to a friendly with Spain.
Ljajic argued that to sing the anthem would be a contravention of his religious background, with Mihajlovic countering that he had been deceived by Ljajic’s signing of a code of conduct, of which the singing of the national anthem was listed as a requirement for inclusion in the squad.
Whilst that particular instance was very much a matter for the Serbian FA to handle, few would have criticised Fiorentina for following suit and dispensing with the services of such a divisive and seemingly disruptive individual in light of the Rossi affair, especially given the root and branch upheaval that took place at the club during the summer.
Ljajic’s insistence that he wanted to stay and fight for his future at the club however resulted in a surprising reprieve, perhaps aided by the testimony of team mates Alessandro Gamberini and Valon Behrami, both of whom supported the Serbian’s version of events.
Slowly but surely, such faith in the forward appears to be reaping rewards. The season started promisingly enough, with Ljajic grabbing the opening goal in a 2-0 Coppa Italia victory over Novara in August, while a man of the match performance in the October win over Lazio suggested he was starting to thrive in Vincenzo Montella’s favoured 3-5-2 formation.
An inconsistent winter suggested that Ljajic still has plenty to learn, but against Inter, he put in arguably the finest performance of his career to date.
In front of goal, he showed great maturity and awareness in peeling away from his marker before steering home the Viola’s opener with his head, while his stunning second half strike put the seal on a comprehensive win.
It was not just his new found prowess in front of goal however. His movement on and off the ball demonstrated intelligence and ingenuity, whilst his general link up play with his fellow forwards and midfielders was that of a player who is learning the value of a strong, selfless team ethic.
With speculation rife over the future of Stevan Jovetic, Luca Toni’s advancing years soon to catch up with him, and a question mark over the long term fitness of new signing Giuseppe Rossi, now would be the ideal time for Ljajic to prove he has the ability and the temperament to lead the Viola line on a consistent basis.
If the evidence of the last year is anything to go by, the only person who might stop him from doing so is himself.
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevertonFC_84
