Risto Vidakovic leaves re-branded United City club

No more Risto Vidakovic for United City.
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--As United City unveils itself in the upcoming PFL season, the club will be without Risto Vidakovic.

The Serbian gaffer made a shocking announcement on Wednesday night saying that he is leaving the club formerly known as Ceres Negros.

"I just want to inform the Filipino football fans and especially the supporters of Ceres Negros that I’m not going to be a part of the United City FC!" Vidakovic said via Twitter.
This ends a four-and-a-half-year relationship between him and the club, which cemented its powerhouse status through him.

Following a runner-up finish in the 2016 UFL season, United City, still using the Ceres Negros name, took home the next three league titles at stake, all with the PFL.

The club made waves in 2018, coming just close to a spot in the AFC Champions League group stages and eventually becoming the inaugural AFC Cup ASEAN Region champion.

Last year, United City completed the domestic double, that is, winning both the PFL and the Copa Paulino Alcantara titles, in style, finishing an "invincible" run in both tournaments.

The announcement came as a surprise as the new United City management led by Eric Gottschalk said before that they are keeping Vidakovic as mentor in hopes of keeping the core that played in this year's AFC Cup group stages.

While United City retained the nucleus led by captain Stephan Schrock and prolific striker Bienve Maranon, Vidakovic and Josh Grommen will not be around with them.

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