Ivan Paurevic says the chance for a reunion with David Wagner at Huddersfield Town was too good to turn down.
The 6ft 5in Croatian midfielder who has joined from Russian top-flight club FC Ufa for an undisclosed fee played under Town’s head coach in Borussia Dortmund’s second team.
And that spell, which included a promotion to Germany’s third tier in 2012, was more than enough to convince the 24-year-old of Wagner’s qualities.
Former Croatia Under 21 international Paurevic, who can also play at centre-back, stepped up to first-team level with Fortuna Dusseldorf after Dortmund’s success.
And as soon as he heard of Wagner’s appointment by Town in November, he was wondering about the possibility of a move to England himself.
“I have stayed in contact with David since I left Dortmund,” explained the man who has signed a three-year Town contract having had 12 months remaining on his Russian deal.
“To be honest I always thought we would work together again. I was waiting for the moment he would take a first team.
“That it is in England is perfect, because I want the challenge of playing in this country.
Paurevic reckons his two-year stint at Ufa has bettered him as a person as well as a player.
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“I learned a lot from Russia, both about football and life,” he explained.
“It’s great to discover another country and culture, and now I am about to do that again.”
Paurevic, who says he likes to get on the ball whenever possible, believes he is well suited to Wagner’s full-throttle football.
“When everyone understands it and plays it, you feel the power of this system,” he said.
“I saw Huddersfield at Bolton and I could see the signs of it coming together.
“For me, I have always been comfortable on the ball, this is the way for Croatian players, big or small.
“But I also like the physical game and if you can combine the two, it’s excellent.”