St George unveil ambitious five-year plan under Micho, targeting African success and 2030 World Cup

Ethiopian giants St George have outlined an ambitious five-year development plan under Serbian coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojević, with the club targeting sustained domestic dominance, continental success and a major contribution to Ethiopia’s national team.

The project, which runs from the 2026/27 season through to 2030, sets out progressively higher targets for St George, culminating in the long-term ambition of helping Ethiopia qualify for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

At the heart of the plan is a strategy to establish St George as Ethiopia’s leading club while building a squad capable of competing consistently at the highest level of African club football.

Micho, who has extensive experience coaching across Africa, has been handed the responsibility of leading the project and overseeing the club’s transformation over the coming years.

For the 2026/27 season, St George have set themselves two primary objectives: winning the Ethiopian Premier League and lifting the Ethiopian Cup.

The club intends to establish a winning culture domestically before turning its attention towards achieving greater success on the continental stage.

In 2027/28, St George will again target the Ethiopian Premier League and Ethiopian Cup while adding continental ambitions to their agenda.

The club wants to qualify for the CAF Champions League group stage and also compete in the CECAFA Club Cup, marking a significant step towards becoming a more established force beyond Ethiopia.

The targets become even more ambitious in 2028/29.

St George aim to retain their domestic dominance by winning the Ethiopian Premier League and Ethiopian Cup, while making a deeper run in the CAF Champions League.

The club’s stated objective is to reach the group stage, progress to the semi-finals and, crucially, qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.

They also intend to participate in the CECAFA Club Cup during the campaign.

By 2029/30, the expectation is for St George to have developed into a regular African contender.

The club again wants to win the Ethiopian Premier League and Ethiopian Cup, while targeting another CAF Champions League group-stage appearance.

More importantly, St George want to move beyond simply qualifying for the group stage and establish themselves as a club capable of regularly competing in the latter stages of the competition.

The plan also includes continued participation in the CECAFA Club Cup.

But the ultimate ambition of the project extends beyond St George.

The club’s five-year vision includes a significant contribution to the Ethiopian national team, with the development of local players regarded as a key component of the strategy.

By 2030, St George want their players to form a major part of the Ethiopia squad as the country pursues qualification for the FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.

The vision is therefore built on three interconnected objectives: domestic dominance, continental success and player development for the national team.

Rather than focusing solely on short-term trophies, St George’s plan seeks to build a sustainable football structure capable of producing players who can compete at the highest level while strengthening Ethiopia’s national team.

For Micho, the project represents a significant challenge but also an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on Ethiopian football.

The Serbian coach has built a reputation for working in African football and has previously managed several national teams and leading clubs across the continent.

Under the St George plan, his immediate task will be to deliver domestic success before gradually closing the gap between the Ethiopian champions and Africa’s established continental powers.

If the project progresses according to schedule, St George’s ambitions will extend from dominating Ethiopian football to becoming regular contenders in the CAF Champions League and eventually supplying a large contingent of players to an Ethiopian side capable of reaching the 2030 World Cup.

For now, however, the first objective is clear: win at home, build for Africa and develop the next generation of Ethiopian international players.

Micho’s five-year project has begun, and St George are aiming for nothing less than a transformation of both the club and its contribution to Ethiopian football.