Introducing FPL World Champion Lovro Budišin who is here for an exclusive interview on fpl.page!
Thanks for taking the time to chat, how does it feel to be FPL champion!? Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
The feeling is incredible, even though I’m still not fully aware of everything. My name is Lovro Budišin, I’m 24 years old, and I study Geodesy in Zagreb. I’ve been playing handball since I was a child, up until university. I enjoy following sports and having a good time with friends, listening to good music, and playing cards.
How were the nerves after reaching rank 1 and trying to hold on to it?
Once I reached first place, things didn’t feel the same anymore—I knew there was a chance I could actually win. It’s harder to make decisions when you’re at the top and trying to defend your lead. I even started looking at other players’ teams. It was tough to decide whether to keep playing based on my gut feeling or to try and play it safer.
This is your fifth year playing, is there anything you’ve done differently leading to the success?
The big difference this year compared to previous ones is that I didn’t miss making changes when I wanted to, and I was able to choose the right captain. I only made one mistake, with coach Glasner, but I feel like God helped me there, and I’m really grateful for that.
Lovro is the first Croatian to win FPL!
What's one piece of advice you could give to readers that you learned from your Champion season?
The advice I can give to everyone is to watch as many matches as possible, don’t be afraid to follow your instincts, and take risks—even when you know most people will choose differently.
This was your GW1 team. You were very ahead of the curve with some picks like Wood and Aina. What do you think about when you’re picking your starting team?
The first gameweek is always the hardest when it comes to picking players—we all know that. Before the deadline, I must have gone through over 50 different players, maybe even more. But in the end, I chose some not-so-popular picks like Wood and Aina. Nottingham Forest is a team that focuses on feeding their striker, and Wood is very efficient in front of goal. As for Aina, I saw him as a nailed-on starter and hoped for a return—either a clean sheet or an assist.
What's your routine in terms of decision making each week, researching transfers, deciding captaincy etc?
When it comes to transfers, I look at who is playing against whom, which players caught my eye during the matches, and I also listen to advice from you fantasy experts on YouTube. I also discuss everything with friends who play FPL, and then make my own decision.
Lovro captained 9 different players over the season, Salah most frequently. Source: premierfantasytools.com
Do you have a particular playstyle like template, differential hit taker etc?
I don’t really have a specific style—I always try to pick what I believe are the best available options at the time. The only thing is that I tend to avoid taking too many point hits.
Eye test or stats? Or both?
For me, the eye test comes first, and I glance at stats a bit—mostly head-to-head history. Sometimes it helps me make decisions.
Has there been one particular player this season who has been an unsung hero for you?
Players like Eze, Wood, Bowen, Kiwior, I am sure I am missing someone. I thank each of them for this accomplishment.
Do you consume any FPL content?
I follow the Croatian podcast Tribina and content creators like you (FPL Focal), FPL Mate, Let’s Talk FPL, FPL Harry, and FPL Raptor—especially for injury news, double gameweeks, and blank gameweeks.
Finally... which player do you think could have a breakout 2025/26 season?
If Florian Wirtz really signs for Liverpool (although I’d love to see him at my beloved Real Madrid), I think he could be an excellent signing both for Liverpool and for FPL teams.
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