Sasa Ilic: The Charlton legend set up a stunning boutique hotel after the hardest year of his life

"I NEEDED to change my lifestyle altogether."

Sasa Ilic, now 46, was headed towards a downward spiral after a a catalogue of catastrophic moments left him in a desperate situation.

But the former Charlton player, who made a match-winning penalty shootout save against Sunderland in the 1998 Playoff Final, didn't want to become another statistic - a broke, bankrupt footballer.

Instead, he jumped on his motorbike, rode to Montenegro and converted a home he had into a stunning 5 star boutique hotel called the Monte Bay Retreat that opened its doors in 2013 in the beautiful old town of Perast.

"Due to certain circumstances in my life, between 2009-12 I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with myself after football," he told SunSport.

"The Monte Bay Retreat was a bit of a lifesaver. In 2009, I went through a divorce, my business collapsed because of the credit crunch in London, my father passed away and a house I had in Montenegro burn down.

"For three years I was a lost soul. But I went to a detox retreat and that cleansed my mind, my body and soul.

"I already had another property in Montenegro, and I came up with the idea just after I finished my final day of detoxing.

"I was very unhappy in London. I wasn't doing anything at all, I didn't have an occupation and getting back into football was difficult.

"I sold my place in Blackheath, jumped on my motorbike and rode all the way to Montenegro to start this new journey of mine.

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"I followed my gut instinct. I was living with plenty of  a sorrow because of my father's passing and getting used to being single again.

"I didn't have a focus in my life. I was cruising through life and didn't have anything that would get me out of bed in the morning.

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"If I didn't make a change, I think I would have been another statistic. I would've had nothing and been bankrupt.

"I would've spent all the earnings I made in football, I'm sure of that, so I needed to make that life-altering decision."

Illic, who was born in Australia, initially built Monte Bay Retreat to be a detox centre, but decided later he wanted it to be open to anyone looking for a quiet home away from home.

Prices start at around £155 per night in the summer, and the retreat is open seven months of the year.

"Because the detox route was a niche market, that would've taken me another three or four years to get the word out," he said.

"So I converted it to a boutique hotel. It now has an intimate feel with just six bedrooms and it's completely closed off.

"All the guests that come, they have sole usage of the bar, restaurant, infinity pool... the difference is its hands on deck, me as the host and people don't feel like they're in a hotel.

"We provide a five star service that you would see in one of the bigger hotels, but with a more intimate feel.

"I greet everybody, see them off. I usually will welcome them with the local drink, rakija and then we see them off with a big hug and a kiss.

"When they come to Monte Bay, that's the service we try and provide for all our clients.

"All the hotels I've been in, all around the world, you tend to know what people like.

"And the basic concept of not allowing anyone else from the outside to come in, and make it completely exclusive for the people staying in the six room. I think that adds to the flavour.

"It's a very happy, relaxed mood and people enjoy that atmosphere. I'm also really lucky to have wonderful staff."

With its luxurious rooms, glorious views and secluded setting - it's the perfect setting for any celebrity looking for peace and quiet in private, Ilic claimed.

In fact, two of his football pals have dropped by over the years to stay.

He revealed: "I've had a couple of footballers visit.

"Gary Nelson, who used to play for Charlton. And I had Ronald de Boer, who is a friend of mine too, who came last year.

"But I've not really tapped into my contacts. I just want people to come because they want to come, rather than seeing big-name superstars and all that kind of stuff.

"Ronald is a friend of mine, and he was in Montenegro so he popped down to see me. And with Gary, he saw pictures on the website when I was down at Charlton for an event, so he came with his wife.

"It's one of those places that if you were a superstar, nobody will see you. So you get that intimacy that you wouldn't necessarily get anywhere else."

Ilic admitted that although he might have a tipple too many with guests every now and again, he's really living a much healthier and happier life now.

"It's a beautiful lifestyle, we eat fresh food practically every day. We go out in speedboats or I'll go out with the clients.

"I'm living the dream, I guess, on the Mediterranean coast and we're only open for seven months of the year.

"I purposefully lock it up for 5 months and go away on holiday with my wife and kids."

Being a hotel owner for Ilic isn't quite as glamorous as being a footballer, the stopper confessed.

But he does get to talk about his glory days, especially with Sunderland fans who he apologises to for saving a Michael Gray penalty in the Addicks' 1998 shootout win.

"This is a close second to being a footballer," he told us.

"I think if you ask any former player if they would compare what they do now to when they were playing, nothing will come even close to being a professional footballer.

"It's the camaraderie, the feeling fit, it's the crowd, the adrenaline... nothing can beat that.

"But I do get to relive my football glory days with my guests. I don't really tell them I used to play, but there are some that do tend to look up the place and see I played.

"I've had some Sunderland supporters come, and when I've had a few drinks I tend to apologise to them for that penalty save I made in 1998!"

When he can, Ilic does go back to the Valley to see his old mates and speak of the "old days" over a pint of beer.

He also still plays, pulling on a shirt for Masters Football - where retired players come together for a six-a-side indoor football tournament.

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"It's fantastic. It's one of those things that's organised where you get to play with players you used to play against.

"So, any scuffle you may have had during your playing days with that player, you tend to talk it over and laugh about it later on.

"It's a fantastic way to travel, meet players and it's also good for the ego. We're treated like rock stars wherever we go.

"I captained a game in Hong Kong once, and it was such a great tour. When you've not in the game for so long, it's great to get that kind of attention again."

For more information about Ilic's beautiful boutique hotel, visit Monte Bay Retreat's website

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