Branko Ilić Explained

Branko Ilić
Fullname:Branko Ilić[1]
Birth Date:6 February 1983[2]
Birth Place:Ljubljana, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:1.85 m
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Grosuplje
Youthyears2:–2002
Youthclubs2:Olimpija
Years1:2001–2004
Caps1:55
Goals1:0
Years2:2002
Clubs2:Grosuplje (loan)
Caps2:13
Goals2:2
Years3:2005–2007
Caps3:63
Goals3:2
Years4:2007
Clubs4:Betis (loan)
Caps4:13
Goals4:0
Years5:2007–2010
Caps5:21
Goals5:0
Years6:2009
Clubs6:FC Moscow (loan)
Caps6:6
Goals6:0
Years7:2010–2011
Caps7:11
Goals7:0
Years8:2012–2013
Caps8:26
Goals8:1
Years9:2013–2014
Caps9:29
Goals9:1
Years10:2014–2015
Caps10:27
Goals10:4
Years11:2015
Caps11:9
Goals11:0
Years12:2016–2017
Caps12:0
Goals12:0
Years13:2017–2019
Caps13:41
Goals13:0
Years14:2019
Caps14:5
Goals14:0
Years15:2019–2020
Caps15:4
Goals15:0
Totalcaps:322
Totalgoals:10
Nationalyears1:2001
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2003–2005
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2004–2015
Nationalcaps3:63
Nationalgoals3:1

Branko Ilić (born 6 February 1983) is a Slovenian former professional footballer. Usually a right-back, he also played as a central defender.

In his country, he appeared for Olimpija Ljubljana (two spells), Grosuplje, and Domžale (two stints). He also competed professionally in Spain, Russia, Cyprus, Israel, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Japan and Denmark.

A Slovenian international between 2004 and 2015, Ilić was part of the squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Born in Ljubljana, Socialist Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Ilić started his career at local NK Olimpija, where he made his senior debut in 2003 against FC Koper. He joined NK Domžale in January 2005, after his former club went bankrupt.

Ilić was loaned to Real Betis in January 2007, becoming the first Slovenian to play for them.[3] His first official appearance came against city rivals Sevilla FC, in a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash.[4] On 4 February he first appeared in La Liga, providing the assist for Robert's goal in a 2–1 away win at Athletic Bilbao.[5] [6]

After a positive spell,[7] the Andalusian side completed the transfer for €1.5 million in the summer of 2007, but Ilić eventually fell out of rotation in 2008–09 after the signing of S.L. Benfica's Nélson, in a relegation-ending season where he only featured in three matches.[8]

On 6 September 2009, FC Moscow signed Ilić on loan from Betis, for one year. In late January 2010, however, he was released by the latter,[9] immediately joining another Moscow-based team, FC Lokomotiv.[10]

On 13 August 2010, Sky Sports reported that Ilić was on trial in England with Premier League's Blackpool,[11] but nothing came of it. On 5 June 2013, after one season in the Cypriot First Division with Anorthosis Famagusta FC, he and teammate Jürgen Colin signed two-year contracts with Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. from Israel.[12]

Ilić agreed to a two-year deal with Serbian club FK Partizan on 10 July 2014.[13] The following summer he moved teams and countries again, joining Kazakhstan Premier League champions FC Astana.[14]

On 6 January 2016, Ilić signed for Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan.[15] On 5 February of the following year he returned to his homeland, joining Olimpija Ljubljana.[16]

Ilić signed for Vejle Boldklub in Denmark on 15 January 2019.[17] In July 2020, after a second spell with Domžale, the 36-year-old announced his retirement.[18]

International career

Ilić represented Slovenia at youth level, making his competitive debut for the under-19 team in October 2001 against Greece.[19] He was also capped for the under-21s, playing nine matches in UEFA competitions.[19]

Ilić made his debut for the senior side on 18 August 2004 in a friendly with Serbia and Montenegro. He was included in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa,[20] but did not leave the substitutes bench in an eventual group-stage exit.

Overall, Ilić played 63 games for his country,[18] scoring one goal against San Marino in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers (6–0 home victory).[21]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[22] [23]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Olimpija2002–03Slovenian PrvaLiga13020150
2003–042601030300
2004–0516020180
Total5505030630
Grosuplje (loan)2002–03Slovenian Second League13200132
Domžale2004–05Slovenian PrvaLiga13000130
2005–063422050412
2006–071601040210
Total6323090752
Betis (loan)2006–07La Liga130130
Betis2007–08La Liga180180
2008–093030
Total2100000210
FC Moscow (loan)2009Russian Premier League600060
Lokomotiv Moscow2010Russian Premier League100010
2011–121001020130
Total1101020140
Anorthosis2012–13Cypriot First Division2612040321
Hapoel Tel Aviv2013–14Israeli Premier League2811040331
Partizan2014–15Serbian SuperLiga2745090414
Astana2015Kazakhstan Premier League9000120210
Urawa Red Diamonds2016J1 League00001010
Olimpija2017–18Slovenian PrvaLiga3004020360
2018–19Slovenian PrvaLiga1101070190
Total4105090550
Vejle2018–19Danish Superliga500050
Domžale2019–20Slovenian PrvaLiga40002060
Career total3221022055039910

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[24]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Slovenia200410
200560
200680
2007100
200890
200910
201040
201130
201200
201390
201450
201571
Total631

Score and result list Slovenia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Ilić goal.

Honours

Olimpija

2002–03

Domžale

2006–07

Partizan

2014–15

Olimpija Ljubljana

2017–18

2017–18

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of players. https://web.archive.org/web/20100616010702/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf. dead. 16 June 2010. FIFA. 27. 4 June 2010. 16 April 2014.
  2. News: Branko Ilic. El Mundo. es. 26 March 2020.
  3. News: El esloveno Ilic pasó reconocimiento médico antes de firmar con el Betis. Slovenian Branco Ilic passed medical before signing with Betis. Marca. es. 25 January 2007. 17 August 2012.
  4. News: El Betis aguanta el primer asalto ante un perezoso Sevilla. Betis withstand first round against lazy Sevilla. Marca. Delfín. Melero. es. 1 February 2007. 4 November 2015.
  5. Web site: Athletic Bilbao 1–2 Real Betis. https://archive.today/20130102214537/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/203975?cc=5739. dead. 2 January 2013. ESPN Soccernet. 4 February 2007. 17 August 2012.
  6. News: Un 'machote' Betis sale reforzado de San Mamés. 'Macho-like' Betis leave San Mamés enpowered. Marca. Delfín. Melero. es. 4 February 2007. 28 April 2016.
  7. News: Si Chaparro quiere, puedo jugar de central. If Chaparro wants, I can play as a stopper. Diario AS. Carlos. Cariño. es. 9 February 2008. 4 November 2015.
  8. News: Ilic: "Siempre estoy preparado para jugar". Ilic: "I am always ready to play". Marca. es. 12 February 2009. 4 November 2015.
  9. Web site: Branko Ilic se desvincula del Betis. Branko Ilic cuts ties with Betis. El Desmarque. Álvaro. Ramírez. es. 18 January 2010. 26 March 2020.
  10. Web site: Илич подписал контракт с "Москвой". Ilić signed a contract with Moscow. Sports.ru. ru. 19 January 2010. 19 January 2010.
  11. Web site: Pool look at Slovenian, Holloway weighs up move for Ilic. Sky Sports. 13 August 2010. 13 August 2010.
  12. Web site: http://www.one.co.il/Article/218138.htmll. he:יורגן קולין וברנקו איליץ' חתמו לשנתיים בהפועל. Colin and Ilić sign two-year contracts at Hapoel. One. he. 6 June 2013. 6 June 2013.
  13. Web site: Iliću se konačno ispunila želja da pređe u Partizan. Ilić finally fulfilled desire to move to Partizan. FK Partizan. sr. 10 July 2014. 10 July 2014. 13 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140713042305/http://www.sr.partizan.rs/90424-90424. dead.
  14. Web site: http://fca.kz/rus/news/4434/. ru:Бранко Илич – игрок ФК Астана. Branko Ilić – player of FC Astana. FC Astana. ru. 6 July 2015. 6 July 2015. 7 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150707021228/http://fca.kz/rus/news/4434/. dead.
  15. Web site: http://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/topteamtopics/%E3%83%96%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AA%E3%83%83%E3%83%81%E9%81%B8%E6%89%8B-%E5%8A%A0%E5%85%A5%E5%86%85%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8A%E7%9F%A5%E3%82%89%E3%81%9B/. ja:ブランコ・イリッチ選手 加入内定のお知らせ. Urawa Red Diamonds. ja. 6 January 2016. 6 January 2016.
  16. Web site: Obramba zmajev močnejša za Branka Ilića. Defence of "The Dragons" is stronger for Branko Ilic. SN Portal. Peter. Dominko. sl. 5 February 2017. 5 February 2017.
  17. Web site: VB skriver med erfaren slovener. VB agree with experienced Slovene. Vejle Boldklub. Lars. Christensen. da. 15 January 2019. 16 January 2019. 20 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221120173904/https://vejle-boldklub.dk/vb-skriver-med-erfaren-slovener/. dead.
  18. Web site: Čudovito nogometno popotovanje slovenskega Franza Beckenbauerja. The Slovenian Franz Beckenbauer's wonderful football journey. Siol. Rok. Viškovič. sl. 21 July 2020. 28 October 2020.
  19. Web site: Branko Ilić. UEFA. 19 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717223128/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=63312/profile/index.html. 17 July 2020. live.
  20. Web site: World Cup 2010: No surprises in final Slovenia squad. BBC Sport. 2 June 2010. 26 March 2020.
  21. Web site: Slovenia set new record win against San Marino. UEFA. Grega. Sever. 27 March 2015. 28 October 2020.
  22. Web site: Branko Ilić. Football Association of Slovenia. sl. 19 October 2020.
  23. Web site: B. Ilič. Soccerway. 15 July 2015.
  24. Web site: Branko Ilič. European Football. 4 November 2015.