Luka Zahović Explained

Luka Zahović
Birth Date:15 November 1995
Birth Place:Guimarães, Portugal[1]
Height:1.77 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Górnik Zabrze
Clubnumber:7
Youthclubs1:Valencia
Youthyears2:2001–2007
Youthclubs2:Benfica
Youthyears3:2007–2014
Youthclubs3:Maribor
Youthyears4:2008–2009
Youthclubs4:→ Pobrežje (loan)
Years1:2013–2015
Clubs1:Maribor
Caps1:45
Goals1:13
Years2:2013–2014
Clubs2:Veržej (loan)
Caps2:10
Goals2:3
Years3:2014
Clubs3:Maribor B
Caps3:1
Goals3:3
Years4:2015–2017
Clubs4:Heerenveen
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:2016–2017
Clubs5:Maribor (loan)
Caps5:28
Goals5:15
Years6:2017–2020
Clubs6:Maribor
Caps6:86
Goals6:46
Years7:2020–2024
Clubs7:Pogoń Szczecin
Caps7:106
Goals7:20
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:Górnik Zabrze
Caps8:4
Goals8:2
Nationalyears1:2012
Nationalteam1:Slovenia U17
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2013
Nationalteam2:Slovenia U19
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2015–2016
Nationalteam3:Slovenia U21
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:3
Nationalyears4:2018–
Nationalteam4:Slovenia
Nationalcaps4:15
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2019
Nationalteam5:Slovenia B
Nationalcaps5:1
Nationalgoals5:1
Club-Update:9 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:10 September 2023

Luka Zahović (born 15 November 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Polish club Górnik Zabrze. Born in Portugal, he represents the Slovenia national team.[2]

Club career

Early career

Born in Guimarães, Portugal, Zahović began his career at Spanish club Valencia before moving to Portuguese club Benfica.[3] [4] When Zahović was twelve years old,[5] his family returned to Slovenia, and he joined Maribor's youth selections in the 2007–08 season[6] after his father Zlatko became a new director of football at the club.[3]

Maribor

He made his professional debut in the final round of the 2012–13 season during a match against Aluminij when he came on as a late substitute.[7] In the following year he spent part of the season playing on loan at the Slovenian Second League squad Veržej, scoring three goals in ten matches, until being given more opportunities by Maribor's coach Ante Šimundža during the second part of the season, eventually making 11 appearances during the 2013–14 PrvaLiga season.[8]

The 2014–15 was his breakthrough season. He made his PrvaLiga season debut in the second round when he came on as a late substitute in the 78th minute during a match against Radomlje. Maribor was struggling at home against the PrvaLiga newcomers with the score being 1–1 and less than ten minutes of regulation left. However, after only spending seven minutes on the pitch Zahović scored his first official goal for The Violets.[9] He increased the lead three minutes later, securing all three points for the home side.[9] He scored his third goal of the season in late August against Zavrč[10] and continued his good form in early September when he netted a hat-trick for Maribor B in a match against Šentjur in the Slovenian Third League.[11] A week later, in his fifth PrvaLiga appearance of the season, he scored another double in a match against Krka, becoming the league's top goalscorer with five goals after eight rounds.[12]

Only four days later, on 17 September 2014, in Maribor's first match of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage at home against Sporting CP, Zahović made his debut in UEFA competitions when he came on as a substitute for Dare Vršič after Nani had put Sporting ahead in the 80th minute. He then equalised in the 92nd minute.[13] This was only the second time, first time among Europeans, since 1992 when the UEFA Champions League was established in its current format, that a father and son have both scored in the competition.[14] His father Zlatko has scored a total of 11 goals in 32 UEFA Champions League appearances during his career.[14] For his performances Zahović was nominated for the 2014 Golden Boy Award.[15] He finished the 2014–15 season in second place among the club goalscorers with 15 goals in all competitions, 12 of which he has scored in the PrvaLiga.[16]

Heerenveen

In August 2015, Zahović moved to the Eredivisie club Heerenveen and signed a three-year deal with the Dutch squad, with the possibility of a two-year extension.[17] [18] The transfer fee paid by Heerenveen was undisclosed, but it is believed to have been around €700,000. Zahović made eight appearances for the club in all competitions in the 2015–16 season.[19]

Loan and return to Maribor

On 24 August 2016, Heerenveen loaned Zahović to Maribor.[19] [20] On 27 February 2017, it was reported that Zahović would not return to Heerenveen and would continue his career at Maribor.[21] [22] On 23 May 2017, he extended his contract with Maribor until 2020.[23] On the same day, he was proclaimed as the best young footballer of the 2016–17 Slovenian PrvaLiga season.[24] [25] In the next season, Zahović became the top goalscorer of the PrvaLiga with 18 goals; all of them were scored in the second part of the season.[26]

International career

Zahović was eligible to represent Portugal and Slovenia at the international level.[27] In 2014, he claimed that he would probably choose Portugal over Slovenia if he received a call-up from both teams.[27]

Youth level

Zahović made his youth international debut for Slovenia in June 2010, when he played for the under-16 team in a friendly match against Slovakia.[28] He represented the under-17 team at the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where he played in all three group stage matches. Zahović also scored the only goal for Slovenia in a 3–1 defeat against the Netherlands, who later won the competition.[29] He debuted for the under-21 team on 2 June 2015 in a friendly match against Greece, where he scored Slovenia's first goal in an eventual 3–0 victory.[30] Zahović was capped eight times for the team during the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers, and also scored one goal against Andorra in the first round.[29] [30]

Senior team

On 23 May 2018, Zahović was included in the senior squad for a friendly match against Montenegro.[31] He made his debut on 16 October 2018 in a game against Cyprus.[32]

Personal life

Zahović was born in the Portuguese city of Guimarães where his father Zlatko, a former professional footballer and the all-time top goalscorer of the Slovenia national team, was at the time playing for Vitória Guimarães.[1] He holds both Portuguese and Slovenian citizenship.[27]

Zahović and Maja Žnuderl have a son named Filip (born 2019).[33] [34]

Honours

Maribor

2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19[35]

2012–13[29]

2014[35]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Uredništvo . Luko Zahovića želi klub iz njegovega rojstnega mesta . mariborinfo.com . 17 August 2019 . sl . 9 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Appearances for Slovenia National Team. 11 February 2024. RSSSF.
  3. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20180714164354/https://www.nkmaribor.com/igralci/?id=79170&id_mostva=1. 14 July 2018. Luka Zahović – osebni karton . Luka Zahovic – personal card . . 1 December 2018 . sl.
  4. Web site: Jogador que tirou 500 mil euros ao Sporting "esteve na inauguração da Luz" . Jornal Expresso . 2 October 2020 . pt-PT . 19 September 2014.
  5. Web site: Portret Luke Zahovića, ki bo kariero nadaljeval na Nizozemskem: ko potuje, ima pri sebi vedno oba potna lista. Matej. Štakul. . 15 December 2023 . sl . 7 August 2015. ...ko je imel vsega 12 let in se je družina odločila, da se vrne v Maribor..
  6. Web site: Nogometna šola 2007–08 . NK Maribor. 2007–08 Football Academy. 2 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081224023250/http://www.nkmaribor.com/dokumenti/dokument.asp?id=381 . 24 December 2008 . sl.
  7. Web site: Luka Zahović 2012–13 PrvaLiga profile . . 17 August 2019 . sl.
  8. Web site: Luka Zahović 2013–14 PrvaLiga profile . . 17 August 2019 . sl.
  9. Web site: Uradni zapisnik: Maribor vs Radomlje . Official report: Maribor vs Radomlje . . 26 July 2014 . 17 August 2019 . sl.
  10. Web site: Uradni zapisnik: Maribor vs Zavrč . Official report: Maribor vs Zavrc . . 23 August 2014 . 17 August 2019 . sl.
  11. Web site: Dravo reševal Tisaj, Maribor ne pozna milosti . Tisaj saved Drava, Maribor shows no mercy . Slovenski nogometni portal . Andrej Lončarič . 7 September 2014 . 19 September 2014 . sl.
  12. Web site: Luka Zahović: "Zmaga bi lahko bila tudi izdatnejša!" . Luka Zahovic: "A win could have been even higher!" . Slovenski nogometni portal . Peter Dominko . 14 September 2014 . 19 September 2014 . sl.
  13. News: Last-gasp Zahovič earns Maribor a Sporting draw. 17 September 2014. UEFA. 17 September 2014.
  14. Web site: Zlatko in Luka Zahović kot edina Evropejca . Zlatko and Luka as the only Europeans . . Rok Plestenjak . 18 September 2014 . 19 September 2014 . sl.
  15. News: Richards. Alex. England pair Raheem Sterling and Calum Chambers join Adnan Januzaj in Golden Boy award nominations. 28 October 2014. Daily Mirror. 28 October 2014.
  16. Web site: Zahović Luka – goli . . 17 August 2019 . sl. Zahovic Luka – all goals.
  17. News: Luka Zahović v Heerenveen . Luka Zahovic to Heerenveen. . 6 August 2015 . 8 August 2015 . sl .
  18. News: Uradno: Zahović v Heerenveen . Official: Zahovic to Heerenveen . Peter Dominko . Slovenski nogometni portal . 6 August 2015 . 8 August 2015 . sl .
  19. News: Heerenveen potrdil – Zahović se vrača v Ljudski vrt . Heerenveen have confirmed – Zahovic is returning to Ljudski vrt . Peter Dominko . Slovenski nogometni portal . 24 August 2016 . 28 February 2017 . sl .
  20. News: Luka Zahović se je vrnil v Maribor . Luka Zahovic returned to Maribor . Rok Viškovič . . 24 August 2016 . 28 February 2017. sl .
  21. News: Zahović se ne bo vrnil v Heerenveen. Zahovic will not return to Heerenveen . Peter Dominko . Slovenski nogometni portal . 27 February 2017 . 28 February 2017 . sl .
  22. News: Luka Zahović je v rokah Maribora. Luka Zahovic is in Maribor's hands . Uredništvo . Nogomania.com . 27 February 2017 . 28 February 2017 . sl .
  23. News: NOVA VIJOL'ČNA ZVESTOBA. 23 May 2017. 23 May 2017. sl. NK Maribor.
  24. News: Najboljši nogometaš sezone 2016/2017 je Dare Vršič. 23 May 2017. 23 May 2017. sl. spins.si.
  25. News: FOTO in VIDEO: Vršič najboljši po izboru SPINS: 'Tokrat niso presodili goli, temveč igra in konstanta'. 23 May 2017. 23 May 2017. sl. 24ur. J. K..
  26. News: Luka Zahović: Po drugem zlomu sem si rekel, da se ne bom smilil samemu sebi. RTV Slovenija. 29 May 2018. 2 June 2018. Antonija Ražen. M. R.. sl. Brdo pri Kranju.
  27. Web site: Luka Zahović raje za Portugalsko kot za Slovenijo?. Luka Zahović rather for Portugal than for Slovenia?. RTV Slovenija. 9 September 2016. 15 September 2014. sl.
  28. Web site: Najmlajši reprezentanti prebili led. The youngest national team players break the ice. Football Association of Slovenia. 17 August 2019. 17 June 2010. sl.
  29. Web site: L. Zahovič . Soccerway . 2 June 2015.
  30. Web site: U21 Reprezentanca. U21 National Team. Football Association of Slovenia. 10 July 2016. sl.
  31. News: sl. 23 May 2018. 24 May 2018. RTV Slovenija. Kavčič vpoklical tudi Zahovića: Ne želim, da se nanj izvaja pritisk. Matej Rijavec.
  32. News: sl. 16 October 2018. 17 October 2018. RTV Slovenija. "Mučenje" Slovencev v Stožicah: Skubic preprečil najhujše. Aleš Vozel.
  33. Web site: Siol.net . Najlepša pridobitev nogometne dinastije Zahović . 17 August 2019 . sl . 2 February 2019. Siol.
  34. Web site: P. B. . Luka Zahović in izbranka sta se razveselila prvorojenca . RTVSLO.si . . 17 August 2019 . Maribor . sl . 2 February 2019.
  35. Web site: Luka Zahovič . 90minut.pl . 5 June 2024 . pl.