Željko Petrović Explained

Željko Petrović
Birth Date:13 November 1965
Birth Place:Nikšić, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:1.75 m
Position:Right-back
Years1:1986–1990
Clubs1:Budućnost
Caps1:76
Goals1:7
Years2:1990–1991
Clubs2:Dinamo Zagreb
Caps2:32
Goals2:2
Years3:1991–1992
Clubs3:Sevilla
Caps3:11
Goals3:1
Years4:1992–1994
Clubs4:Den Bosch
Caps4:40
Goals4:7
Years5:1994–1996
Clubs5:RKC
Caps5:60
Goals5:13
Years6:1996–1997
Clubs6:PSV
Caps6:35
Goals6:6
Years7:1997–2000
Clubs7:Urawa Red Diamonds
Caps7:62
Goals7:3
Years8:2000–2004
Clubs8:RKC
Caps8:97
Goals8:5
Totalcaps:413
Totalgoals:44
Nationalyears1:1990–1998
Nationalteam1:FR Yugoslavia
Nationalcaps1:18
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2006
Managerclubs1:Boavista
Manageryears2:2007–2008
Managerclubs2:RKC
Manageryears3:2008–2009
Managerclubs3:Hamburger SV (assistant)
Manageryears4:2010
Managerclubs4:West Ham United (assistant)
Manageryears5:2011
Managerclubs5:Urawa Red Diamonds
Manageryears6:2012–2013
Managerclubs6:Anzhi Makhachkala (assistant)
Manageryears7:2013–2014
Managerclubs7:Al-Shaab
Manageryears8:2014
Managerclubs8:Serbia (assistant)
Manageryears9:2015
Managerclubs9:Sunderland (assistant)
Manageryears10:2016–2017
Managerclubs10:ADO Den Haag
Manageryears11:2018–2019
Managerclubs11:Utrecht (assistant)
Manageryears12:2019
Managerclubs12:Botev Plovdiv
Manageryears13:2019
Managerclubs13:Badak Lampung
Manageryears14:2020
Managerclubs14:Inter Zaprešić
Manageryears15:2020–2021
Managerclubs15:Feyenoord (assistant)
Manageryears16:2021
Managerclubs16:Willem II
Manageryears17:2021–2022
Manageryears18:2024
Managerclubs18:Zrinjski Mostar

Željko Petrović (Serbian: Жељко Петровић; born 13 November 1965) is a Montenegrin professional football manager and former player. As a player, he represented the FR Yugoslavia national team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Budućnost

Petrović made his professional debut with Budućnost in 1986 under manager Milan Živadinović.[1] In Petrović's second and third season at Budućnost under manager Stanko Poklepović, the team included the likes of Dejan Savićević, Branko Brnović, Anto Drobnjak, Predrag Mijatović and Niša Saveljić.[2] During Petrović's time at Budućnost, the team finished in seventh place in the 1986–87 season, in ninth place in the 1987–88 season, fourteenth in the 1988–89 season, and tenth in the 1989–90 season.

Dinamo Zagreb

Petrović moved to Dinamo Zagreb in 1990, where he played as a right-back. In June 1991, Dinamo changed their name to HAŠK Građanski.[3] In HAŠK Građanski's short 1991–92 UEFA Cup campaign, Petrović scored all three of HAŠK Građanski's goals over two legs played against Trabzonspor.[4] He scored two penalties in the first leg played on 17 September 1991, which HAŠK lost 3–2 to Trabzonspor.[5] He scored another goal in the second leg played on 2 October 1991, which HAŠK tied 1–1.[6] In spite of Petrović's goalscoring form, HAŠK were eliminated from the UEFA Cup losing to Trabzonspor on aggregate.

Sevilla

Petrović joined Sevilla in November 1991,[7] with his transfer from HAŠK Građanski costing the Spanish team 500,000 DM.[8] HAŠK Građanski had agreed on Petrović's transfer as part of a package with Davor Šuker, who joined Sevilla simultaneously.[9] At the time, La Liga teams could field only up to four foreigners on the pitch, and Sevilla already had two foreign starters in Iván Zamorano and Pablo Bengoechea.[10] With the addition of Šuker, Petrović was meant to be Sevilla's fourth foreign starter, although he initially enjoyed little playing time.[10] Gradually, manager Víctor Espárrago began bringing him off the bench, and in a breakthrough performance, Petrović made an assist in Sevilla's 1–0 win against Real Murcia in the 1992 Copa del Rey Round of 16.[11] On 22 March 1992, Petrović scored his only goal in a league match with Real Burgos, with Sevilla winning 3–2.[10] However, after the departure of Espárrago, a markedly dry spell followed, especially when Sevilla signed Diego Maradona in the summer of 1992.[10] Therefore, he was quick to sign for Dutch club FC Den Bosch that summer.

Den Bosch and Waalwijk

Petrović joined FC Den Bosch in 1992 while his father was living in nearby Heusden as a guest worker.[12] This circumstance seemed to be a deciding factor in his move to Den Bosch, as it was widely regarded that he could have easily played for a more competitive team.[12] Den Bosch director Chris van der Laar commented that Petrović was "too good for Den Bosch".[12] In spite of Petrović's good reception, Den Bosch struggled in the 1992–93 season and ended up relegated back to the second tier at the end of the season. After a 5–0 loss against Feyenoord in May 1993, Den Bosch manager Hans van der Pluijm noted that "[Petrović] is playing three classes better than the rest of the team."[12] He was eager to join RKC Waalwijk in 1994. It was at this club which he excelled as an attacking right-back, and he scored 13 goals in total of 2 seasons before joining Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 1996.

PSV

Petrović joined PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 1996. He was a regular starter during the 1996–97 season, when PSV won the Eredivisie that season under manager Dick Advocaat.[13] In his second season at the club, however, he proved a difficult player to manage and he was also involved in a spat with team captain Arthur Numan. Towards the end of Petrović's time at PSV, Advocaat was critical of his smoking habits.[14] In the fall of 1997, Petrović accepted a lucrative offer from the Urawa Red Diamonds, which estranged him from the rest of the club.[14] He insisted that he did not wish to leave PSV, but that the offer could not be ignored since ten of his relatives were living off of his money in Yugoslavia.[13] Petrović played a total of 35 games for PSV.[13] He played his last game for PSV on 5 November 1997, in a Champions League match against Newcastle United at St James' Park.[13]

Urawa Red Diamonds

In 1997, he moved to Japan to play for Urawa Red Diamonds[15] before returning to RKC Waalwijk in 2000 where he finished his playing career.

International career

Petrović made his debut for the national team of Yugoslavia on 12 September 1990 in a match against Northern Ireland.[16] Yugoslavia was subsequently banned from the Euro 1992, the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and the Euro 1996 due to FIFA suspending Yugoslavia following the international sanctions against Yugoslavia. Petrović would play for Yugoslavia again five years after his debut, for the qualification to the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Death threat

Petrović was a regular of the Yugoslavia national team throughout the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 28 October 1997, the night before the first leg of the qualifying play-off against Hungary, Petrović received a death threat by an anonymous phone caller.[17] The caller gave Petrović twelve hours to leave Yugoslavia before being killed.[18] In the time preceding the death threat, Petrović had been subject to a whispering campaign that suggested he once played for the Croatia national team during the breakup of Yugoslavia, before Croatia became an official FIFA member.[18] Petrović strongly denied this,[18] and teammate Savo Milošević accused some journalists of jeopardizing Petrović's life by spreading fake news about him.[17] Petrović went on to play for Yugoslavia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[19]

After the rumors were spread, Petrović took several opportunities to explain how the media identified him. When a Dutch journalist asked Petrović about his nationality considering the breakup of Yugoslavia, Petrović insisted on his identity as a Yugoslav. He explained himself with the following:

Managerial career

On 21 August 2006, Petrović was appointed as the new manager of Portuguese team Boavista. In his first match as manager, Boavista won 3–0 against Benfica. However, he resigned in October 2006 after only a month and a half in charge.[20] The following 2007–08 season Petrovic managed RKC Waalwijk to a second place in the Dutch 2nd division and failed to gain promotion to the Eredivisie. In the 2008–09 season he was Martin Jol's assistant at Hamburger SV.

On 28 July 2010, West Ham United confirmed Petrović as the assistant manager to manager Avram Grant.[21] On 23 November 2010, West Ham parted company with Petrović after less than four months. Upon his departure he made controversial comments about the Premier League questioning its quality.[22] In February 2010, Petrovic was named assistant to manager Guus Hiddink at Anzhi Makhachkala.[23]

On 17 March 2015, Petrović was named the assistant to manager Dick Advocaat at Sunderland, but was sacked on 4 October later that year.[24] He became assistant to manager Advocaat once more when he joined him at FC Utrecht in 2018.[25]

Botev Plovdiv

In the beginning of June 2019, Botev Plovdiv introduced Petrović as the new manager of the club.[26] Following his recommendations the club signed Marko Pervan, Philippe van Arnhem and Rodney Klooster. After a long run of poor results, on 16 October, Petrović was sacked.[27] Shortly after that van Arnhem and Klooster were also released. In 12 games under his guidance Botev Plovdiv won only twice, achieved three draws and lost seven matches, last four of which in a row. The next Botev Plovdiv manager achieved seven wins in a row with the same squad attributing to the competency of Petrović.

Inter Zaprešić

In the beginning of January 2020, Inter Zaprešić introduced Petrović as their new manager.[28] On 10 April 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Petrović terminated the contract with the club.[29]

He was appointed assistant to Advocaat again at Feyenoord in summer 2020.[30]

Iraq

After the resignation of Dick Advocaat in November 2021 as manager of the Iraq national team, Petrović took over on a caretaker basis.[31] He would coach Iraq at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup and the final round of the World Cup. In the last seconds of his first match as head coach against Oman, which ended in a 1–1 draw, Petrović entered the field to designate who would kick the penalty.[32] He was sacked on 2 February 2022.[33]

Zrinjski Mostar

On 5 January 2024, Petrović was appointed manager of Bosnian Premier League club Zrinjski Mostar.[34] He was victorious in his first match in charge as Zrinjski beat Slavija Sarajevo in the Bosnian Cup second round on 10 February 2024.[35] The team drew 0–0 away against Željezničar in his first league match as manager on 17 February.[36] In his first ever Mostar derby, Petrović's side defeated rivals Velež on 13 April 2024.[37] On 23 May 2024, Petrović won his first major trophy as a manager after Zrinjski beat Borac Banja Luka 2–0 on aggregate in the Bosnian Cup final.[38]

On 20 June 2024, it was announced by Zrinjski that Petrović had left the club by mutual consent.[39]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Budućnost Titograd1986–87Yugoslav First League170170
1987–88183183
1988–89213213
1989–90201201
Total767767
Dinamo Zagreb1990–91Yugoslav First League322322
Sevilla1991–92La Liga11140151
Den Bosch1992–93Eredivisie131131
1993–94Eerste Divisie276276
Total407407
RKC Waalwijk1994–95Eredivisie304304
1995–96309309
Total60136013
PSV1996–97Eredivisie255255
1997–98101101
Total356356
Urawa Red Diamonds1997J1 League00210021
19982723000302
19991910040231
2000J2 League1600000160
Total6235140714
RKC Waalwijk2000–01Eredivisie212212
2001–02230230
2002–03221221
2003–04312312
Total975975
Career total4134491400042645

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Yugoslavia199010
199110
199200
FR Yugoslavia199300
199400
199500
199600
199780
199880
Total180

Managerial

[40]

TeamFromToRecord
GWDLWin %
Boavista28 August 200622 October 2006
RKC1 July 200730 June 2008
Urawa Red Diamonds1 February 201120 October 2011
Al-Shaab23 December 201312 May 2014
ADO Den Haag1 July 20167 February 2017
Botev Plovdiv1 July 201910 October 2019
Inter Zaprešić4 January 202010 April 2020
Willem II29 January 202130 June 2021
Iraq24 November 20212 February 2022
Zrinjski Mostar5 January 202420 June 2024
Total

Honours

Player

PSV

1996–97

1997

Manager

Zrinjski Mostar

2023–24

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Željko Petrović za Antenu M: Bio si veliki gospodin ako si igrao u Budućnosti, danas su bitni lajkovi i kako si ošišan . 19 March 2023 . 26 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226222933/https://www.antenam.net/sport/fkbudu%C4%87nost/205559-zeljko-petrovic-za-antenu-m-bio-si-veliki-gospodin-ako-si-igrao-u-buducnosti-danas-su-bitni-lajkovi-i-kako-si-osisan . live .
  2. http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/fk-buducnost-podgorica/1989/2/
  3. Web site: Total Croatia News: Football. Dragana Nikšić. 20 January 2017. 10 September 2017. 11 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911071117/http://www.total-croatia-news.com/hvar-sport/16062-football. live.
  4. Web site: Narod.hr: Velikosrpski projekt i istina – Cvetković tvrdi: Bilić mi je rekao 'Da nije rata, svi bismo bili u Crvenoj zvezdi!' . Miroslav Herceg. hr. 15 February 2017. 10 September 2017. 11 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911024556/https://narod.hr/sport/velikosrpski-projekt-istina-cvetkovic-tvrdi-bilic-rekao-da-nije-rata-svi-bismo-bili-crvenoj-zvezdi. live.
  5. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1991/matches/round=630/match=4576/postmatch/lineups/index.html
  6. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1991/matches/round=630/match=4577/postmatch/lineups/index.html
  7. Web site: Monitor: Bobana zaustavljali tenkovi, Bišćan posljednji Dinamov veliki tranfer?. Miroslav Tomašević. hr. 10 September 2017. 10 September 2017. 10 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170910220812/http://www.monitor.hr/clanci/bobana-zaustavljali-tenkovi-biscan-posljednji-dinamov-veliki-tranfer/11135/. live.
  8. Web site: Jutarnji.hr: ŽELJKO PETROVIĆ U ČUDU. Alen Lesički. hr. 7 November 2013. 7 September 2017. 8 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908063716/http://www.jutarnji.hr/sport/zeljko-petrovic-u-cudu-u-moje-vrijeme-navijaci-su-bili-gospoda-a-sada-se-pise-samo-o-huliganima/918113/. live.
  9. Web site: Vreme: Prijateljstvo iznad svega. sr. 13 March 1999. 7 September 2017. 21 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201121184137/https://www.vreme.com/arhiva_html/438/25.html. live.
  10. Web site: Amigos de Colusso vs. Amigos de Kukleta: ZELJKO PETROVIC. Rinat Rafaé. es. 13 November 2012. 7 September 2017. 8 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908065043/http://colussoscontrakukletas.blogspot.com/2012/11/zeljko-petrovic.html. live.
  11. Web site: El Mundo Deportivo: Un gol dé Ramón clasifico al Sevilla. Jesus Gomez. es. 23 January 1992. 7 September 2017. 9 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214200/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1992/01/23/MD19920123-016.pdf. live.
  12. News: nrc.nl: Jung jungskes begrijpen Zeljko Petrovic niet. Dick Wittenberg. NRC. nl. 3 May 1993. 10 September 2017. 2 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201002235328/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1993/05/03/jung-jungskes-begrijpen-zeljko-petrovic-niet-7181623-a300950. live.
  13. Web site: NOS: Emotionele Petrovic keert even terug bij grote liefde PSV. Edwin Cornelissen. nl. 26 November 2016. 9 September 2017. 10 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170910082946/https://nos.nl/artikel/2145128-emotionele-petrovic-keert-even-terug-bij-grote-liefde-psv.html. live.
  14. Web site: de Volksrant: Niemand kan zo mooi verongelijkt zijn als Zeljko Petrovic. Bart Jungmann. nl. 5 November 1997. 9 September 2017. 10 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170910083134/https://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/niemand-kan-zo-mooi-verongelijkt-zijn-als-zeljko-petrovic~a500028/. live.
  15. Web site: Club History | Urawa Red Diamonds Official Website . Urawa-reds.co.jp . 17 November 1968 . 29 July 2010 . 18 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120518163134/http://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/english/club-history.html . live .
  16. Web site: Reprezentacija.rs: Petrović Željko. sr. 10 September 2017. 10 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160910235019/http://www.reprezentacija.rs/index.php/statistika/reprezentativci/1419. live.
  17. Web site: SPORTSKA KUPUSARA: Mijatovićeve simultanke protiv Mađarske. sr. 10 September 2017. 20 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160420045901/http://www.strategija.org/mijatoviceve-simultanke-protiv-madarske/. live.
  18. Web site: When Saturday Comes (#131): Worst of both worlds. January 1998. 10 September 2017. 21 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170621112814/http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/1009-World-Cup-1998/6294-worst-of-both-worlds. live.
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20080531180537/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=158777/index.html Record at FIFA Tournaments
  20. Web site: Pacheco replaces Petrovic as Boavista boss – Europe – ESPN Soccernet . . 23 October 2006 . 28 July 2010 . 23 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121023065511/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=387280&cc=5739&cc=5739 . dead .
  21. Web site: Petrovic to assist Grant | News | Latest News | News | West Ham United . Whufc.com . 28 July 2010 . 31 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100731205105/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100728/petrovic-to-assist-grant_2236884_2104462 . live .
  22. Web site: West Ham assistant boss Zeljko Petrovic departs. 23 November 2010. BBC Sport. 23 November 2010. 14 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140514095654/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9221031.stm. live.
  23. https://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/84067/Petrovic-met-Hiddink-mee-naar-Anzhi Petrovic met Hiddink mee naar Anzhi
  24. News: Advocaat quits as Sunderland manager. BBC Sport. 13 February 2018. 7 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107183716/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34437620. live.
  25. https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/fc-utrecht-bevestigt-komst-advocaat-en-petrovic FC Utrecht bevestigt komst Advocaat en Petrovic
  26. Web site: Желко Петрович е новият треньор на Ботев . 9 June 2019 . botevplovdiv.bg . 9 June 2019 . bg . 9 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609094959/https://botevplovdiv.bg/article/zhelko-petrovich-e-noviyat-tren-or-na-botev . live .
  27. Web site: ПРОМЕНИ В ТРЕНЬОРСКИЯ СЪСТАВ НА БОТЕВ . 16 October 2019 . botevplovdiv.bg . 8 December 2019 . bg . 16 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191016195627/https://botevplovdiv.bg/article/promeni-v-tren-orskiya-sustav-na-botev . live .
  28. Web site: Željko Petrović new coach of Inter Zapresic . 4 January 2020 . 24sata.hr . 4 January 2020 . hr . 5 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200105132736/https://www.24sata.hr/sport/toplak-otisao-da-se-inter-spasi-to-je-dogovor-sa-investitorima-668592 . live .
  29. News: Raskid s Petrovićem, odbačene špekulacije . inter.hr . 10 April 2020 . 16 April 2020 . 30 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200530025326/https://inter.hr/aktualno/ostanite_doma_100420 . dead .
  30. https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/553811944/officieel-zeljko-petrovic-weer-assistent-van-dick-advocaat Officieel: Zeljko Petrovic weer assistent van Dick Advocaat
  31. News: 2021-11-24. Advocaat quits after three months as Iraq coach. en. Reuters. 2021-11-25. 25 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211125040546/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/advocaat-quits-after-three-months-iraq-coach-2021-11-24/. live.
  32. Web site: Zeljko Petrovic over 'veldbestorming' bij penalty Irak: 'Het is nu duidelijk wie de baas is' . . nl . 1 December 2021 . 2 February 2022 . 2 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220202205907/https://www.ad.nl/buitenlands-voetbal/zeljko-petrovic-over-veldbestorming-bij-penalty-irak-het-is-nu-duidelijk-wie-de-baas-is~a2d761e3/ . live .
  33. IRAQFA. 1488885310738026496. اتحاد كرة القدم العراقي يققر في اجتماعه، اليوم الاربعاء، إعفاء مدرب المنتخب الوطنيّ (بتروفيتش) وإناطة المهمة إلى مدربٍ محلي ستتم تسميتهُ في الأسبوعِ المقبل وتشكيل لجنةٍ من ذوي الخبرة والاختصاص، تضمُ مجموعةً من الأكاديميين والمدربين واللاعبين السابقين لوضع الخطط الاستراتيجيّة.. 2 February 2022.
  34. Web site: Željko Petrović novi trener HŠK Zrinjski!. 5 January 2024. 5 January 2024. bs. E. Oštraković. sportsport.ba. 5 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240105105829/https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/hsk-zrinjski-zeljko-petrovic-novi-trener/465915. live.
  35. Web site: Željko Petrović: Na Grbavicu dolazi veliki klub kao što je Zrinjski. 10 February 2024. 10 February 2024. bs. M.B.. Sport1.ba. 30 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240330160520/https://sport1.oslobodjenje.ba/s1/fudbal/premijer-liga-bih/video-zeljko-petrovic-na-grbavicu-dolazi-veliki-klub-kao-sto-je-zrinjski-929943. live.
  36. Web site: Željezničar i Zrinjski remizirali u reviji promašaja na Grbavici. 17 February 2024. 17 February 2024. bs. H.H.. Klix.ba. 17 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240217215805/https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/zeljeznicar-i-zrinjski-remizirali-u-reviji-promasaja-na-grbavici/240217084. live.
  37. Web site: Rani gol Zrinjskog dovoljan za pobjedu protiv Veleža. 13 April 2024. 13 April 2024. bs. M.B.. Sport1.ba.
  38. Web site: Zrinjski osvojio Kup Bosne i Hercegovine!. 23 May 2024. 23 May 2024. bs. Midhat Šljivak. sportsport.ba.
  39. Web site: Šok u Mostaru: Petrović više nije trener Zrinjskog, odmah je imenovan nasljednik. 20 June 2024. 20 June 2024. bs. N.K.. Klix.ba.
  40. Web site: Željko Petrović. 26 May 2024. Sofascore. 5 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240105164517/https://www.sofascore.com/manager/zeljko-petrovic/786940. live.