Zvonimir Vukić Explained

Zvonimir Vukić
Full Name:Zvonimir Vukić[1]
Birth Date:19 July 1979
Birth Place:Zrenjanin, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:1.82 m
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthclubs1:Proleter Zrenjanin
Years1:1996–1998
Clubs1:Proleter Zrenjanin
Caps1:36
Goals1:3
Years2:1998–2000
Clubs2:Atlético Madrid B
Caps2:40
Goals2:4
Years3:2000–2003
Clubs3:Partizan
Caps3:86
Goals3:44
Years4:2003–2008
Clubs4:Shakhtar Donetsk
Caps4:73
Goals4:12
Years5:2005–2006
Clubs5:Portsmouth (loan)
Caps5:9
Goals5:1
Years6:2006
Clubs6:Partizan (loan)
Caps6:2
Goals6:0
Years7:2008–2010
Clubs7:Moscow
Caps7:27
Goals7:5
Years8:2011–2012
Clubs8:Partizan
Caps8:34
Goals8:16
Years9:2013–2014
Clubs9:PAOK
Caps9:35
Goals9:12
Years10:2014–2015
Clubs10:Veria
Caps10:3
Goals10:0
Totalcaps:345
Totalgoals:97
Nationalyears1:1998–1999
Nationalteam1:FR Yugoslavia U21
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2003–2006
Nationalteam2:Serbia and Montenegro
Nationalcaps2:26
Nationalgoals2:6

Zvonimir Vukić (; born 19 July 1979) is a Serbian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

A former Serbia and Montenegro international, Vukić appeared at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Vukić started out at his hometown club Proleter Zrenjanin, making his senior debut in the 1996–97 season, aged 17. He became a first-team regular in the following 1997–98 campaign, attracting the attention of numerous domestic and foreign clubs. In the summer of 1998, Vukić was snapped by Spanish club Atlético Madrid.

After spending almost two years with Atlético's B team, playing in the Segunda División, Vukić returned to his homeland and signed with Partizan in April 2000.[2] He made a name for himself over the next four seasons with the Crno-beli, scoring 52 goals across all competitions.[3] In the 2002–03 season, Vukić was the league's top scorer with 22 goals, as Partizan won the title.[4]

In June 2003, Vukić signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian runners-up Shakhtar Donetsk.[5] He was their top scorer with 13 goals in all competitions during his debut season. In his second year at the club, Vukić helped the side win the championship despite being scoreless in the process. He also made his UEFA Champions League debut that season against the likes of Barcelona and Milan.

In August 2005, Vukić was loaned to Premier League side Portsmouth until the end of the 2005–06 season. He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in a 4–1 win over Sunderland on 29 October 2005.[6] However, after the sacking of manager Alain Perrin and reinstatement of former manager Harry Redknapp, Vukić was deemed surplus to requirements.

In January 2006, Vukić found himself back in familiar territory, having been loaned to his former club Partizan for the rest of the 2005–06 season.[7] He rejoined the Belgrade side just a few days following Danko Lazović's comeback. Unfortunately, Vukić broke a foot in a friendly game against Ural Yekaterinburg,[8] managing to play just two competitive matches after a long pause.

After his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk expired in the summer of 2008, Vukić joined Moscow. However, the Ukrainian club claimed that they have a valid contract with the player. Eventually, FIFA allowed Vukić to play for the Russian club in October 2008.[9] He scored on his debut for the side in a league fixture against Terek Grozny on 2 November 2008. After the club folded in February 2010, Vukić became a free agent.

Third stint at Partizan

In May,[10] and November 2010,[11] after training with the club for several months, Vukić was again linked to Partizan, but no deal was concluded. He eventually signed with his former club on 31 January 2011, penning a one-year deal.[12] Vukić chose the number 80 shirt and was officially presented together with Ghanaian international Prince Tagoe.[13] He helped Partizan win the double, scoring from the penalty spot in the Serbian Cup final against Vojvodina.

At the start of the 2011–12 campaign, Vukić assumed his old number 10 shirt.[14] He opened the season with a goal against Shkëndija in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. However, after weak form in August 2010, Vukić became the subject of fans' criticism, briefly dropping from the first team.

On 21 September 2011, Vukić returned to the lineup and scored a goal in the Serbian Cup first round against Novi Pazar.[15] He then scored a brace in his first league game after six rounds for a 2–0 victory over Spartak Subotica on 15 October 2011.[16] In the next 30 days, Vukić netted five more, including three league and two cup goals. He also scored the opening goal in a 2–0 away win against arch-rivals on 26 November 2011, becoming a fans favorite again.[17] In the last two rounds of the first half of the season, Vukić scored two more goals to complete his fantastic performances in late 2011.

On 24 January 2012, after much speculation, Vukić signed another one-year contract with Partizan.[18] [19] He continued his good performances in the second half of the season, being named in the SuperLiga Team of the Season. However, Vukić was removed from the squad in August 2012, because of disagreements with reappointed manager Vladimir Vermezović.[20] [21]

Career in Greece

On 30 January 2013, Vukić joined PAOK on a free transfer, signing a one-and-a-half-year deal.[22] He played three matches in the Super League Greece until the end of the 2012–13 regular season, scoring two goals in his first two appearances for the club against Panionios and Panathinaikos. Vukić also recorded four appearances in the Super League playoffs.[23]

On 26 April 2014, Vukić was the only scorer for his team in the Greek Cup final, converting a penalty in the 70th minute of their 4–1 loss to Panathinaikos.[24] He was also one of the team's top scorers in the 2013–14 season, with 15 goals in all competitions, before eventually leaving PAOK at the end of his contract.

On 7 September 2014, Vukić joined Veria on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract. He was given the number 99 shirt.[25] On 12 February 2015, Vukić terminated his contract with Veria by mutual consent.[26]

International career

Vukić earned 26 caps for Serbia and Montenegro, making his full international debut in a 2–2 home draw with Azerbaijan on 12 February 2003.[27] He scored his first national team goal in a 3–2 win over Wales at Millennium Stadium on 11 October 2003.[28]

Vukić was a regular member of the team during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, scoring four goals in the process. He was included in the final 23-man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, despite having been in the process of convalescence after a long break due to foot injury.[29] Eventually, Vukić made one appearance in the final tournament, coming in from the bench in a 6–0 loss to Argentina.[30]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCupContinentalSuper CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Proleter Zrenjanin1996–97First League of FR Yugoslavia6060
1997–98First League of FR Yugoslavia30340343
Total36340403
Atlético Madrid B1998–99Segunda División314314
1999–2000Segunda División9090
Total404404
Partizan1999–2000First League of FR Yugoslavia61000061
2000–01First League of FR Yugoslavia21743202710
2001–02First League of FR Yugoslavia291432313517
2002–03First League of Serbia and Montenegro302231714024
Total864410612210852
Shakhtar Donetsk2003–04Vyshcha Liha271041523613
2004–05Vyshcha Liha2703113200433
2005–06Vyshcha Liha2000000020
2006–07Vyshcha Liha132320000164
2007–08Vyshcha Liha4030101090
Total73121341941010620
Portsmouth (loan)2005–06Premier League910091
Partizan (loan)2005–06Serbia and Montenegro SuperLiga20000020
Moscow2008Russian Premier League32000032
2009Russian Premier League2433000273
Total2753000305
Partizan2010–11Serbian SuperLiga1331100144
2011–12Serbian SuperLiga211343513017
2012–13Serbian SuperLiga00002020
Total341654714621
PAOK2012–13Super League Greece72000072
2013–14Super League Greece281054513815
Total351254514517
Veria2014–15Super League Greece300030
Career total34597361847810429123

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[31] !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Serbia and Montenegro200392
200473
200591
200610
Total266

Honours

Partizan

Shakhtar Donetsk

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players . FIFA . 24 . 21 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf . 10 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Martinović i Nedović od leta u Partizanu? . sr . glas-javnosti.rs . 27 April 2000 . 4 December 2011.
  3. Web site: Zvonimir Vukić . sr . partizanopedia.rs . 7 June 2022.
  4. Web site: Zvonimir Vukić: 'Rano je za priču o odlasku!' . sr . b92.net . 26 May 2003 . 2 August 2012.
  5. Web site: Shakhtar shell out for Vukic . UEFA . 6 June 2003 . 26 March 2012.
  6. Web site: Sunderland 1–4 Portsmouth . BBC Sport. 29 October 2005 . 1 September 2009.
  7. Web site: Vukić konačno potpisao za Partizan . sr . mondo.rs . 30 January 2006 . 8 January 2012.
  8. Web site: Vukić teže povređen! . sr . novosti.rs . 5 February 2006 . 8 January 2012.
  9. Web site: http://news.sportbox.ru/Vidy_sporta/Futbol/Futbol-Vukichu-razreshili-igrati-za-Moskvu . ru:Футбол: Вукичу разрешили играть за "Москву" . ru . sportbox.ru . 16 October 2008 . 25 March 2016.
  10. Web site: Vukić samo trenira u Partizanu ili...? . sr . sportal.rs . 20 May 2010 . 2 December 2010.
  11. Web site: Vukić ponovo u Partizanu? . sr . b92.net . 18 November 2010 . 2 December 2010.
  12. Web site: B92: Vukić ponovo u Partizanu . sr . b92.net . 31 January 2011 . 31 January 2011.
  13. Web site: Tagoe i Vukić za jači Partizan! . sr . mondo.rs . 31 January 2011 . 8 January 2012.
  14. Web site: Vukić rezervisao "desetku" . sr . sportske.net . 18 June 2011 . 25 March 2016.
  15. Web site: KUP: Partizan rutinski kroz Novi Pazar . sr . mondo.rs . 21 September 2011 . 12 December 2011.
  16. Web site: Dva gola Vukića za trijumf Partizana . sr . novosti.rs . 15 October 2011 . 4 December 2011.
  17. Web site: Ocene – Osporavani izrasli u junake... . sr . sportske.net . 26 November 2011 . 27 November 2011.
  18. Web site: Vukić produžio ugovor! . sr . partizan.rs . 24 January 2012 . 24 January 2012.
  19. Web site: Vukić ostaje u Partizanu . sr . b92.net . 24 January 2012 . 24 January 2012.
  20. Web site: Vermezović precrtao Vukića i Smiljanića . sr . mondo.rs . 10 August 2012 . 12 June 2016.
  21. Web site: Vukić izbačen sa treninga! . sr . b92.net . 11 August 2012 . 12 June 2016.
  22. Web site: Ο Zvonimir Vukić στον ΠΑΟΚ . el . paokfc.gr . 30 January 2013 . 30 January 2013.
  23. Web site: ZVONIMIR VUKIC . slgr.gr . 7 June 2022.
  24. Web site: Berg inspires Panathiakos to Greek Cup triumph . UEFA . 26 April 2014 . 27 April 2014.
  25. Web site: Παίκτης της Βέροιας ο Zvonimir Vukic . el . veriafc.gr . 7 September 2014 . 7 September 2014.
  26. Web site: Λύση συνεργασίας με Zvonimir Vukic . el . veriafc.gr . 12 February 2015 . 17 February 2015.
  27. Web site: Vukić Zvonimir . sr . reprezentacija.rs . 7 June 2022.
  28. Web site: Serbia complete Wales double . BBC Sport. 11 October 2003 . 8 January 2012.
  29. Web site: Vukic in contention with comeback . BBC Sport. 4 May 2006 . 14 April 2014.
  30. Web site: Argentina 6–0 Serbia & Montenegro . BBC Sport. 16 June 2006 . 14 April 2014.
  31. Web site: Zvonimir Vukić, international football player . eu-football.info . 7 June 2022.