Goran Marić (footballer)

Goran Marić Govorcin (Serbian Cyrillic: Горан Mapић; born 23 March 1984) is a Serbian former footballer who played as a striker.

Goran Marić
Personal information
Full name Goran Marić
Date of birth (1984-03-23) 23 March 1984
Place of birth Novi Sad, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Youth career
1999–2000 Compostela
2000–2001 Barcelona
2001–2003 Celta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2008 Celta B 147 (52)
2006 → Las Palmas (loan) 9 (0)
2008–2009 Celta 1 (0)
2008–2009 → Barcelona B (loan) 34 (11)
2009 Norwich City 0 (0)
2010 Real Unión 9 (0)
2010–2012 Lombard-Pápa 40 (17)
2012 Zhetysu 12 (1)
2012–2014 Lombard-Pápa 32 (10)
Total 275 (91)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He spent most of his professional career in Spain, almost exclusively in the lower leagues with Celta de Vigo B.

Football career

Early years / Celta

Born in Novi Sad, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Marić moved to Spain in his teens, going on to play for three different clubs as a youth, including FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo.[1] He made his senior debut with the latter's reserves and scored regularly for the Segunda División B side, notably netting 21 goals in 32 games in the 2007–08 season (best in his group, second overall); however, he only appeared once for the main squad in Segunda División, his output consisting of 30 minutes in a 1–2 home loss against CD Castellón on 2 February 2008.[2]

In 2008–09, Marić was loaned to another team in the third level, FC Barcelona B.[3] In June 2009, he was released by the Galicians.

Norwich City

Marić joined Norwich City on trial in the summer of 2009, touring with the club during its pre-season in Scotland and scoring twice in three matches, against Airdrie United and St Johnstone. Afterwards, manager Bryan Gunn confirmed he had been impressed well enough to offer the player a contract,[4] with the one-year deal being signed on 30 July.[5]

Marić made his official debut for the Canaries against Yeovil Town, for the campaign's Football League Cup, appearing as a substitute. His first start came in the 2009–10 Football League Trophy against Brentford (1–0 win)[6] but he was almost always fifth-choice during his spell, behind the habitual Grant Holt and Chris Martin but also Jamie Cureton and Cody McDonald; subsequently, he left the side after his link was terminated by mutual consent, on 3 December 2009.[7]

Speaking at the Holt Erotic Craft Fair in 2018, a slightly intoxicated Maric stated that he had a big problem with being behind Chris Martin in the pecking order, or pecker order, as Maric called it, "I saw Chris erect and I can tell you now that, even flaccid, I'm ahead of him in the pecker order", said the Serbian hotshot. Incidentally a sausage roll for sale at the popular Norwich market stall, Johnson's, was named after Maric. Since June 2018 the footlong 'Maric Munch' has been available for the price of just £2.50 and has proved a hit with many of the market frequenters.

Return to Spain / Hungary

For the second part of 2009–10, Marić returned to Spain and its division two, signing with Real Unión.[8] He appeared rarely during the season (less than one half of the league matches), also suffering team relegation.

Marić spent the better part of the following years in Hungary, in representation of Lombard-Pápa TFC.

Personal life

Marić's father, Zoran, was also a footballer and a striker. He too spent many years working in Spain, mainly with Celta.[9]

References
  1. "Goran Maric, goles y carácter para el Barça Atlètic" [Goran Maric, goals and pizzazz for Barça Atlètic] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  2. "El Castellón se la juega al Celta" [Castellón screw Celta]. Marca (in Spanish). 2 February 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  3. "Goran Maric se marcha al Barça de Luis Enrique" [Goran Maric goes to Luis Enrique's Barça] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 14 August 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  4. "Maric impresses Gunn in Scotland". BBC Sport. 17 July 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  5. "Maric and Askou sign Canary deals". BBC Sport. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  6. "Norwich 1–0 Brentford". BBC Sport. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  7. "Serbian striker Goran Maric leaves Norwich City". BBC Sport. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  8. "Goran Maric primer refuerzo" [Goran Maric first signing] (in Spanish). Real Unión. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  9. "Goran Maric: "Luis Enrique no se casa con nadie"" [Goran Maric: "Luis Enrique does not have protegés"] (in Spanish). Moi Celeste. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
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