Mirko Grabovac

Mirko Grabovac (born 19 September 1971) is a Croatian former professional football player and coach. He had changed his nationality to Singaporean in 2001 in order to play for the Singapore national football team before renouncing it in 2008.

Mirko Grabovac
Personal information
Full name Mirko Grabovac
Date of birth (1971-09-19) 19 September 1971
Place of birth Stobreč, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1995 Primorac 1929 4 (0)
1995–1996 Cibalia Vinkovci 16 (2)
1996–1997 Zadarkomerc Zadar 11 (1)
1997–1999 Primorac 1929 33 (10)
1999–2003 Singapore Armed Forces 137 (143)
2004–2007 Tampines Rovers 100 (83)
2008 Sengkang Punggol 2 (0)
National team‡
2001–2008 Singapore 12 (0)
Teams managed
2008 Sengkang Punggol (caretaker)
2009 NK Mosor
2009–2013 NK Imotski
2013–2017 NK Mosor
2018 Warriors FC
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 May 2009
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 May 2009

Football career

Grabovac was the top scorer in Singapore's S.League in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 while playing for the Singapore Armed Forces FC (SAFFC), and again in 2005 playing for Tampines Rovers. He was named the S.League's Player of the Year in 2000.

With SAFFC, he scored a total of 150 S.League goals in five seasons along with seven goals in Asian competitions.

In 2007, he scored his 240th S.League goals in the Singapore Cup semi-final against Bangkok University to overtake Egmar Goncalves as the all-time S.League top goalscorer.

A year later, Grabovac was hired by Sengkang Punggol to play as a striker as well as double up as the assistant coach under head coach Saswadimata Dasuki. However, he was unable to pass the mandatory beep test twice, and served as caretaker coach for the Dolphins for a short period, starting with a 1–0 win over Gombak United which was Sengkang's second victory of the season.

Grabovac stepped down two months later as Swandi Ahmad was put in charge of the squad, and the Croatian decided to leave Singapore on 5 October 2008 to rejoin his family in his native Croatia renouncing his citizenship as well.

Coaching career

Grabovac started coaching in his native Croatia in 2009, taking charge of NK Mosor. He the joined NK Imotski in the same year, and coached them for 3 years. He then returned to Mosor and coached them for a further 4 years.

In early 2018, Grabovac was announced as the new head coach of his former club Warriors FC, this would mark his return to his former adopted nation in a footballing capacity since he renounced his Singaporean citizenship.[1] The appointment was met with disapproval by Singaporean footballing fans and communities because of his citizenship affair stated above.[2] He received his permit to coach Warriors from the authorities on March 2018.[3] His time with Warriors were a disappointing one, finishing in fifth position out of nine in the 2019 Singapore Premier League.[4] His contract were not renewed beyond that season.[5]

Honours

Club

Singapore Armed Forces

Tampines Rovers

Individual
  • S.League Top Scorer Award: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005
  • S.League Player of the Year: 2000
  • S.League Player of Decade
  • 244 S.League Goals

References
  1. http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/grabovac-returns-as-warriors-coach
  2. http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/grabovacs-s-league-return-up-in-the-air
  3. https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/s-league-mirko-grabovac-permitted-to-begin-warriors-fc-coaching
  4. https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/singapore-football/947690/aidil-sharin-to-perak-lim-lee-saeng-spotted-at-choa-chu-kang-stadium/
  5. https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/singapore-football/964044/warriors-go-for-proven-spl-credentials-with-home-duo-plazibat-and-paul-lee/
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