Zvonimir Vukić

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

Zvonimir Vukić
Vukić with PAOK in 2013
Personal information
Full name Zvonimir Vukić
Date of birth (1979-07-19) 19 July 1979
Place of birth Zrenjanin, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
Proleter Zrenjanin
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1998 Proleter Zrenjanin 36 (3)
1998–2000 Atlético Madrid B 40 (4)
2000–2003 Partizan 86 (44)
2003–2008 Shakhtar Donetsk 73 (12)
2005 → Portsmouth (loan) 9 (1)
2006 → Partizan (loan) 2 (0)
2008–2010 Moscow 27 (5)
2011–2012 Partizan 34 (16)
2013–2014 PAOK 35 (12)
2014–2015 Veria 3 (0)
Total 345 (97)
National team
1998–1999 FR Yugoslavia U21[lower-alpha 1] 2 (0)
2003–2006 Serbia and Montenegro 26 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

At international level, Vukić represented Serbia and Montenegro 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.[1] He made a name for himself over the following four seasons at the club, scoring 52 goals in all competitions. In the 2002–03 season, Vukić was the league's top scorer with 22 goals, as Partizan won the title.[2]

In June 2003, Vukić signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian runners-up Shakhtar Donetsk.[3] He was the club's 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.[4] 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.[5] 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,[6] 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.[7] 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,[8] and November 2010,[9] after training for several months with the club, 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.[10] Vukić chose the number 80 shirt and was officially presented together with Ghanaian international Prince Tagoe.[11] 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.[12] He opened the season with a goal against Shkëndija in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. However, after a weak form in August 2010, Vukić became a 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.[13] 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.[14] 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 over arch-rivals on 26 November 2011, becoming a fans favorite again.[15] 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.[16][17] 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.[18][19]

Career in Greece

On 30 January 2013, Vukić joined PAOK on a free transfer, signing a one-and-a-half-year deal.[20] He played three matches in the Superleague 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 Superleague Greece playoffs.

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 1–4 loss to Panathinaikos.[21] 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.[22] On 12 February 2015, Vukić terminated his contract with Veria by mutual consent.[23]

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. He scored his first national team goal in a 3–2 win over Wales at Millennium Stadium on 11 October 2003.[24]

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.[25] Eventually, Vukić made one appearance in the final tournament, coming in from the bench in a 0–6 loss to Argentina.[26]

Career statistics

Club
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Proleter Zrenjanin 1996–97 60——60
1997–98 30340—343
Total 36340—403
Atlético Madrid B 1998–99 314———314
1999–2000 90———90
Total 404———404
Partizan 1999–2000 610000—61
2000–01 2174320—2710
2001–02 29143231—3517
2002–03 30223171—4024
Total 8644106122—10852
Shakhtar Donetsk 2003–04 27104152—3613
2004–05 2703113200433
2005–06 2000000020
2006–07 132320000164
2007–08 4030101090
Total 73121341941010620
Portsmouth (loan) 2005–06 9100——91
Partizan (loan) 2005–06 200000—20
Moscow 2008 320000—32
2009 2433000—273
Total 2753000—305
Partizan 2010–11 1331100—144
2011–12 21134351—3017
2012–13 000020—20
Total 34165471—4621
PAOK 2012–13 720000—72
2013–14 28105451—3815
Total 35125451—4517
Veria 2014–15 3000——30
Career total 34597361847810429123

International
National teamYearAppsGoals
Serbia and Montenegro 200392
200473
200591
200610
Total266

Honours

Club
Partizan
Shakhtar Donetsk

Individual

Notes
  1. Only official UEFA matches included

References
  1. "Martinović i Nedović od leta u Partizanu?" (in Serbian). glas-javnosti.rs. 27 April 2000. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  2. "Zvonimir Vukić: 'Rano je za priču o odlasku!'" (in Serbian). b92.net. 26 May 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. "Shakhtar shell out for Vukic". uefa.com. 6 June 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  4. "Sunderland 1–4 Portsmouth". bbc.co.uk. 29 October 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  5. "Vukić konačno potpisao za Partizan" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  6. "Vukić teže povređen!" (in Serbian). novosti.rs. 5 February 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  7. Футбол: Вукичу разрешили играть за "Москву" (in Russian). sportbox.ru. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  8. "Vukić samo trenira u Partizanu ili...?" (in Serbian). sportal.rs. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  9. "Vukić ponovo u Partizanu?" (in Serbian). b92.net. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  10. "B92: Vukić ponovo u Partizanu" (in Serbian). b92.net. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  11. "Tagoe i Vukić za jači Partizan!" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  12. "Vukić rezervisao "desetku"" (in Serbian). sportske.net. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  13. "KUP: Partizan rutinski kroz Novi Pazar" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  14. "Dva gola Vukića za trijumf Partizana" (in Serbian). novosti.rs. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  15. "Ocene – Osporavani izrasli u junake..." (in Serbian). sportske.net. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  16. "Vukić produžio ugovor!" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  17. "Vukić ostaje u Partizanu" (in Serbian). b92.net. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  18. "Vermezović precrtao Vukića i Smiljanića" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  19. "Vukić izbačen sa treninga!" (in Serbian). b92.net. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  20. "Ο Zvonimir Vukić στον ΠΑΟΚ" (in Greek). paokfc.gr. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  21. "Berg inspires Panathiakos to Greek Cup triumph". uefa.com. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  22. "Παίκτης της Βέροιας ο Zvonimir Vukic" (in Greek). veriafc.gr. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  23. "Λύση συνεργασίας με Zvonimir Vukic" (in Greek). veriafc.gr. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  24. "Serbia complete Wales double". bbc.co.uk. 11 October 2003. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  25. "Vukic in contention with comeback". bbc.co.uk. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  26. "Argentina 6–0 Serbia & Montenegro". bbc.co.uk. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
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