Andrija Delibašic
Encyclopedia
Andrija Delibašić is a Montenegrin
footballer who plays for Rayo Vallecano
in La Liga
, as a striker.
, Socialist Republic of Montenegro
, Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, Delibašić started his professional career at FK Partizan
, where he played for three-and-a-half seasons. In January 2004 he transferred to RCD Mallorca
, never establishing himself in the first team (his best output being his first season, with four goals in 17 matches). In early 2005 he started a spell with S.L. Benfica that proved to be short and unsuccessful as he saw only a few minutes of action.
In 2005–06, Delibašić was loaned again, still to a Portuguese first division outfit, Sporting de Braga. In June, he had married his childhood love Milica. The following season, two more loan spells: starting off at AEK Athens FC, in January 2007, he was released and returned to Portugal, appearing for lowly S.C. Beira-Mar. His first match was against U.D. Leiria on 4 February.
In the 2007 pre-season, Delibašić came back to Mallorca and played some inspired football with six goals in two matches. However, that was not enough to remain with the team as they loaned him out again - this time to Real Sociedad
of the Spanish second division
. On 5 August 2008, he was definitely released, joining Hércules CF
(also second level) on a free transfer, and penning a two-year contract.
After two seasons as first-choice with the Alicante
club, achieving top flight promotion in 2010
, Delibašić moved to another team in the Spanish second division, Rayo Vallecano
, contributing with seven goals in 30 games as the Madrid
side also reached the first division
.
. A couple of months later he was also part of the Olympic team that exited in the first round
.
After a dramatic loss of form dropped him from international play, his chances for a national team callup increased in mid-2006 as Montenegro
separated from Serbia
and became an independent country, with Delibašić now eligible to play for the newly formed national team
due to his birthplace. However, even before Montenegro's inaugural match (24 March 2007) callup was announced, Delibašić voiced his dissatisfaction in the press about not being contacted by Montenegrin football officials at all and then said that he would never play for the national team in the future, if he was not included on the list of inaugural callups.
In September 2009, Delibašić was summoned for Montenegro's match with Bulgaria
, but did not play in the 1–4 defeat on the 5th. He finally made his debut on 10 October, scoring the 2–1 winner against Georgia
; both matches were 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers
.
On 7 October 2011, Delibašić scored his second goal for the national team, a dramatic 2–2 home draw against England
that led Montenegro to the UEFA Euro 2012 playoffs
. He helped the hosts come from behind 0–2 with his last-minute
header.
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
footballer who plays for Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, as a striker.
Club career
Born in NikšićNikšić
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
, Socialist Republic of Montenegro
Socialist Republic of Montenegro
Socialist Republic of Montenegro or SR Montenegro in shortened form, was a socialist state that was a constituent country in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is a predecessor of the modern day Montenegro...
, Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, Delibašić started his professional career at FK Partizan
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
, where he played for three-and-a-half seasons. In January 2004 he transferred to RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
, never establishing himself in the first team (his best output being his first season, with four goals in 17 matches). In early 2005 he started a spell with S.L. Benfica that proved to be short and unsuccessful as he saw only a few minutes of action.
In 2005–06, Delibašić was loaned again, still to a Portuguese first division outfit, Sporting de Braga. In June, he had married his childhood love Milica. The following season, two more loan spells: starting off at AEK Athens FC, in January 2007, he was released and returned to Portugal, appearing for lowly S.C. Beira-Mar. His first match was against U.D. Leiria on 4 February.
In the 2007 pre-season, Delibašić came back to Mallorca and played some inspired football with six goals in two matches. However, that was not enough to remain with the team as they loaned him out again - this time to Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in the city of San Sebastián, Basque Country, founded on 7 September 1909...
of the Spanish second division
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
. On 5 August 2008, he was definitely released, joining Hércules CF
Hércules CF
Hércules Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1922, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, and holds home games at the Estadio José Rico Pérez, which seats 30,000 spectators.-History:After first...
(also second level) on a free transfer, and penning a two-year contract.
After two seasons as first-choice with the Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
club, achieving top flight promotion in 2010
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
, Delibašić moved to another team in the Spanish second division, Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid, S.A.D., often abbreviated to Rayo, is a Spanish football team based in Madrid, in the neighbourhood of Vallecas...
, contributing with seven goals in 30 games as the Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
side also reached the first division
2010–11 Segunda División
-Personnel and sponsorship:-Managerial changes:-League table:||style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=11 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-Positions by round:Source: -Results:...
.
International career
Delibašić played for the Serbia-Montenegro U21 team that finished runners-up at the 2004 European Football Championship in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. A couple of months later he was also part of the Olympic team that exited in the first round
Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics started on 11 August, , and ended on 28 August.The men's tournament is played by U-23 national teams, with up to three over age players allowed per squad...
.
After a dramatic loss of form dropped him from international play, his chances for a national team callup increased in mid-2006 as Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
separated from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and became an independent country, with Delibašić now eligible to play for the newly formed national team
Montenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
due to his birthplace. However, even before Montenegro's inaugural match (24 March 2007) callup was announced, Delibašić voiced his dissatisfaction in the press about not being contacted by Montenegrin football officials at all and then said that he would never play for the national team in the future, if he was not included on the list of inaugural callups.
In September 2009, Delibašić was summoned for Montenegro's match with Bulgaria
Bulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
, but did not play in the 1–4 defeat on the 5th. He finally made his debut on 10 October, scoring the 2–1 winner against Georgia
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
; both matches were 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
.
On 7 October 2011, Delibašić scored his second goal for the national team, a dramatic 2–2 home draw against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
that led Montenegro to the UEFA Euro 2012 playoffs
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...
. He helped the hosts come from behind 0–2 with his last-minute
Last-minute goal
The term "last-minute goal" is used in sport, primarily association football, to describe a goal scored very late in a game. It may not necessarily refer to a goal scored in the actual final minute...
header.