Ante Covic
Encyclopedia
Ante Čović (ˈaːntɛ ˈtʃɔːʋitɕ) (born 13 June 1975) is an Australia
n football (soccer)
player. He is a goalkeeper who currently plays for Melbourne Victory
in the Hyundai A-League. Covic was a member of the Australian national team as the third choice goalkeeper in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Finals in Germany
.
in Sweden
, as well as Marconi Stallions
and Sydney Olympic in Australia's old National Soccer League
, PAOK Salonika and AO Kavala in Greece
and Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia
. Melbourne Victory have loaned Covic for the start of the 2011-12 Hyundai A-League season while first choice Goal Keeper Tando Velaphi is injured. Covic will star alongside marquee recruit Harry Kewell.
debut in a 3-2 loss to Adelaide United
in December 2006 at Hindmarsh Stadium
. Covic was the starting goalkeeper for Newcastle Jets in the 2007 season which he won the A-league championship. On 17 March 2009, it was announced that Covic was leaving the Jets for a 3-year deal with Swedish club IF Elfsborg
.
as an injury replacement for Tando Velaphi
who was ruled out for 12 weeks. Ante debuted in the opening game for the Hyundai A-League season against Sydney FC
at Etihad Stadium in front of 40,000 in attendance. Covic coped brilliantly with everything that came his way. Covic achieved instant hero status with the home fans when he thwarted Emerton
from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, he was named man of the match in the 0-0 draw. He was again named man of the match after the Melbourne Derby two weeks later.
In the A-League
Round 5 match between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory
in 2011, Covic, along with fellow Victory defender Matthew Foschini
, were controversially sent off by referee Ben Williams
for challenges against Roar defenders, reducing the Victory to playing with nine men throughout the match.
qualifiers against Uruguay
and was Australia's third choice goalkeeper behind Mark Schwarzer
and Željko Kalac
for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in Germany
.
He made his debut for Australia against Bahrain
on 22 February 2006 in an Asian Cup qualifier. On 22 March 2008 he earned his second cap against Singapore
in an international friendly and was captain
for part of the second half after Harry Kewell
and Jade North
left the field.
As of 2011, Čović has two international caps with Australia.
PAOK
Newcastle Jets
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. He is a goalkeeper who currently plays for Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
in the Hyundai A-League. Covic was a member of the Australian national team as the third choice goalkeeper in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
Finals in Germany
Germany
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...
.
Club career
He formerly played for Hammarby IFHammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, as well as Marconi Stallions
Marconi Stallions
The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian football club located in Sydney, Australia. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne FC and Sydney City SC...
and Sydney Olympic in Australia's old National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
, PAOK Salonika and AO Kavala in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Melbourne Victory have loaned Covic for the start of the 2011-12 Hyundai A-League season while first choice Goal Keeper Tando Velaphi is injured. Covic will star alongside marquee recruit Harry Kewell.
Newcastle Jets
Covic made his A-LeagueA-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
debut in a 3-2 loss to Adelaide United
Adelaide United FC
Adelaide United Football Club is a professional football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It currently participates in the A-League as the sole team from the state of South Australia. Adelaide is one of the most successful clubs in the A-League. The club's home ground is...
in December 2006 at Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
. Covic was the starting goalkeeper for Newcastle Jets in the 2007 season which he won the A-league championship. On 17 March 2009, it was announced that Covic was leaving the Jets for a 3-year deal with Swedish club IF Elfsborg
IF Elfsborg
IF Elfsborg is a Swedish football club located in Borås. The club has won five national championship titles, the latest in 2006, and two national cup titles. Currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. Elfsborg is based at Borås Arena...
.
Melbourne Victory
On October 4th 2011, Covic signed a one year deal with Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
as an injury replacement for Tando Velaphi
Tando Velaphi
Tando Yuji Velaphi is an Australian football goalkeeper who currently plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Before joining Victory in 2011, he spent several seasons at , eventually developing into their first-choice 'keeper....
who was ruled out for 12 weeks. Ante debuted in the opening game for the Hyundai A-League season against Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
at Etihad Stadium in front of 40,000 in attendance. Covic coped brilliantly with everything that came his way. Covic achieved instant hero status with the home fans when he thwarted Emerton
Brett Emerton
Brett Michael Emerton is an Australian football player who plays for Sydney FC and the Australia national team...
from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, he was named man of the match in the 0-0 draw. He was again named man of the match after the Melbourne Derby two weeks later.
In the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
Round 5 match between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
in 2011, Covic, along with fellow Victory defender Matthew Foschini
Matthew Foschini
Matthew Foschini is an Australian football player currently playing for Melbourne Victory.-Club career:On 18 August 2009, he was signed to a contract with the Melbourne Victory senior squad on a two-year deal...
, were controversially sent off by referee Ben Williams
Ben Williams (referee)
Benjamin Jon Williams , better known as Ben Williams, is an Australian football referee. He is also a physical education teacher at Belconnen High School in Hawker, Canberra....
for challenges against Roar defenders, reducing the Victory to playing with nine men throughout the match.
International career
He was part of the Australian squad for the 2006 World Cup2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
qualifiers against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
and was Australia's third choice goalkeeper behind Mark Schwarzer
Mark Schwarzer
Mark Schwarzer OAM is an Australian association football player who plays as a goalkeeper. He currently plays for Premier League club Fulham. He rose to prominence during his time at North-East England football club Middlesbrough...
and Željko Kalac
Željko Kalac
Željko Kalac is a retired Australian football goalkeeper. Standing at 2.02m, Kalac is one of the world's tallest professional goalkeepers....
for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
in Germany
Germany
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...
.
He made his debut for Australia against Bahrain
Bahrain national football team
The Bahrain national football team is the national team of the Kingdom of Bahrain and is controlled by the Bahrain Football Association; it was founded in 1951 and joined FIFA in 1966. They have never reached the finals of the World Cup, but have twice come within one match of doing so...
on 22 February 2006 in an Asian Cup qualifier. On 22 March 2008 he earned his second cap against Singapore
Singapore national football team
The Singapore national football team is the national association football team of Singapore. The team comes under the organization of the Football Association of Singapore...
in an international friendly and was captain
Captain (Australian rules football)
A captain of an Australian rules football team, sometimes known as a skipper is a player who, during the course of a match and off the field, has several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player....
for part of the second half after Harry Kewell
Harry Kewell
Harold "Harry" Kewell is an Australian professional football midfielder who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Internationally he has received 55 caps, and scored 16 goals, while playing for the Australian national team...
and Jade North
Jade North
Jade Bronson North is an Indigenous Australian association football player. He played as a centre back or full back for the FC Tokyo in the J. League Division 2...
left the field.
As of 2011, Čović has two international caps with Australia.
Club
PAOK
- Greek Football CupGreek football CupThe Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
: 2001
Newcastle Jets
- A-LeagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
: 2007-2008A-League 2007-08The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and...
Individual
- Newcastle Jets Player's Player of the Year: 2007-2008Newcastle United Jets FC season 2007-08The A-League 2007-08 season was their most successful A-League season. They defeated 1-0 in their first Grand Final, winning the Championship and qualifying for the AFC Champions League 2009....