Bobby Despotovski
Encyclopedia
Slobodan "Bobby" Despotovski (born 14 July 1971 in Perth, Western Australia
) is an Australian football (soccer)
player of Serbian
origin.
because his mother, Valentina, was home-sick. He grew up with his family in the town of Pančevo
, 16 km outside capital Belgrade
, and played junior level football with Red Star Belgrade
.
When Despotovski was 15 he had a choice to continue either Handball which he says has always played a large part in his life or to pursue a career in professional football, eventually he chose football and was selected to play for the reserve team at his first senior club, Dinamo Pančevo.
After a stint with the Yugoslav People's Army
during the Balkans war
which ended as a result of self-inflicted injuries, Despotovski in 1992 returned to his birthplace, Perth and continued his professional career with Floreat Athena
in the Western Australian Premier League. In 1994 he joined Heidelberg
in the NSL
and left the club to join the now defunct NSL
club Morwell Falcons in 1995.
Bobby's career took off when he received a call from the then Perth Glory
general manager, Roger Lefort. The new club wanted Despotovski to lead their attack in the club's inaugural season and he certainly didn't disappoint scoring 14 goals in only 23 NSL
games.
Despotovski was in the center of a controversy when playing against the Melbourne Knights
(a team primarily supported by Croatian Australian
s) at the Somers Street Stadium on 21 May 2001 he gave a three fingered salute
to the predominantly Croatian crowd which is a Serbian Orthodox symbol that represents Orthodox Chistianity. As the Perth team left the stadium Despotovski and Perth coach Bernd Stange
were assaulted by angry Knights supporters. To avoid repetition of violence, the next Knights home fixture against Perth was played in Launceston
.
He was one of the most successful strikers in the now defunct Australian National Soccer League
. Despotovski was with the Western Australian team Perth Glory for 10 years.
Following the conclusion of the 2004/2005 season of the NSL
Despotovski signed with Perth Glory for the 2005/2006 A-League
season after a brief stint with the Bonnyrigg White Eagles
in the Vodafone Premier League
in NSW. Despotovski finished the season as joint top goal scorer of the league and winner of the Johnny Warren Medal
. Season 2006/2007 started without Bobby because of his re-occurring back injury but he returned to partner Stuart Young
up front.
He was the coach of Inglewood United
in 2007. He will also commence in 2008 as the coach of Perth boys school Hale School
's 1st XI Soccer side. Despotovski holds both the game and goal scoring record for Perth Glory.
Despotovski also owns a sports store on Hay Street
in the Perth central business district
, Bobby 10 Football World. He also regularly takes part in events held by Dianella White Eagles
.
: NSL Championship: 2002-2003, 2003–2004
Personal Honours:
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
) is an Australian 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 of Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
origin.
Biography
Only nine months after his birth his family moved to YugoslaviaYugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
because his mother, Valentina, was home-sick. He grew up with his family in the town of Pančevo
Pancevo
Pančevo is a city and municipality located in the southern part of Serbian province of Vojvodina, 15 km northeast from Belgrade. In 2002, the city had a total population of 77,087, while municipality of Pančevo had 127,162 inhabitants. It is the administrative center of the South Banat...
, 16 km outside capital Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, and played junior level football with Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
.
When Despotovski was 15 he had a choice to continue either Handball which he says has always played a large part in his life or to pursue a career in professional football, eventually he chose football and was selected to play for the reserve team at his first senior club, Dinamo Pančevo.
After a stint with the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
during the Balkans war
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
which ended as a result of self-inflicted injuries, Despotovski in 1992 returned to his birthplace, Perth and continued his professional career with Floreat Athena
Floreat Athena
Floreat Athena Football Club is a football club based in Perth, Western Australia. The club competes in the Football West Premier League. The club's founders were of Greek heritage....
in the Western Australian Premier League. In 1994 he joined Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
in the NSL
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...
and left the club to join the now defunct NSL
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...
club Morwell Falcons in 1995.
Bobby's career took off when he received a call from the then Perth Glory
Perth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
general manager, Roger Lefort. The new club wanted Despotovski to lead their attack in the club's inaugural season and he certainly didn't disappoint scoring 14 goals in only 23 NSL
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...
games.
Despotovski was in the center of a controversy when playing against the Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League...
(a team primarily supported by Croatian Australian
Croatian Australian
Croatia has been a source of migrants to Australia, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2006, 128,051 persons resident in Australia identified themselves as having Croatian ancestry.- History :...
s) at the Somers Street Stadium on 21 May 2001 he gave a three fingered salute
Three-finger salute (Serbian)
The three-finger salute is a salute expressing Serbian ethnic nationalism, made by extending the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the right hand...
to the predominantly Croatian crowd which is a Serbian Orthodox symbol that represents Orthodox Chistianity. As the Perth team left the stadium Despotovski and Perth coach Bernd Stange
Bernd Stange
Bernd Stange is a German football manager currently managing Belarus.Stange was born in a Sorbian town of Saxony. He started playing at an early age and was called into the East German youth team...
were assaulted by angry Knights supporters. To avoid repetition of violence, the next Knights home fixture against Perth was played in Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
.
He was one of the most successful strikers in the now defunct Australian 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...
. Despotovski was with the Western Australian team Perth Glory for 10 years.
Following the conclusion of the 2004/2005 season of the NSL
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...
Despotovski signed with Perth Glory for the 2005/2006 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...
season after a brief stint with the Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bonnyrigg White Eagles F.C. is a football club in Sydney currently playing in the New South Wales Premier League.- History :Established by Serbian migrants from the Cabramatta area of south-west Sydney, their primary supporter base has been the local Serbian community...
in the Vodafone Premier League
New South Wales Premier League
The New South Wales Premier League is the highest state-level men's soccer competition in New South Wales, Australia. Nationally, it is considered one grade lower than the A-League...
in NSW. Despotovski finished the season as joint top goal scorer of the league and winner of the Johnny Warren Medal
Johnny Warren Medal
The Johnny Warren Medal is the award for best player in the Australian national football club competition. It was first awarded in the National Soccer League in 1990, and upon the NSL's demise in November 2004, was carried forward into the A-League, the competition in Australia...
. Season 2006/2007 started without Bobby because of his re-occurring back injury but he returned to partner Stuart Young
Stuart Young
Stuart Young is an English footballer.-Career:Young’s senior football career began at Arsenal FC in 1990, before moving to his home town of Hull City in 1991. He spent two seasons at the Tigers, before spells at Northampton Town in 1993, Scarborough FC 1994, Scunthorpe United between 1994 to 1996,...
up front.
He was the coach of Inglewood United
Inglewood United
Inglewood United is a football team from Perth, Western Australia. They play in the Football West State League, the top league in Western Australia. Their home ground, Clipsal Stadium, is located in Inglewood....
in 2007. He will also commence in 2008 as the coach of Perth boys school Hale School
Hale School
Hale School is a selective, independent, Anglican day and boarding school for boys, located in Wembley Downs, a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
's 1st XI Soccer side. Despotovski holds both the game and goal scoring record for Perth Glory.
Despotovski also owns a sports store on Hay Street
Hay Street, Perth
Hay Street is a major road through the CBD of Perth, Western Australia. The street was named after Robert William Hay, the Permanent Under Secretary for Colonies. Sections of the road were called Howick Street and Twiss Street until 1897...
in the Perth central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
, Bobby 10 Football World. He also regularly takes part in events held by Dianella White Eagles
Dianella White Eagles
Dianella White Eagles are an Australian football club from Perth, Western Australia which was established by the local Serbian Australian community. The team was formed under the name of Dianella Serbia in 1978...
.
Honours
With Perth GloryPerth Glory FC
Perth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
: NSL Championship: 2002-2003, 2003–2004
Personal Honours:
- Johnny Warren MedalJohnny Warren MedalThe Johnny Warren Medal is the award for best player in the Australian national football club competition. It was first awarded in the National Soccer League in 1990, and upon the NSL's demise in November 2004, was carried forward into the A-League, the competition in Australia...
: 2005-2006 with Perth GloryPerth Glory FCPerth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League... - 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...
Golden Boot: 2005-2006A-League 2005-06The 2005-06 season was the first season of the A-League, a domestic club competition for football in Australia. After over 12 months without a national professional club competition, the first match in the A-League was played on 26 August 2005...
with Perth Glory - 8 goals - Perth GloryPerth Glory FCPerth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
Most Glorious Player Award: 2005-2006Perth Glory season 2005-06-Perth Glory 2005–06 History:In 2005, it was announced that former Liverpool and England star Steve McMahon would be appointed as coach. The new season saw a complete overhaul of the playing squad, with Simon Colosimo and former Sunderland and Leeds striker Brian Deane as key signings...
, 2003–2004, 2001–2002, 2000–2001 - Perth GloryPerth Glory FCPerth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
Player's Player of the Year: 2005-2006Perth Glory season 2005-06-Perth Glory 2005–06 History:In 2005, it was announced that former Liverpool and England star Steve McMahon would be appointed as coach. The new season saw a complete overhaul of the playing squad, with Simon Colosimo and former Sunderland and Leeds striker Brian Deane as key signings... - Perth GloryPerth Glory FCPerth Glory Football Club is a professional football club in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, competing in Australia's top football competition the A-League. Perth Glory is one of only three clubs to survive from the now defunct National Soccer League...
Member's Player of the Year: 2002-2003