Igor Jovićević
Encyclopedia
Igor Jovićević is a Croatia
n former football player.
After being labeled as the new Zvonimir Boban
while playing in the youth team of the most successful Croatian club, NK Dinamo Zagreb, with only 17 years, he signed, in summer of 1991 a contract with Real Madrid
. His transfer cost was one million dollars, however, the contact was based on the fact that the Merengues, in case of lining him in the first team, would have to pay a total of five million, being that the probable cause of having him playing in the B squad. He had the privilege there of being trained by world class experts, like Rafa Benitez, among others, and he had to opportunity of playing along some youngsters that would become worldwide stars, like Raúl
, Guti, Juan Esnáider
or Urzaiz. But there was another unquestionable fact that made his career shine much less than initially expected, a heavy injury that he had while playing against Ukraine with the Croatian national team. After having a one year pause, he returned to Croatia to play with another club from the capital of the now independent Croatia, NK Zagreb
. But, he was not the same any more. From then on, he would have an exotic career, playing with J. League Division 1 club Yokohama F. Marinos
, Brazilian Guarani Futebol Clube
and a short spell in France with FC Metz
before moving to China to play with Shenyang Dongjin
, a discrete passage in Ukraine with Karpaty Lviv before definitely finishing his career in China, again, with a new knee ligaments injury, aged 32. After retiring, he returned to Spain, this time to Marbella
where he owns a bar.
|1999||Yokohama F. Marinos
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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 ...
n former football player.
After being labeled as the new Zvonimir Boban
Zvonimir Boban
Zvonimir Boban is a Croatian former football midfielder who played most of his professional career for Serie A club Milan, with whom he won four Serie A titles and the Champions League. He was a member of the Croatia national team which attained third place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, with Boban...
while playing in the youth team of the most successful Croatian club, NK Dinamo Zagreb, with only 17 years, he signed, in summer of 1991 a contract with Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. His transfer cost was one million dollars, however, the contact was based on the fact that the Merengues, in case of lining him in the first team, would have to pay a total of five million, being that the probable cause of having him playing in the B squad. He had the privilege there of being trained by world class experts, like Rafa Benitez, among others, and he had to opportunity of playing along some youngsters that would become worldwide stars, like Raúl
Raúl González
Raúl González Blanco , known simply as Raúl, is a Spanish footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for German club Schalke 04....
, Guti, Juan Esnáider
Juan Esnáider
Juan Eduardo Esnáider is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a striker. His surname is a Spanish spelling reform of the German Schneider, which means "tailor"...
or Urzaiz. But there was another unquestionable fact that made his career shine much less than initially expected, a heavy injury that he had while playing against Ukraine with the Croatian national team. After having a one year pause, he returned to Croatia to play with another club from the capital of the now independent Croatia, NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
. But, he was not the same any more. From then on, he would have an exotic career, playing with J. League Division 1 club Yokohama F. Marinos
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...
, Brazilian Guarani Futebol Clube
Guarani Futebol Clube
Guarani Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football club located in Campinas, São Paulo. Guarani is also known as Bugre, a popular term for an Indigenous Brazilian...
and a short spell in France with FC Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
before moving to China to play with Shenyang Dongjin
Shenyang Dongjin
Shenyang Dongjin Football Club is a Chinese football club its based in Shenyang, China.Founded as Jining Dranix Football Club in 1999, the team was then based in Jining, Shandong. They stayed there until 2004...
, a discrete passage in Ukraine with Karpaty Lviv before definitely finishing his career in China, again, with a new knee ligaments injury, aged 32. After retiring, he returned to Spain, this time to Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
where he owns a bar.
Club statistics
|-|1999||Yokohama F. Marinos
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...
||J. League 1||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|}
External sources
- Profile at Playerhistory.
- Stats from Spain at BDFutbol.
- Profile at Zerozero.
- Stats from Ukraine at Klisf.
- Profile at Ukrainian Federation site.