Predrag Jokanovic
Encyclopedia
Predrag Jokanović is a retired Serbia
n professional footballer and a current manager
.
In his playing days, spent almost exclusively in Portugal
- exactly ten years, nine of those in the first division - he played mainly as a defensive midfielder (although he could occasionally appear as a central defender).
After retiring in 2003, Jokanović took on a manager career, in the same country.
, appearing for each of the island's biggest teams. He started at C.F. União in 1993, when it was in the top flight of Portuguese football. When the team was relegated in 1995, he transferred to neighbours C.S. Marítimo, the biggest and most successful of the local teams, enjoying six steady seasons in which he inclusively played in the 1998–99 UEFA Cup, losing to Leeds United
on penalties.
In 2001, after helping his team to the final of the Cup of Portugal
, Jokanović was released by the club, and promptly signed for fierce rivals C.D. Nacional, who were then competing in the second division
. After just one season at the club, he helped it win promotion, and played there for one more year, before retiring at almost 35 years of age.
and a match observer - he was re-signed on 13 December 2009, replacing Manuel Machado
who was recovering from surgery-related complications.
At the end of the 2009–10 season, Jokanović definitely replaced Machado at Nacional's helm, proffiting from the opportunity by signing several of his former compatriots (one Montenegrin
, one Slovene
and three Croats
), as his teams rarely fielded more than two or three Portuguese players.
On 13 March 2011, following a 1–1 home draw against Académica de Coimbra - who equalized in the 92nd minute
- Jokanović was fired by Nacional. He remained connected with the team subsequently, in the scouting department.
Jokanović returned to União da Madeira on 11 November 2011 - after 18 years - being appointed head coach at the second division club.
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...
n professional footballer and a current manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
In his playing days, spent almost exclusively in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
- exactly ten years, nine of those in the first division - he played mainly as a defensive midfielder (although he could occasionally appear as a central defender).
After retiring in 2003, Jokanović took on a manager career, in the same country.
Playing career
Jokanović spent the vast majority of his professional playing career on the Portuguese island of MadeiraMadeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
, appearing for each of the island's biggest teams. He started at C.F. União in 1993, when it was in the top flight of Portuguese football. When the team was relegated in 1995, he transferred to neighbours C.S. Marítimo, the biggest and most successful of the local teams, enjoying six steady seasons in which he inclusively played in the 1998–99 UEFA Cup, losing to Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
on penalties.
In 2001, after helping his team to the final of the Cup of Portugal
Taça de Portugal
The Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
, Jokanović was released by the club, and promptly signed for fierce rivals C.D. Nacional, who were then competing in the second division
Liga de Honra
The Liga de Honra , known for sponsorship reasons as the Liga Orangina, is the Portuguese second level football league. It was formerly called Segunda Divisão and Segunda Divisão de Honra . When the LPFP took control of the two nationwide levels, it was renamed Segunda Liga, before renaming it...
. After just one season at the club, he helped it win promotion, and played there for one more year, before retiring at almost 35 years of age.
Coaching career
After almost two years in charge of the club's under-19, Jokanović was appointed manager of Nacional midway through 2006–07, and left the club at the end of the following season. After two years as an assistant - he also served the team as a scoutScout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
and a match observer - he was re-signed on 13 December 2009, replacing Manuel Machado
Manuel Machado (football manager)
Manuel António Marques Machado is a Portuguese football manager.-Coaching career:Machado started his career with his local club Vitória de Guimarães' youth sides, having a head coach spell with lowly S.C. Vila Real in between. After two years with another modest team in the north, A.D...
who was recovering from surgery-related complications.
At the end of the 2009–10 season, Jokanović definitely replaced Machado at Nacional's helm, proffiting from the opportunity by signing several of his former compatriots (one Montenegrin
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...
, one Slovene
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
and three Croats
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 ...
), as his teams rarely fielded more than two or three Portuguese players.
On 13 March 2011, following a 1–1 home draw against Académica de Coimbra - who equalized in the 92nd 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...
- Jokanović was fired by Nacional. He remained connected with the team subsequently, in the scouting department.
Jokanović returned to União da Madeira on 11 November 2011 - after 18 years - being appointed head coach at the second division club.