Robert Koren
Encyclopedia
Robert Koren is a Slovenian footballer who plays as a midfielder
for Hull City
and as the captain for the Slovenian national team
.
, Dravograd
and Radlje in his home country, before transferring to Norwegian
side Lillestrøm in 2004.
, many regarding him as the best foreigner in the entire competition. Koren was the definitive playmaker for Lillestrøm, and has often been compared to his former idol Zlatko Zahovič
. During his time in Norway he was linked with a move to English club Leeds United
.
Championship club West Bromwich Albion in a Bosman ruling
, penning an 18 month contract with a further year's option in the club's favour. He made his debut two days later as a late substitute in the Baggies' 3–1 win over Leeds United
in the FA Cup 3rd round. Koren scored his first goal for the club in a 7–0 home win against Barnsley
on 6 May 2007, the last day of the league season. The victory ensured Albion's place in the Championship
promotion play-offs. Koren started all three play-off games as Albion beat Wolves
in the two-legged semi-final but lost 1–0 to Derby County
in the Wembley
final.
In July 2007 Koren suffered a freak accident in training when a ball hit him in the eye, causing internal bleeding and temporary loss of vision. Although he made a full recovery, he later admitted that he had feared for his sight. The injury meant that he missed the start of the 2007–08
season, but he returned to the side at the end of August as a substitute in a League Cup
game against Peterborough
. In mid-September he signed a new two-year contract at Albion, with a further year's option in the club's favour. He has been described by former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray
as a "model pro". Koren's two goals in Albion's 3–2 defeat away at Southampton
in October 2007 earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week. Koren scored his first Premier League goal on 17 January 2009 and was named man of the match as Albion beat Middlesbrough
3–0. His goal in Albion's 2–2 draw with Burnley in the FA Cup earned him the ITV
goal of the round.
In the 2008–09 Premier League season, Koren proved his reliability and consistency by making the most appearances of the season for an outfield player at West Brom, only appearing fewer times than goalkeeper Scott Carson
. On 17 May 2010, Koren was released by West Bromwich Albion
after the club chose not to take up their option to extend his contract.
on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract, with an option of a third year, just after the start of the season following their relegation from the Premier League with one game of the Football League Championship
already played. He made his debut for the club when he came on as a replacement for Will Atkinson
at Millwall
on 14 August 2010. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 home victory over Derby County
on 14 September 2010.
He also scored goals away at Norwich City
and Leicester City
and scored a 25 yard strike at home to Ipswich Town
, and also scored what proved to be the winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over Watford
.
On 17 September 2011 against Portsmouth
at the KC Stadium
, Koren picked up possession, picked his spot and fired home into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
On 24 September 2011 against Bristol City
at Ashton Gate Stadium, Koren played a neat ball into Aaron McLean
's feet and when the pass was returned, Koren stroked a lovely low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
On 22 October 2011 against Watford
at the KC Stadium
, Koren picked up possession midway inside the City half, drifted past three Watford players before driving home into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards.
On 29 November 2011 against Southampton
at St Mary's Stadium
, a flowing move down the left ended with Cairney
pulling the ball back to Koren, whose shot deflected off Fryatt
and brought a stunning save out of Davis
. But the rebound fell for Koren, who nodded home from close range.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and as the captain for the Slovenian national team
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
.
Early career
Koren played for PublikumNK Publikum
NK Celje is a football from Slovenia. They are based in Celje, Slovenia's third largest city. They play in First Slovenian League, 1.SNL. Together with NK Maribor and ND Gorica they are the only club that have participated in every season of 1.SNL since its formation in 1991.-History:NK Celje was...
, Dravograd
NK Dravograd
NK Dravograd is a Slovenian football club, which plays in the town of Dravograd. They currently play in the Slovenian Third League.- Current squad :As of April 2010....
and Radlje in his home country, before transferring to Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
side Lillestrøm in 2004.
Lillestrøm
He became one of the most highly rated players of the Norwegian Premier LeagueNorwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
, many regarding him as the best foreigner in the entire competition. Koren was the definitive playmaker for Lillestrøm, and has often been compared to his former idol Zlatko Zahovič
Zlatko Zahovic
Zlatko Zahovič is a retired Slovenian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.After making a name for himself in Europe in Portugal, most notably with Porto and Benfica, he went on to have unassuming spells in Spain and Greece...
. During his time in Norway he was linked with a move to English club 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...
.
West Bromwich Albion
On 4 January 2007, Koren signed for EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Championship club West Bromwich Albion in a Bosman ruling
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
, penning an 18 month contract with a further year's option in the club's favour. He made his debut two days later as a late substitute in the Baggies' 3–1 win over 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...
in the FA Cup 3rd round. Koren scored his first goal for the club in a 7–0 home win against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on 6 May 2007, the last day of the league season. The victory ensured Albion's place in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
promotion play-offs. Koren started all three play-off games as Albion beat Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in the two-legged semi-final but lost 1–0 to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in the Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
final.
In July 2007 Koren suffered a freak accident in training when a ball hit him in the eye, causing internal bleeding and temporary loss of vision. Although he made a full recovery, he later admitted that he had feared for his sight. The injury meant that he missed the start of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season, but he returned to the side at the end of August as a substitute in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
game against Peterborough
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
. In mid-September he signed a new two-year contract at Albion, with a further year's option in the club's favour. He has been described by former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray
Tony Mowbray
Anthony Mark "Tony" Mowbray is an English former professional football player, who is currently the manager of Middlesbrough...
as a "model pro". Koren's two goals in Albion's 3–2 defeat away at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in October 2007 earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week. Koren scored his first Premier League goal on 17 January 2009 and was named man of the match as Albion beat Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
3–0. His goal in Albion's 2–2 draw with Burnley in the FA Cup earned him the ITV
ITV Sport
ITV Sport is a sport producer and brand name owned by ITV plc. It was formed from the amalgamation of Granada Sport, Carlton's sports department and ISN, the sports division of London News Network. The company produces Champions League and FA Cup Football, along with coverage of England's national...
goal of the round.
In the 2008–09 Premier League season, Koren proved his reliability and consistency by making the most appearances of the season for an outfield player at West Brom, only appearing fewer times than goalkeeper Scott Carson
Scott Carson
Scott Paul Carson is an English footballer who plays for Bursaspor as a goalkeeper.He joined the Leeds United football academy in 2002, making his full first team debut for Leeds against Manchester United in February 2004...
. On 17 May 2010, Koren was released by West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
after the club chose not to take up their option to extend his contract.
Hull City
On 13 August 2010, he joined Hull CityHull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract, with an option of a third year, just after the start of the season following their relegation from the Premier League with one game of the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
already played. He made his debut for the club when he came on as a replacement for Will Atkinson
Will Atkinson
William Henry "Will" Atkinson is an English football midfielder who plays for League Two club Plymouth Argyle on loan from Hull City....
at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on 14 August 2010. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 home victory over Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 14 September 2010.
He also scored goals away at Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and scored a 25 yard strike at home to Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, and also scored what proved to be the winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
.
On 17 September 2011 against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
at the KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
, Koren picked up possession, picked his spot and fired home into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
On 24 September 2011 against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
at Ashton Gate Stadium, Koren played a neat ball into Aaron McLean
Aaron McLean
Aaron McLean is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a striker.-Early career:Born in Hammersmith, London, McLean attended Robert Clack School in Dagenham. He has played for Leyton Orient and Aldershot Town....
's feet and when the pass was returned, Koren stroked a lovely low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
On 22 October 2011 against Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
at the KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
, Koren picked up possession midway inside the City half, drifted past three Watford players before driving home into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards.
On 29 November 2011 against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
at St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium is the home of Southampton F.C., in the city of Southampton. It is a UEFA 4-star rated stadium and with a capacity of 32,689 is the largest football stadium in the south of England, outside of London.-History:...
, a flowing move down the left ended with Cairney
Tom Cairney
Thomas "Tom" Cairney is a footballer who plays for Hull City as a midfielder. Born in England, he has played for Scotland at under-19 and under-21 level.-Club career:...
pulling the ball back to Koren, whose shot deflected off Fryatt
Matty Fryatt
Matthew Charles Fryatt is an English footballer currently playing as a striker for Hull City. A product of Walsall's youth system, Fryatt is a lifelong supporter of Manchester United....
and brought a stunning save out of Davis
Kelvin Davis
Kelvin Geoffrey Davis is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for newly-promoted Championship club Southampton. Born in Bedford, Davis began his career with Luton Town as a youth player in 1991 and remained there until 1999. Davis later played for Wimbledon, Ipswich Town and...
. But the rebound fell for Koren, who nodded home from close range.
External links
- National team stats
- BIO on www.ofsajd.com
- Player profile – West Bromwich Albion
- Player profile – NZS