Slaven Zambata
Encyclopedia
Slaven Zambata is a former Croatian football
player. He earned 31 caps and scored 21 goals for Yugoslavia
.
Zambata started playing football at his hometown club Junak Sinj
and was signed by Dinamo Zagreb in 1959, at the age of eighteen. He stayed with the Croatian powerhouse until 1969, and during this time earned a total of 393 appearances and scored 267 goals (93 of which in the Yugoslav First League
). He won four Yugoslav Cup
s with Dinamo (in 1960, 1963, 1965 and 1969) and also captained the team to their triumph in the 1966–67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in a campaign that saw Zambata scoring six goals. He also finished as Cup runner-up on two occasions (in 1964 and 1966) and was Inter-Cities Fairs Cup runner-up in 1963. After leaving Dinamo in 1969 he played for a few seasons for Belgian clubs KSV Waregem
and Crossing Club
before returning shortly to Zagreb in 1972. He quit playing football in 1973 after a couple of serious injuries (he had surgery performed on both of his menisci
just before his retirement).
As of 2009, he is still the 8th most prolific goalscorer in Dinamo's history in terms of total goals scored, and holds the distinction of being only one of two players who scored a hat-trick
in a Yugoslav Cup final game, against Hajduk Split
on 26 May 1963. Although Dinamo never won the Yugoslav championship during his 10 years with the club, they did finish as runners-up five times (in 1960, 1963, 1966, 1967 and 1969) in one of the most successful periods in the history of the club.
Considered one of the best Yugoslav forwards of the 1960s, Zambata had two appearances and netted two goals for Yugoslavia U-21
selection, before debuting for Yugoslavia
on 16 September 1962 in a friendly against East Germany
in Leipzig
. He went on to earn 31 caps and scored 21 goals, and his last game for the national team was on 27 October 1968 against Spain
in Belgrade
. During his international career he also captained Yugoslavia at the 1964 Olympics
in Tokyo
, where they finished sixth out of 16 teams.
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 earned 31 caps and scored 21 goals for Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
.
Zambata started playing football at his hometown club Junak Sinj
NK Junak Sinj
NK Junak Sinj, commonly referred to as Junak Sinj or just Junak is a Croatian football club based in the town of Sinj, in the southern Croatian region of Dalmatia. They currently compete in Druga HNL, Croatian second level. Junak play their home matches at the 3,096-capacity Gradski stadion Sinj...
and was signed by Dinamo Zagreb in 1959, at the age of eighteen. He stayed with the Croatian powerhouse until 1969, and during this time earned a total of 393 appearances and scored 267 goals (93 of which in the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
). He won four Yugoslav Cup
Yugoslav Cup
The Yugoslav Cup, officially the Marshal Tito Cup, was one of two major football competitions in the former Yugoslavia, the other one being the Yugoslav League Championship. The Yugoslav Cup took place after the league championships when every competitive league in Yugoslavia had finished, in order...
s with Dinamo (in 1960, 1963, 1965 and 1969) and also captained the team to their triumph in the 1966–67 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in a campaign that saw Zambata scoring six goals. He also finished as Cup runner-up on two occasions (in 1964 and 1966) and was Inter-Cities Fairs Cup runner-up in 1963. After leaving Dinamo in 1969 he played for a few seasons for Belgian clubs KSV Waregem
K.S.V. Waregem
Koninklijke Sportvereniging Waregem was a Belgian football club that existed between 1925 and 2001. It played three spells at the highest level in the Belgian football league system each separated by a single season at the second level: from 1966 to 1972, from 1973 to 1994 and in 1995–96...
and Crossing Club
K.V.V. Crossing Elewijt
Koninklijke Voetbal Vereniging Crossing Elewijt is a Belgian association football club from the village of Elewijt in the municipality of Zemst, Vlaams Brabant. It plays at the very last level in the Belgian football league system, i.e. in the 4th division of the regional league of...
before returning shortly to Zagreb in 1972. He quit playing football in 1973 after a couple of serious injuries (he had surgery performed on both of his menisci
Meniscus (anatomy)
In anatomy, a meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that, in contrast to articular disks, only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans it is present in the knee, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints; in other organisms they may be present in other...
just before his retirement).
As of 2009, he is still the 8th most prolific goalscorer in Dinamo's history in terms of total goals scored, and holds the distinction of being only one of two players who scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a Yugoslav Cup final game, against Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
on 26 May 1963. Although Dinamo never won the Yugoslav championship during his 10 years with the club, they did finish as runners-up five times (in 1960, 1963, 1966, 1967 and 1969) in one of the most successful periods in the history of the club.
Considered one of the best Yugoslav forwards of the 1960s, Zambata had two appearances and netted two goals for Yugoslavia U-21
Yugoslavia national under-21 football team
The Yugoslavia national under-21 football team existed in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After the state's dissolution in 1992, the following teams were formed:*Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team...
selection, before debuting for Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
on 16 September 1962 in a friendly against East Germany
East Germany national football team
The East Germany national football team was from 1952 to 1990 the football team of East Germany, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany....
in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. He went on to earn 31 caps and scored 21 goals, and his last game for the national team was on 27 October 1968 against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
in 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...
. During his international career he also captained Yugoslavia at the 1964 Olympics
Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics
The football competition at the 1964 Summer Olympics started on October 11 and ended on October 23. Only one event, the men's tournament, was contested...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, where they finished sixth out of 16 teams.
Honours
- Yugoslav CupYugoslav CupThe Yugoslav Cup, officially the Marshal Tito Cup, was one of two major football competitions in the former Yugoslavia, the other one being the Yugoslav League Championship. The Yugoslav Cup took place after the league championships when every competitive league in Yugoslavia had finished, in order...
: 1960, 1963, 1965, 1969 - Inter-Cities Fairs CupInter-Cities Fairs CupThe Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
: 1966–67
External links
- Official website
- Slaven Zambata at Reprezentacija.rs