Xhevad Prekazi
Encyclopedia
Xhevat Prekazi is an ethnic Kosovar Albanian football manager and former player.
He is generally considered one of the best players ever to have worn the jersey of the Turkish
club Galatasaray
. Prekazi was instrumental in building up the Galatasaray
team to a point where it became the strongest Turkish league team and a major force in Europe
an football. His typical "banana crossings" from left-line into the penalty box always created danger for opponent defence. He is renowned for his brilliant technique, dribbling, long shots and crosses.
He became a naturalized Turkish citizen as Cevad Prekazı in his late career.
`s junior team before he started his professional career at Partizan Belgrade
in 1976, where he was seen as a player with great potential. During this period, he won two Yugoslav Championships
in the seasons 1977-78 and 1982-83. Prekazi spent almost ten years in Partizan, and moved to Hajduk Split after a dispute with the management of the team. Prekazi was a part of Hajduk team that played in the semifinals of the UEFA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
After spending a year in Split, Prekazi moved to the United States
where he played indoor soccer
for six months with Baltimore Blast where other Serbian players such as Srboljub Stamenković and Rešad Kunovac
already played.
A Galatasaray board member noticed his talent on the pitch and arranged a transfer. Prekazi joined to Galatasaray in time for the 1985-1986 season.
He failed to sparkle initially, but eventually his skill rose to the surface. Xhevat Prekazi scored 40 goals in 174 league games for Galatasaray. He won 2 national league championships with Galatasaray and was an instrumental part of the side which reached the European Cup semi final in the 1988/89 season. Prekazi is one of the Galatasaray greats. His goal from 40 meters against Monaco is often considered an exceptional and unforgettable memory for Turkish fans.
In 1991 he left Galatasaray and moved to Altay. At that year in the match between Galatasaray and Altay, Galatasaray fans showed their love and loyalty to him by singing a march titled "We cannot forget you". After this event Prekazi couldn't hide his tears and he left the pitch crying. He finished his career at Bakırköyspor
.
Following a successful playing career, Prekazi had a few coaching stints, the most notable of which was his short time at the helm of Belgrade's FK Železnik
during 2001/02 season.
Prekazi lives in Belgrade
. He's currently coaching in the youth system of OFK Beograd
.
He is generally considered one of the best players ever to have worn the jersey of the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
. Prekazi was instrumental in building up the Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
team to a point where it became the strongest Turkish league team and a major force in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an football. His typical "banana crossings" from left-line into the penalty box always created danger for opponent defence. He is renowned for his brilliant technique, dribbling, long shots and crosses.
He became a naturalized Turkish citizen as Cevad Prekazı in his late career.
Career
Xhevat Prekazi started playing football at "Remont" football club in Mitrovica he was also inside a short time at the TrepçaKF Trepca
Trepça Mitrovicë Football Club is a football club based in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo. The club was founded in 1932 and currently plays in the top division of football in Kosovo, the Kosovar Superliga...
`s junior team before he started his professional career at Partizan Belgrade
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
in 1976, where he was seen as a player with great potential. During this period, he won two Yugoslav Championships
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
in the seasons 1977-78 and 1982-83. Prekazi spent almost ten years in Partizan, and moved to Hajduk Split after a dispute with the management of the team. Prekazi was a part of Hajduk team that played in the semifinals of the UEFA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
After spending a year in Split, Prekazi moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he played indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
for six months with Baltimore Blast where other Serbian players such as Srboljub Stamenković and Rešad Kunovac
Rešad Kunovac
Rešad Kunovac is a Bosnian former football player and current coach. He was the assistant to Radomir Antić, the head coach of the Serbian national team until 2010....
already played.
A Galatasaray board member noticed his talent on the pitch and arranged a transfer. Prekazi joined to Galatasaray in time for the 1985-1986 season.
He failed to sparkle initially, but eventually his skill rose to the surface. Xhevat Prekazi scored 40 goals in 174 league games for Galatasaray. He won 2 national league championships with Galatasaray and was an instrumental part of the side which reached the European Cup semi final in the 1988/89 season. Prekazi is one of the Galatasaray greats. His goal from 40 meters against Monaco is often considered an exceptional and unforgettable memory for Turkish fans.
In 1991 he left Galatasaray and moved to Altay. At that year in the match between Galatasaray and Altay, Galatasaray fans showed their love and loyalty to him by singing a march titled "We cannot forget you". After this event Prekazi couldn't hide his tears and he left the pitch crying. He finished his career at Bakırköyspor
Bakirköyspor
Bakırköyspor is a Turkish sports club from Bakırköy, Istanbul. The club was founded in 1949. The colours of Bakırköyspor are green-black. Football team of Bakırköyspor played in Turkish Super League for 3 years, but after several unsuccessful seasons, Bakırköyspor was relegated to amateur league in...
.
Following a successful playing career, Prekazi had a few coaching stints, the most notable of which was his short time at the helm of Belgrade's FK Železnik
FK Železnik
FK Železnik was a football club from Belgrade, Serbia.Founded in 1930, the club merged into FK Voždovac in June 2005 and thus ceased activities.-History:...
during 2001/02 season.
Prekazi lives 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...
. He's currently coaching in the youth system of OFK Beograd
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...
.
Full Playing Career
| Team | Season | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakirköyspor | 1992–1993 | 7 | 1 |
| Altay | 1991–1992 | 8 | 1 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1991–1992 | 4 | 0 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1990–1991 | 22 | 7 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1989–1990 | 27 | 6 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1988–1989 | 27 | 8 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1987–1988 | 31 | 6 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1986–1987 | 34 | 5 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1985–1986 | 24 | 9 |
| NK Hajduk Split | 1984–1985 | 8 | 1 |
| NK Hajduk Split | 1983–1984 | 12 | 2 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1983–1984 | 11 | 1 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1982–1983 | 19 | 4 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1981–1982 | 0 | 0 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1980–1981 | 17 | 1 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1979–1980 | 23 | 4 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1978–1979 | 30 | 2 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1977–1978 | 22 | 2 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1976–1977 | 28 | 5 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1975–1976 | 3 | 0 |
| FK Trepca Kosovska Mitrovica | 1974–1975 | 0 | 0 |
External links
- Playing career at Playerhistory.
- Profile at Strukljeva.net
- Profile at TFF.org
- Xhevat Prekazi career stats in Turkey at mackolik.com