Zvonimir Vukić

Zvonimir Vukić

Vukić with Moscow in 2009
Personal information
Full name Zvonimir Vukić
Date of birth (1979-07-19) 19 July 1979
Place of birth Zrenjanin, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1996–1998 Proleter Zrenjanin 36 (3)
1998–2000 Atlético Madrid B 40 (4)
2000–2003 Partizan 86 (44)
2003–2008 Shakhtar Donetsk 73 (12)
2005–2006 → Portsmouth (loan) 9 (1)
2006 → Partizan (loan) 2 (0)
2008–2010 Moscow 27 (5)
2011–2013 Partizan 34 (16)
2013–2014 PAOK 35 (12)
2014–2015 Veria 3 (0)
Total 345 (97)
National team
1998–1999 FR Yugoslavia U21[1] 2 (0)
2003–2006 Serbia and Montenegro 26 (6)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Zvonimir Vukić (Serbian Cyrillic: Звонимир Вукић; born 19 July 1979) is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Vukić represented Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Vukić started out at his hometown club Proleter Zrenjanin, making his first team debut in the 1996–97 season, aged 17. He became a first team regular in the following season, attracting the attention of numerous domestic and foreign teams. In the summer of 1998, Vukić was snapped by Spanish club Atlético Madrid.

After spending almost two years with Atlético's B team in the Segunda División, Vukić returned to his homeland and signed with Partizan in April 2000.[2] He made a name for himself over the following four seasons at Partizan, scoring 52 goals in all competitions. Vukić was the top scorer of the national championship in the 2002–03 season with 22 goals.[3]

In the summer of 2003, Vukić signed a five-year contract with Shakhtar Donetsk.[4] He was their top scorer with 13 goals in all competitions in his first season at the club. In the following season, Vukić made his UEFA Champions League debut in the 2004–05 campaign.

In August 2005, Vukić was loaned to Premier League side Portsmouth until the end of the 2005–06 season. He scored his first and only goal for Portsmouth in a 4–1 win over Sunderland on 29 October 2005.[5] However, after the sacking of manager Alain Perrin, and reinstatement of former manager Harry Redknapp, Vukić was deemed surplus to requirements.

In January 2006, Vukić found himself back in familiar territory, having been loaned to his former club Partizan for the rest of the 2005–06 season.[6] He rejoined his former teammate Danko Lazović. Unfortunately, Vukić broke a foot in a friendly game against Ural,[7] managing to play just two competitive matches after a long pause.

After his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk expired in the summer of 2008, Vukić joined Moscow. However, the Ukrainian club claimed that they have a valid contract with the player. Eventually, FIFA allowed Vukić to play for the Russian club in October 2008.[8] He scored on his debut for the club in a league fixture against Terek Grozny on 2 November 2008. After the club folded in February 2010, Vukić became a free agent.

Third stint at Partizan

In May,[9] and November 2010,[10] after training for several months with the club, Vukić was linked to Partizan once again, but no deal was concluded. He finally signed with his former club on 31 January 2011, a one-year contract.[11] Vukić chose the number 80 shirt and was officially presented together with Prince Tagoe.[12] He was failing to find his old form during the second half of the 2010–11 season, due to more than a year without any competitive football.

At the start of the 2011–12 season, Vukić assumed his old number 10 shirt.[13] He opened the season with a goal against Shkëndija in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. However, after a weak form in August 2010, Vukić became a subject of fans criticism and he dropped from the first team.

In late September 2010, Vukić returned to the lineup and scored a goal in the Serbian Cup first round against Novi Pazar.[14] He then scored a brace in his first league game after six rounds for a 2–0 victory over Spartak Subotica on 15 October 2011.[15] In the next 30 days, Vukić netted five more, including three league and two cup goals. He also scored the opening goal in a 2–0 away win over arch-rivals on 26 November 2011, becoming a fans favorite again.[16] In the last two rounds of the first half of the season, Vukić scored two more goals to complete his fantastic performances in the late 2011.

On 24 January 2012, after much speculation, Vukić signed another one-year contract with Partizan.[17][18] He continued his good performances in the second half of the season, being named in the SuperLiga Team of the Season.

Career in Greece

On 30 January 2013, Vukić joined PAOK on a free transfer, signing a one-and-a-half-year deal.[19] He played three matches in the Superleague Greece until the end of the 2012–13 regular season, scoring two goals in his first two appearances for the club against Panionios and Panathinaikos. Vukić also recorded four appearances in the Superleague Greece playoffs.

On 26 April 2014, Vukić was the only scorer for his team in the Greek Cup final, converting a penalty in the 70th minute of their 1–4 loss to Panathinaikos.[20]

On 7 September 2014, Vukić joined Veria on a free transfer, signing a one-year contract. He was given the number 99 shirt.[21] On 12 February 2015, Vukić terminated his contract with Veria by mutual consent.[22]

International career

Vukić earned 26 caps for Serbia and Montenegro, making his debut in a 2–2 draw against Azerbaijan on 12 February 2003. He scored his first national team goal in a 3–2 win over Wales at Millennium Stadium on 11 October 2003.[23]

Vukić was a regular member of the team during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, scoring four goals. He was included in the final 23-man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, despite having been in the process of convalescence after a long break due to foot injury.[24] Eventually, Vukić made one appearance in the final tournament, coming in from the bench in a 0–6 loss to Argentina.[25]

International goals

Scores and results list Serbia and Montenegro's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 October 2003 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff  Wales 1–0 3–2 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
2 16 November 2003 Kazimierz Górski Stadium, Płock  Poland 2–3 3–4 Friendly
3 4 September 2004 Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle  San Marino 1–0 3–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying
4 13 October 2004 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade  San Marino 5–0 5–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying
5 17 November 2004 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels  Belgium 1–0 2–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying
6 8 October 2005 LFF Stadium, Vilnius  Lithuania 2–0 2–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying

Statistics

Club

Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other[26] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Proleter Zrenjanin 1996–97 60--–000060
1997–98 303--–4000343
Total 363--–4000403
Atlético Madrid B 1998–99 31400–0000314
1999–00 9000–000090
Total 40400–0000404
Partizan 1999–00 6100–000061
2000–01 21743–20002710
2001–02 291432–31003517
2002–03 302231–71004024
Total 8644106–1220010852
Shakhtar Donetsk 2003–04 271041–52003613
2004–05 27031–13200433
2005–06 2000–000020
Portsmouth (loan) 2005–06 910000000091
Partizan (loan) 2005–06 2000–000020
Shakhtar Donetsk 2006–07 13232–0000164
2007–08 4030–101090
Total 7312134–1941010620
Moscow 2008 3200–000032
2009 24330–0000273
Total 27530–0000305
Partizan 2010–11 13311–0000144
2011–12 211343–51003017
2012–13 0000–200020
Total 341654–71004621
PAOK 2012–13 7200–000072
2013–14 281054–51003815
Total 351254–51004517
Veria 2014–15 3000–000030
Total 3000–000030
Career total 3459736180047810429123

International

Serbia and Montenegro
YearAppsGoals
200392
200473
200591
200610
Total266

Honours

Partizan
Shakhtar Donetsk
Individual

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Only official UEFA matches included
  2. ↑ "Martinović i Nedović od leta u Partizanu?" (in Serbian). glas-javnosti.rs. 27 April 2000. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "Zvonimir Vukić: 'Rano je za priču o odlasku!'" (in Serbian). b92.net. 26 May 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Shakhtar shell out for Vukic". uefa.com. 6 June 2003. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "Sunderland 1–4 Portsmouth". bbc.co.uk. 29 October 2005. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "Vukić konačno potpisao za Partizan" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "Vukić teže povređen!" (in Serbian). novosti.rs. 5 February 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  8. ↑ Футбол: Вукичу разрешили играть за "Москву" (in Russian). sportbox.ru. 16 October 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Vukić samo trenira u Partizanu ili...?" (in Serbian). sportal.rs. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  10. ↑ "Vukić ponovo u Partizanu?" (in Serbian). b92.net. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  11. ↑ "B92: Vukić ponovo u Partizanu" (in Serbian). b92.net. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Tagoe i Vukić za jači Partizan!" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  13. ↑ "Vukić rezervisao "desetku"" (in Serbian). sportske.net. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "KUP: Partizan rutinski kroz Novi Pazar" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  15. ↑ "Dva gola Vukića za trijumf Partizana" (in Serbian). novosti.rs. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "Ocene – Osporavani izrasli u junake..." (in Serbian). sportske.net. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  17. ↑ "Vukić produžio ugovor!" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "Vukić ostaje u Partizanu" (in Serbian). b92.net. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  19. ↑ "Ο Zvonimir Vukić στον ΠΑΟΚ" (in Greek). paokfc.gr. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Berg inspires Panathiakos to Greek Cup triumph". uefa.com. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "Παίκτης της Βέροιας ο Zvonimir Vukic" (in Greek). veriafc.gr. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "Λύση συνεργασίας με Zvonimir Vukic" (in Greek). veriafc.gr. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  23. ↑ "Serbia complete Wales double". bbc.co.uk. 11 October 2003. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  24. ↑ "Vukic in contention with comeback". bbc.co.uk. 4 May 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  25. ↑ "Argentina 6–0 Serbia & Montenegro". bbc.co.uk. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
  26. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Ukrainian Super Cup

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