Darko Kovačević

Darko Kovačević (Serbian Cyrillic: Дарко Ковачевић, pronounced [dǎːrko koʋǎːtʃeʋitɕ]; born 18 November 1973) is a Serbian former footballer who played as a forward. He began his career in Serbia with Proleter Zrenjanin and subsequently played for Red Star Belgrade, with whom he won a Yugoslav League title and two Yugoslav Cups. His prolific performances earned him a move to Premier League side Sheffield Wednesday, although his time in England was less successful. He is mainly known for his spells at Real Sociedad where his offensive partnership with Nihat Kahveci was one of the best in Spain. Kovačević also had positive spells with Italian club Juventus and Greek side Olympiacos. Internationally, he represented Yugoslavia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and at the UEFA Euro 2000.[2][3]

Darko Kovačević

Kovačević in 2020
Personal information
Date of birth	(1973-11-18) 18 November 1973
Place of birth	Kovin, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Playing position(s)	Striker
Youth career
	Radnički Kovin
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1994	Proleter Zrenjanin	57	(37)
1994–1996	Red Star Belgrade	47	(37)
1996	Sheffield Wednesday	16	(4)
1996–1999	Real Sociedad	98	(41)
1999–2001	Juventus	63	(21)
2001	Lazio	7	(0)
2001–2007	Real Sociedad	163	(51)
2007–2009	Olympiacos	60	(31)
Total		482	(222)
National team
1994–2004	Serbia and Montenegro^[a]	59	(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Proleter and Red Star Belgrade

Beginning his career with his birth-town club FK Radnički Kovin, but was soon spotted by Zrenjanin based Serbian top league club FK Proleter Zrenjanin and it became clear, at the young age of 19, that Kovačević would become one of the country's greatest ever goalscorers. Spending two seasons with the club, Kovačević managed over a goal every other game, and was quickly snatched up by Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade. Kovačević flourished at the Belgrade club, winning a Yugoslav League title and two Yugoslav Cups, becoming one of Europe's hottest prospects and earning a call-up to the Yugoslavia national team. Netting in an astonishing 37 goals in just 47 games, Kovačević was eventually picked up by Premier League club Sheffield Wednesday in December 1995 for £2m.[2][3]

Sheffield Wednesday

Given the opportunity to showcase his skills in one of the top leagues in Europe, Kovačević initially looked good, impressive in the air, and scoring 2 goals in one game against Bolton Wanderers in a 4–2 victory that saw him likened to Les Ferdinand, but the rest of his skills failed to leave any mark with the English club. Kovačević's transfer turned out to be a disaster for Sheffield Wednesday as the striker managed only 4 goals in his lone half-season at the club. In July 2007, his move to Wednesday from Red Star was named No. 10 on The 50 worst transfers in Premier League history list by British newspaper The Times.[4]

Real Sociedad

Hoping to reach top form once again, Kovačević moved to La Liga side Real Sociedad in 1996. It was with the Spanish club that Kovačević put on some of his best performances and became one of Europe's best once again, finishing as one of the top scorers in the UEFA Cup during the 1998–99 season, with 8 goals. Larger clubs soon came calling, with Italian giants Juventus acquiring the big Serbian in the summer of 1999 for 33 billion lire (£12 million).[5][6]

Juventus and Lazio

At the Turin based club, Kovačević found goals in both the Serie A and competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup becoming their leading European goal scorer, and the top-scorer of the UEFA Cup during the 1999–2000 season, with 10 goals; despite facing competition from the club's starting attacking partnership of Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero, Kovačević made a total of 44 appearances in all competitions in his first season with the club (27 in Serie A, 3 in the Coppa Italia, and 11 in European competitions), scoring 21 goals in all competitions (eight in Serie A, two in the Coppa Italia, and 11 in European competitions, one of which came in Juventus's victorious UEFA Intertoto Cup campaign, which enabled them to qualify for the UEFA Cup), including a notable brace in a 2–1 away win over rivals Inter at the San Siro stadium in Milan.[2][3][5][6] The following season, however, due to the arrival of French striker David Trezeguet, Kovačević found less space in the squad under manager Carlo Ancelotti, making 27 appearances in all competitions (20 of which came in Serie A), mostly from the bench, and scoring only six goals (five in Serie A).[3] The Juventus management felt Kovačević was underachieving and soon both parties were looking for a move out of Italy, with clubs such as Rangers willing to offer £12m for the Serbian's services.[7] In 2001 Kovačević spent a brief time with Lazio (as part-swap deal with Marcelo Salas), making only seven appearances, before moving back to Spain in the middle of the season.[3]

Kovačević with Olympiacos in 2008

Return to Real Sociedad

In 2001 Kovačević eventually returned to the club at which he found his most success, Real Sociedad. Kovačević would go on to spend 6 more seasons at the club, netting in 51 goals in his second spell with Sociedad. The 2006–07 season would be Kovačević's last season with the Spanish side, ending in the club's relegation. Alongside Jesús María Satrústegui, Kovačević is Real Sociedad's all-time top goalscorer in European club competitions, with 10 goals.[8]

Olympiacos

In 2007 Kovačević signed with Greek champions Olympiacos. Kovačević once again reached top form for the Piraeus based club, scoring 17 goals in the Greek Superleague to lead Olympiacos to the league championship, and adding 3 goals in the Champions League as the team reached as far as the Round of 16.

Kovačević scored twice in the UEFA Cup 1st round 5–0 home leg win against FC Nordsjælland.

In early 2009, he was diagnosed with a blocked artery; he successfully underwent heart surgery to improve the flow of blood to his heart.[9] His doctors have advised him that he should retire from football, and Kovacevic officially retired in May 2009, playing a final friendly match for Olympiakos to celebrate the winning of the Greek domestic double.[10] With Olympiacos, Kovačević won two Greek SuperLeague titles, two Greek Cups and a Greek Super Cup.[2][3]

International career

Kovačević made 59 appearances for the then Serbia and Montenegro. Beginning his international career in 1994, Kovačević would go on to score 10 goals and compete in both UEFA Euro 2000 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup.[11][12]

Style of play

A quick and powerful striker, with good movement, technique, and an eye for goal, Kovačević's key attributes were his strength and aerial ability.[2][3]

After retirement

After his retirement Kovačević stated that he may take another role for his former team Olympiacos. Kovačević and his children, Darko jr and Stella, who were at St. Lawrence College at the time, subsequently all returned to Spain. However, Kovačević returned to Greece as he loved the country and worked for several months as a columnist. In June 2010 the new president of Olympiakos, Evangelos Marinakis, hired Kovacevic as a Chief Scout for the club; he eventually become the sports director of Olympiacos.[13] He remained in that position until 2018. He is the current sports director of the Serbian football association.[14]

Personal life

Kovačević has three children, Mia, Darko (Jr.) and Stella.[15]

Career statistics

Club

[16]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Proleter Zrenjanin	First League of FR Yugoslavia	1992–93	32	6			—		—		32	6
		1993–94	31	19			—		—		31	19
	Total		63	25			—		—		63	25
Red Star Belgrade	First League of FR Yugoslavia	1994–95	31	24			—		—		31	24
		1995–96	16	13			2	0	—		18	13
	Total		47	37			2	0	—		49	37
Sheffield Wednesday	Premier League	1995–96	16	4	1	0	0	0	—		17	4
	Total		16	4	1	0	0	0	—		17	4
Real Sociedad	La Liga	1996–97	35	8	1	1	—		—		36	9
		1997–98	33	17	4	3	—		—		37	20
		1998–99	30	16	1	0	6	8	—		37	24
	Total		98	41	6	4	6	8	—		110	53
Juventus	Serie A	1999–00	26	6	4	3	14	11	—		44	20
		2000–01	21	5	2	0	4	1	—		27	6
	Total		47	11	6	3	18	12	—		71	26
Lazio	Serie A	2001–02	7	0	1	0	3	0	—		11	0
	Total		7	0	1	0	3	0	—		11	0
Real Sociedad	La Liga	2001–02	19	8	0	0	—		—		19	8
		2002–03	36	20	1	0	—		—		37	20
		2003–04	36	8	0	0	7	2	—		43	10
		2004–05	30	8	2	1	—		—		32	9
		2005–06	9	4	0	0	—		—		9	4
		2006–07	33	3	1	0	—		—		34	3
	Total		163	51	4	1	7	2	—		174	54
Olympiacos	Superleague Greece	2007–08	27	17	4	4	8	3	—		39	24
		2008–09	14	4	1	1	6	2	—		21	7
	Total		41	21	5	5	14	5	—		60	31
Career total			482	190	23	13	50	27	—		555	230

International

• Includes caps for FR Yugoslavia (1994–2002) and Serbia and Montenegro (2003–2004)

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
FR Yugoslavia	1994	1	0
	1995	6	3
	1996	4	0
	1997	4	0
	1998	11	1
	1999	6	1
	2000	8	1
	2001	4	0
	2002	7	3
Serbia and Montenegro
	2003	7	1
	2004	1	0
Total		59	10

International goals

• Scores and results list FR Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro's goal tally first. Score column indicates score after each Kovačević goal.[17]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	4 February 1995	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	South Korea	1–0	1–0	1995 Lunar New Year Cup
2	8 April 1995	Estadio Tecnológico, Monterrey, Mexico	Mexico	1–0	4–1	Friendly
3				2–0
4	29 May 1998	Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia	Nigeria	3–0	3–0
5	8 June 1999	Toumba Stadium, Thessaloniki, Greece	Malta	3–1	4–1	UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
6	25 May 2000	Workers' Stadium, Beijing, China	China PR	2–0	2–0	Friendly
7	19 May 2002	Central Dynamo Stadium, Moscow, Russia	Russia	1–1	1–1	2002 LG Cup
8	21 August 2002	Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–0	2–0	Friendly
9	16 October 2002	Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia	Finland	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
10	27 March 2003	Mladost Stadium, Kruševac, Serbia and Montenegro	Bulgaria	1–1	1–2	Friendly

Honours

Red Star Belgrade[2][18]

• Yugoslav League: 1994–95
• Yugoslav Cup: 1994–95, 1995–96

Juventus[2]

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Olympiakos[1][2]

• Greek Super League: 2007–08, 2008–09
• Greek Cup: 2007–08, 2008–09
• Greek Super Cup: 2007

Individual

• UEFA Cup Top Goal Scorer: 1998–99 (8 goals), 1999–2000 (10 goals)[2][19]
• Super League Greece Best Foreign Player: 2007–08

Notes

1. ^
   Known as FR Yugoslavia until 4 February 2003.

References

1. "D. Kovačević". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
2. "Happy Birthday to you!". FIFA.com. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
3. Stefano Bedeschi (18 November 2016). "Gli eroi in bianconero: Darko KOVAČEVIĆ" (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
4. Edgar, Bill (18 July 2007). "The 50 worst transfers". The Times. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
5. "Da Baggio a Zidane, passando per Del Piero e Inzaghi: i top acquisti della Juve negli anni 90" (in Italian). www.juvenews.eu. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
6. "Darko Kovacevic". ESPN FC. 13 July 2000. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
7. Philip, Calum (5 August 2000). "Rangers set to renew pursuit of Kovacevic". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
8. "Real Sociedad de Fútbol". UEFA. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
9. Kovacevic Hospitalized for Artery Problem SI.com, 13 January 2009
10. Crvena Zveda Zveda With Darko Kovacevic Archived 22 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine Mirosport.net, 17 January 2009
11. Alpuin, Luis Fernando Passo; Mamrud, Roberto; Miladinovich, Misha (20 February 2009). "Serbia (Serbia (and Montenegro)) – Record International Players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
12. "Kovačević Darko". reprezentacija.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 October 2017.
13. "Π.Α.Ε. Ολυμπιακός - Ανακοίνωση". www.olympiacos.org.
14. http://www.fss.rs/index.php?id=40194
15. "Kovacevic, un Vieri serbo per la Juve Moggi deciso: «La campagna acquisti è conclusa, ora aspetto di incontrare Del Piero per la firma»". Il Tirreno (in Italian). 17 June 1999. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
16. Darko Kovačević at WorldFootball.net
17. "Darko Kovacevic - International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
18. "Darko Kovacevic". Eurosport. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
19. Roberto Mamrud; Jarek Owsianski; Davide Rota (11 June 2015). "Fairs/UEFA Cup Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2015.

External links

• Darko Kovačević – FIFA competition record
• Darko Kovačević at FootballDatabase.eu
• Darko Kovačević at National-Football-Teams.com
• Darko Kovačević at Reprezentacija.rs (in Serbian)
• Gate7 Tribute at the Wayback Machine (archived 2009-01-20)