Zlatko Zahovič
Personal information
Date of birth (1971-02-01) 1 February 1971[1]
Place of birth Maribor, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1979–1981 Maribor[2]
1981–1989 Kovinar Maribor[3]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1993 Partizan 37 (5)
1990–1991 → Proleter Zrenjanin (loan) 25 (0)
1993–1996 Vitória Guimarães 79 (13)
1996–1999 Porto 87 (27)
1999–2000 Olympiacos 14 (7)
2000–2001 Valencia 20 (3)
2001–2005 Benfica 80 (14)
2008–2009 Limbuš-Pekre[4] 11 (12)
Total 353 (81)
International career
Yugoslavia U21
1992–2004 Slovenia 80 (35)
2003 Slovenia B[5] 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zlatko Zahovič (Slovene pronunciation: [ˈzlaːtkɔ ˈzaːxɔʋitʃ] ⓘ; born 1 February 1971) is a Slovenian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

After making a name for himself in Portugal, most notably with Porto and Benfica where he amassed Primeira Liga totals of 246 matches and 54 goals over one full decade,[6] he went on to have brief stints in Spain and Greece. He was known for dribbling and goal-scoring ability alike.[7] Although primarily a midfielder, he scored 11 goals in 32 Champions League appearances[8] and 35 in 80 for the Slovenian national team.

The all-time record holder in goals for Slovenia, Zahovič was an essential member of the squad as they qualified for the first time ever to a European Championship and a World Cup, in the early 2000s.

Club career

Partizan

Zahovič was born in Maribor, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1989, the 18-year-old NK Kovinar Maribor player was noticed by FK Partizan's Milko Ǵurovski, at the time doing his mandatory military service in the town, who recommended the youngster to the club.

With the Belgrade team, he was relatively used over the course of three seasons – he also played one year on loan for FK Proleter Zrenjanin – contributing 15 games and three goals as they won the 1992–93 national championship.

Portugal

In the summer of 1993, aged 22, Zahovič moved to Portugal and joined Vitória de Guimarães. On matchday 32 of the 1995–96 campaign, he scored the winning goal in a 3–2 away win over FC Porto.[9] This performance convinced the former to sign him that summer, after an acrimonious transfer saga;[9] he led his side to two UEFA Cup qualifications during his three-year spell.

Zahovič was equally important while at Porto, forming a formidable attacking partnership with Capucho, Ljubinko Drulović and Mário Jardel and winning three consecutive league titles whilst rarely missing a match.[9] In his last year he netted a career-best goals, and 22 across all competitions.[6] He added seven during the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League, thus finishing third in the competition's scoring charts behind FC Dynamo Kyiv's Andriy Shevchenko and Dwight Yorke of Manchester United, who both scored eight – the northerners, however, did not make it past the group stage.[10]

Olympiacos

In 1999, Zahovič signed for Olympiacos F.C. for a transfer fee of €13.5 million, at the time the highest sum ever paid for a Slovenian footballer.[11] However, his season in Greece was marred by fines and suspension. Zahovič first fell out with the club's head coach, Dušan Bajević, for returning late from a holiday.[12]

"He was a great player. In Portugal, he achieved something that is almost impossible, being loved by both the fans of Benfica and Porto."

José Mourinho in 2014.

In November 1999, as Olympiacos failed to progress out of the UEFA Champions League group stage, head coach Bajević was sacked and replaced with Alberto Bigon. Zahovič's relationship with the incoming head coach was similarly fraught, as the player questioned the coach's tactics.[12]

Years later, Zahovič claimed in interviews that the real reason for his contentious season at Olympiacos was the club's continual refusal to properly set up his legal and administrative status in Greece as a professional athlete. He further accused the club of using the administrative matters as leverage when trying to avoid honouring his contract terms pertaining to income tax on his salary.[13]

Valencia

After only one season, Zahovič moved to Spain's Valencia CF for a fee of £5.5 million.[14] His new team reached the final of the 2000–01 Champions League, lost after a penalty shootout against FC Bayern Munich where he had his attempt saved by Oliver Kahn.[15]

Again Zahovič clashed with his manager, Héctor Cúper, claiming he was not being given enough opportunities.[16] Additionally, in October 2000, he was not picked up for a game at his former club for fear of reprisals from its supporters.[17]

Benfica

In June 2001, Zahovič returned to Portugal and joined S.L. Benfica, as Carlos Marchena moved to Valencia.[18] He was an important first-team member in his first three seasons, but lost his importance when manager Giovanni Trapattoni arrived at the Estádio da Luz,[19] a situation which was aggravated in January 2005 with the purchase of Nuno Assis.[20] This in part resulted in a mutual termination of his contract, five months before it was due to expire.[21][22]

International career

Zahovič's first match for Slovenia was on 7 November 1992, a friendly match with Cyprus. The national team qualified for UEFA Euro 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands, with the player scoring nine goals in 15 games. In the finals he continued to excel, netting three of the side's four goals in an eventual group stage exit where his performances earned him comparisons to David Beckham.[23]

Slovenia also managed to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, another first. However, after being replaced by manager Srečko Katanec in the 63rd minute of the first group fixture against Spain (1–3 loss), Zahovič insulted the coach, who immediately sent him home following the match.[24][25]

Zahovič retired from the national team in December 2003,[26][27] but reversed his decision two months later.[28] He made his last appearance on 28 April 2004 against Switzerland, and totalled 80 caps and 35 goals (at the time both records),[29] which made him the most successful Slovenian footballer since the country's independence in 1991 and the inception of its football association into FIFA the following year; his international appearances total was surpassed by Boštjan Cesar on 15 November 2014.

Administrative career

Immediately after his retirement from professional football, in June 2005 at the age of 34, according to an interview with Pozareport.si, Zahovič was offered a head coach position of the Benfica juniors,[30] but opted for a return to his homeland where, in 2007, he became the director of football at NK Maribor.[31] He remained in that position until March 2020.[32] Under his guidance, the club won eight Slovenian PrvaLiga titles, reached the UEFA Champions League group stages twice (2014–15 and 2017–18) and the knockout phase of the UEFA Europa League in 2013–14.[33]

Personal life

Zahovič's son, Luka, is also a footballer. A striker, he too represented Slovenia at international level.[34] When Luka scored a late equaliser in a Champions League group stage match between Maribor and Sporting CP, on 17 September 2014, the two became only the second father and son pair – first among Europeans – to have both scored in the competition since 1992 when the competition was established in its current format.[8]

In his young years, Zahovič played chess and practised ski jumping.[35]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[36][37][38]
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Proleter Zrenjanin (loan)1990–91Yugoslav First League250——250
Partizan1991–92Yugoslav First League2224110—273
1992–93First League of FR Yugoslavia15341——194
Total 3758210—467
Vitória Guimarães1993–94Primeira Divisão27121——292
1994–9523410——244
1995–962982020—338
Total 79135120—8614
Porto1996–97Primeira Divisão277417110399
1997–982965550104011
1998–9931140067213922
Total 8727961884111842
Olympiacos1999–2000Alpha Ethniki1474062—249
Valencia2000–01La Liga20312101—316
Benfica2001–02Primeira Liga21621——237
2002–0328610——296
2003–042122081—313
2004–05100106410184
Total 8014611451010120
Limbuš-Pekre2008–091. MNZ Maribor86———86
2009–1036———36
Total 1112———1112
Career total 353813312511651442110

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[39]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Slovenia 199210
199310
199451
199563
199661
199731
199896
1999118
2000106
200184
200282
200392
200431
Total8035
Scores and results list Slovenia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zahovič goal.
List of international goals scored by Zlatko Zahovič[29][39]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 November 1994 Ljudski vrt, Maribor, Slovenia  Lithuania 1–0 1–2 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
2 29 March 1995 Ljudski vrt, Maribor, Slovenia  Estonia 1–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
3 11 June 1995 Kadriorg Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia  Estonia 3–1 3–1 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
4 11 October 1995 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Ukraine 2–2 3–2 UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
5 10 November 1996 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–2 1–2 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 11 October 1997 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Croatia 1–3 1–3 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 5 February 1998 Tsirio Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus  Iceland 1–0 3–2 Cyprus International Football Tournament
8 2–1
9 6 February 1998 Tsirio Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus  Slovakia 1–0 1–1 Cyprus International Football Tournament
10 6 September 1998 Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece  Greece 1–0 2–2 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
11 2–2
12 10 October 1998 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Norway 1–0 1–2 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
13 8 February 1999 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman  Oman 5–0 7–0 Oman International Tournament
14 28 April 1999 Ljubljana Sports Park, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Finland 1–1 1–1 Friendly
15 5 June 1999 Daugava Stadium, Riga, Latvia  Latvia 1–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
16 2–1
17 9 June 1999 Qemal Stafa Stadium, Tirana, Albania  Albania 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
18 18 August 1999 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Albania 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
19 4 September 1999 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Georgia 2–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
20 13 November 1999 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Ukraine 1–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying
21 23 February 2000 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman  Oman 2–0 4–0 Oman International Tournament
22 3 June 2000 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Saudi Arabia 1–0 2–0 Friendly
23 13 June 2000 Stade du Pays de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium  Yugoslavia 1–0 3–3 UEFA Euro 2000
24 3–0
25 18 June 2000 Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands  Spain 1–1 1–2 UEFA Euro 2000
26 7 October 2000 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 1–0 2–1 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
27 28 March 2001 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Yugoslavia 1–1 1–1 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
28 2 June 2001 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Luxembourg 2–0 2–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
29 2–0
30 15 August 2001 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Romania 2–2 2–2 Friendly
31 12 February 2002 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong  Honduras 1–1 1–5 2002 Lunar New Year Cup
32 17 May 2002 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Ghana 1–0 2–0 Friendly
33 2 April 2003 Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia  Cyprus 3–1 4–1 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
34 30 April 2003 Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta  Malta 1–0 3–1 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
35 28 April 2004 Stade de Genève, Lancy, Switzerland   Switzerland 1–0 1–2 Friendly

Honours

Partizan

Porto[6]

Olympiacos

Valencia

Benfica

Limbuš-Pekre

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Zlatko Zahovic". Eurosport. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  2. ↑ Plestenjak, Rok (14 October 2017). "Oče NK Maribor se je odločil, da ne bo več molčal" [The father of NK Maribor decided to speak out] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Tezenčan – Glasilo Mestne četrti Tezno, maj 2015" [Tezenčan – News bulletin from the Tezno city district, May 2015] (in Slovenian). Maribor.si. May 2015. pp. 15–16. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Pogačar, Robert (11 September 2014). "Kje je kariero končal Zlatko Zahović?" [Where did Zlatko Zahović end his career?]. Ekipa (in Slovenian). Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Zlatko Zahovič – B reprezentanca" [Zlatko Zahovič – B appearances] (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Figueiredo, João Tiago (9 March 2017). "«Como explico a um português que amo FC Porto e Benfica?»" ["How do I explain to a Portuguese that I love FC Porto and Benfica?"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "Zlatko Zahovic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  8. 1 2 Plestenjak, Rok (18 September 2014). "Zlatko in Luka Zahović kot edina Evropejca" [Zlatko and Luka Zahović as the only Europeans] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 Weir, Christopher (28 April 2020). "The staggering talent and mad tantrums of Zlatko Zahovič". These Football Times. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  10. ↑ "Cristiano Ronaldo superou dois dos três desafios contra o Borussia Dortmund" [Cristiano Ronaldo overcame two of the three challenges against Borussia Dortmund] (in Portuguese). Be Soccer. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  11. ↑ Viškovič, Rok (1 February 2011). "Zlatko Zahovič: ikona slovenske nogometne samostojnosti" (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  12. 1 2 "I'm no troublemaker, says Zahovic". BBC Sport. 1 June 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  13. ↑ Stanić, Mario (2023). "(Ne)uspjeh prvaka s Mariom Stanićem #17: Zlatko Zahovič". Retrieved 8 January 2024 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Valencia snap up Zahovic". BBC Sport. 20 July 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  15. 1 2 "Bayern crowned European champions". BBC Sport. 23 May 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  16. ↑ Ros, Cayetano (29 May 2002). "Los coletazos de Zahovic" [Zahovic's lashes]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  17. ↑ Ros, Cayetano (24 October 2000). "Zahovic no viaja por temor a los hinchas" [Zahovic does not travel for fear of supporters]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "Benfica acerta com Valência troca de Marchena por Zahovic" [Benfica arrange Marchena/Zahovic swap with Valencia]. Record (in Portuguese). 20 June 2001. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  19. ↑ "Trapattoni deixa Zahovic de fora" [Trapattoni leaves Zahovic out]. Correio da Manhã (in Portuguese). 3 November 2004. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  20. ↑ "Um confronto de "ioiós"" [A clash of "yo-yos"]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 February 2005. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "Benfica let Zahovic leave club". ESPN Soccernet. 11 January 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  22. ↑ "Benfica bid farewell to Zahovic". UEFA. 11 January 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  23. ↑ Wilson, Paul (25 June 2000). "Zlatko Zahovic – find of the tournament". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  24. ↑ "Slovenia send Zahovic home". BBC Sport. 6 June 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  25. ↑ Tallentire, Mark (7 June 2002). "Unruly Zahovic is sent home". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Zahovic bows out for Slovenia". UEFA. 6 December 2003. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "Zahovic calls time on Slovenia". ESPN Soccernet. 6 December 2003. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  28. ↑ "Zahovic returns to Slovenia fold". UEFA. 6 February 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  29. 1 2 Mamrud, Roberto. "Zlatko Zahovic – Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  30. ↑ Požar, Bojan (11 September 2014). "Požareport 11.09.2014 – gost Zlatko Zahovič" [Pozareport 11.09.2014 – guest Zlatko Zahović] (in Slovenian). Požareport. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  31. ↑ Šinkovc, Rok (19 August 2013). "Zahovič working miracles with Maribor". UEFA. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "Maribor ne bo več, kar je bil: odhaja še Zahović" [Maribor will no longer be what it used to be: Zahović also leaving] (in Slovenian). Siol. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  33. ↑ Viškovič, Rok (28 June 2020). "Zapuščina Zlatka Zahovića, ki vas utegne presenetiti" [The legacy of Zlatko Zahović, one that may surprise you] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  34. ↑ "Luka Zahovič pozabil na očeta" [Luka Zahovič's forgotten father]. Slovenske novice (in Slovenian). 3 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  35. ↑ Lesički, Alen (19 August 2012). "ZLATKO vs ZDRAVKO Slovenski Mamić daje igračima 2.5 milijuna eura ako izbace Dinamo" [ZLATKO vs ZDRAVKO Slovenia's Mamić gives players 2.5 million euros if they oust Dinamo]. Jutarnji list (in Slovenian). Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  36. ↑ "Zlatko Zahovič » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  37. ↑ "Zlatko Zahovic". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  38. ↑ "Zahovic (Zlatko Zahovic)". ForaDeJogo. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  39. 1 2 "Zlatko Zahovič". European Football. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
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