Robert Kovač

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Personal information
Robert Kovač
Full name	Robert Kovač
Date of birth	6 April 1974
Place of birth	Berlin, West Germany
Height	182cm
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Juventus
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1992-95 1995-96 1996-01 2001-05 2005-	Hertha Zehlendorf FC Nürnberg Bayer Leverkusen Bayern Munich Juventus	85 (11) 33 (1) 127 (1) 94 (0) 33 (1)
National team²
1999-	Croatia	61 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 February, 2007. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 22 June 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Robert Kovač [ˈrɔbɛrt ˈkɔʋatʃ] (born April 6, 1974 in Berlin, West Germany) is a Croatian football defender of Bosnian Croat descent. He currently plays for Juventus in the Italian Serie B.

Prior to joining Juventus, Kovač played for Hertha Zehlendorf (1994-95), Nuremberg (1995-96), Bayer Leverkusen (1996-2001) and Bayern Munich (2001-2005). He played for Croatia at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. He also started for Croatia at World Cup 2006 and played well in defence however after picking up a second yellow against Japan he missed the final group match against Australia through suspension. Without Kovac, Croatia struggled in defence with his replacement Tomas commiting handball for Australia's first goal via penalty kick. Croatia eventually drew 2-2 with Australia but were eliminated from the tournament. With Croatia, Leverkusen, and Bayern, Robert was teammates with brother Niko.

The Berlin-born Kovač and his older brother Niko are among a handful of players on the national team with foreign origins and the pair have brought some of the stamina necessary to play in the Bundesliga to Croatia's game.

Kovač started his career in lower league clubs Rapide Wedding and Hertha Zehlendorf before making his Bundesliga debut with FC Nuremberg in 1995.

He signed for Bayer Leverkusen in 1996 but, eager to win a major trophy, moved to Bayern in 2001.

The following season he made a big contribution to Bayern's triumph in Bundesliga and the German Cup and was a major factor behind Oliver Kahn's league record of 803 minutes without conceding a goal.

Armed with a good sense of timing, sophistication rather than raw power, strength and speed, Kovac is the incarnation of the modern defender who can venture forward and supply defence-splitting passes with ease.

[edit] External links

Profile on JadranSport.org (Englisch)
Leverkusen who's who

	Croatia squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Pletikosa \| 2 Šerić \| 3 Šimunić \| 4 Tomas \| 5 Rapaić \| 6 Živković \| 7 Vugrinec \| 8 Prosinečki \| 9 Šuker \| 10 N. Kovač \| 11 Bokšić \| 12 Butina \| 13 Stanić \| 14 Soldo \| 15 Šarić \| 16 Vranješ \| 17 Jarni \| 18 Olić \| 19 Vlaović \| 20 Šimić \| 21 R. Kovač \| 22 Balaban \| 23 Vasilj \| Coach: Jozić

	Croatia squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Pletikosa \| 2 Srna \| 3 Šimunić \| 4 R. Kovač \| 5 Tudor \| 6 Vranješ \| 7 Šimić \| 8 Babić \| 9 Pršo \| 10 N. Kovač \| 11 Tokić \| 12 Didulica \| 13 Tomas \| 14 Modrić \| 15 I. Leko \| 16 J. Leko \| 17 Klasnić \| 18 Olić \| 19 N. Kranjčar \| 20 Šerić \| 21 Balaban \| 22 Bošnjak \| 23 Butina \| Coach: Z. Kranjčar

Juventus F.C. - Current Squad
1 Buffon \| 2 Birindelli \| 3 Chiellini \| 4 Kovač \| 5 Tudor \| 6 C. Zanetti \| 8 Giannichedda \| 9 Bojinov \| 10 Del Piero \| 11 Nedvěd \| 12 Mirante \| 13 Piccolo \| 14 Balzaretti \| 15 Marchisio \| 16 Camoranesi \| 17 Trézéguet \| 18 Boumsong \| 19 Paro \| 20 Palladino \| 22 Belardi \| 23 Guzmán \| 25 Zalayeta \| 27 Zebina \| 29 De Ceglie \| 30 Legrottaglie \| 32 Marchionni \| 33 Urbano \| Coach Deschamps