Bobby Despotovski

Slobodan "Bobby" Despotovski (born 14 July 1971 in Perth, Western Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player of Serbian origin.

Biography

Only nine months after his birth his family moved to Yugoslavia because his mother, Valentina, was home-sick. He grew up with his family in the town of Pančevo, 16 km outside capital Belgrade, and played junior level football with Red Star Belgrade.

When Despotovski was 15 he had a choice to continue either Handball which he says has always played a large part in his life or to pursue a career in professional football, eventually he chose football and was selected to play for the reserve team at his first senior club, Dinamo Pančevo.

After a stint with the Yugoslav People's Army during the Balkans war which ended as a result of self-inflicted injuries, Despotovski in 1992 returned to his birthplace, Perth and continued his professional career with Floreat Athena in the Western Australian Premier League. In 1994 he joined Heidelberg in the NSL and left the club to join the now defunct NSL club Morwell Falcons in 1995.

Bobby's career took off when he received a call from the then Perth Glory general manager, Roger Lefort. The new club wanted Despotovski to lead their attack in the club's inaugural season and he certainly didn't disappoint scoring 14 goals in only 23 NSL games.

Despotovski was in the center of a controversy when playing against the Melbourne Knights (a team primarily supported by Croatian Australians) at the Somers Street Stadium on 21 May 2001 he gave a three fingered salute to the predominantly Croatian crowd which is a Serbian Orthodox symbol that represents Orthodox Chistianity. As the Perth team left the stadium Despotovski and Perth coach Bernd Stange were assaulted by angry Knights supporters. To avoid repetition of violence, the next Knights home fixture against Perth was played in Launceston.

He was one of the most successful strikers in the now defunct Australian National Soccer League. Despotovski was with the Western Australian team Perth Glory for 10 years.

Following the conclusion of the 2004/2005 season of the NSL Despotovski signed with Perth Glory for the 2005/2006 A-League season after a brief stint with the Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the Vodafone Premier League in NSW. Despotovski finished the season as joint top goal scorer of the league and winner of the Johnny Warren Medal. Season 2006/2007 started without Bobby because of his re-occurring back injury but he returned to partner Stuart Young up front.

He was the coach of Inglewood United in 2007. He will also commence in 2008 as the coach of Perth boys school Hale School's 1st XI Soccer side. Despotovski holds both the game and goal scoring record for Perth Glory.

Despotovski also owns a sports store on Hay Street in the Perth central business district, Bobby 10 Football World. He also regularly takes part in events held by Dianella White Eagles.

Honours

With Perth Glory:

• NSL Championship: 2002-2003, 2003–2004

Personal Honours:

• Johnny Warren Medal: 2005-2006 with Perth Glory
• A-League Golden Boot: 2005-2006 with Perth Glory - 8 goals
• Perth Glory Most Glorious Player Award: 2005-2006, 2003–2004, 2001–2002, 2000–2001
• Perth Glory Player's Player of the Year: 2005-2006
• Perth Glory Member's Player of the Year: 2002-2003

External links

• Oz Football profile
• Bobby 10 Football World website