| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Xhevat Prekazi | ||
| Date of birth | 18 August 1957 | ||
| Place of birth | Kosovska Mitrovica, FPR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Playing position | Left wing | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1970-1975 | Trepča K.Mitrovica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1975–1984 | Partizan Belgrade | 151 | (20) |
| 1984–1985 | Hajduk Split | 19 | (2) |
| 1985–1991 | Galatasaray | 169 | (41) |
| 1992 | Altay Izmir | 8 | (1) |
| 1992–1993 | Bakirköyspor | 7 | (1) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2001–2002 | FK Železnik | ||
| – | OFK Beograd (youth team) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Xhevat Prekazi (Albanian: Xhevat Prekazi, Serbian: Џeвaд Пpeкaзи, Dževad Prekazi; Turkish: Cevat Prekazi; born 18 August 1957 in Kosovska Mitrovica) is an ethnic Kosovar Albanian football manager and former player.
He is generally considered one of the best players ever to have worn the jersey of the Turkish club Galatasaray. Prekazi was instrumental in building up the Galatasaray team to a point where it became the strongest Turkish league team and a major force in European football. His typical "banana crossings" from left-line into the penalty box always created danger for opponent defence. He is renowned for his brilliant technique, dribbling, long shots and crosses.
He became a naturalized Turkish citizen as Cevad Prekazı in his late career.
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Xhevat Prekazi started playing football at "Remont" football club in Mitrovica he was also inside a short time at the Trepça`s junior team before he started his professional career at Partizan Belgrade in 1976, where he was seen as a player with great potential. During this period, he won two Yugoslav Championships in the seasons 1977-78 and 1982-83. Prekazi spent almost ten years in Partizan, and moved to Hajduk Split after a dispute with the management of the team. Prekazi was a part of Hajduk team that played in the semifinals of the UEFA Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
After spending a year in Split, Prekazi moved to the United States where he played indoor soccer for six months with Baltimore Blast where other Serbian players such as Srboljub Stamenković and Rešad Kunovac already played.
A Galatasaray board member noticed his talent on the pitch and arranged a transfer. Prekazi joined to Galatasaray in time for the 1985-1986 season.
He failed to sparkle initially, but eventually his skill rose to the surface. Xhevat Prekazi scored 40 goals in 174 league games for Galatasaray. He won 2 national league championships with Galatasaray and was an instrumental part of the side which reached the European Cup semi final in the 1988/89 season. Prekazi is one of the Galatasaray greats. His goal from 40 meters against Monaco is often considered an exceptional and unforgettable memory for Turkish fans.
In 1991 he left Galatasaray and moved to Altay. At that year in the match between Galatasaray and Altay, Galatasaray fans showed their love and loyalty to him by singing a march titled "We cannot forget you". After this event Prekazi couldn't hide his tears and he left the pitch crying. He finished his career at Bakırköyspor.
Following a successful playing career, Prekazi had a few coaching stints, the most notable of which was his short time at the helm of Belgrade's FK Železnik during 2001/02 season.
Prekazi lives in Belgrade.[1] He's currently coaching in the youth system of OFK Beograd.
| Team | Season | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakirköyspor | 1992–1993 | 7 | 1 |
| Altay | 1991–1992 | 8 | 1 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1991–1992 | 4 | 0 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1990–1991 | 22 | 7 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1989–1990 | 27 | 6 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1988–1989 | 27 | 8 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1987–1988 | 31 | 6 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1986–1987 | 34 | 5 |
| Galatasaray SK | 1985–1986 | 24 | 9 |
| NK Hajduk Split | 1984–1985 | 8 | 1 |
| NK Hajduk Split | 1983–1984 | 12 | 2 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1983–1984 | 11 | 1 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1982–1983 | 19 | 4 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1981–1982 | 0 | 0 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1980–1981 | 17 | 1 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1979–1980 | 23 | 4 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1978–1979 | 30 | 2 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1977–1978 | 22 | 2 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1976–1977 | 28 | 5 |
| FK Partizan Beograd | 1975–1976 | 3 | 0 |
| FK Trepca Kosovska Mitrovica | 1974–1975 | 0 | 0 |