Željko Brkić

Željko Brkić (Serbian Cyrillic: Жељко Бркић, born 9 July 1986) is a Serbian football goalkeeper who plays for Udinese.

Club career

Brkić, playing in the goalkeeper position, started his career as a professional began at the club Indeks Novi Sad and Vojvodina, before playing professionally at Vojvodina. Brkić loaned him to Proleter Novi Sad in 2005, where he stayed for the club about two years. At Proleter Novi Sad, Brkić made thirty-one appearance. After his return from loan, Brkić made his debut for the club, in a 1–0 win over Napredak Kruševac on 2 September 2007. Since then, Brkić soon became a first choice goalkeeper and soon became the club's captain. At the club, Brkić made the total of 117 appearance.

In the summer of 2011, Brkić left Serbia to join Italian side Udinese, with a fee of 1.5 million euros.^[1] Because of Samir Handanovič as a first choice goalkeeper, Brkić left Udinese on a season-long loan – to Serie A rival Siena.^[2] Brkić made his debut, on 11 September 2011, in a 0–0 draw against Catania, keeping his first clean sheet on his debut in Serie A.^[3] In October, with impressive impact at Siena, Brkić was linked with a move to English side Tottenham Hotspur. In response of a transfer speculation, Brkić told Serbian daily Sport that he is aware of the transfer rumour, but insists he is focusing at Siena.^[4] Brkić also says he is no rush of leaving the club and insists the move is not affecting his form.^[5] After a 2–0 loss against Milan on 17 December 2011 which Brkić get a yellow card resulting a penalty,^[6] Brkić soon went to operation that kept him out for many months after fracturing his left fibula.^[7] Year on, Brkić spoke about his injury and find it difficult to comeback to recover.^[8] During his time at Siena, Brkić find himself competing against Gianluca Pegolo. In a 1–1 draw against Bologna on 25 April 2012, Brkić scored an own goal from Alessandro Diamanti free kick, denying Siena a win.

After a season with Siena, Brkić became the club's first choice goalkeeper following Handanovič departure to Inter Milan.^[9] Having established himself in the first team, Brkić made his debut for the club, in the Champions League qualification round, against Portuguese side Braga. Unfortunately, Udinese was eliminated in the Champions League and demoted to Europa League after losing in the penalty shoot-out in the second leg, just three days before he made his league debut in a 2–1 loss against Fiorentina. However, the next game was even went worse for Brkić when he gave away the penalty in early minutes and received a red card in a 4–1 loss against regaining champion Juventus. After the match, former referee Daniele Tombolini says Brkić sending off was a mistake because Sebastian Giovinco [the opposition player in the match] didn't had the possession of the ball, though he maintain his views it's a penalty.^[10] Brkić then miss one match against Siena^[11] and made his return when Udinese won 2–1 against A.C. Milan the next game. On 4 October 2012, Brkić was in goal when Udinese beat Liverpool 3–2, making good save from Luis Suárez twice and a header from Jonjo Shelvey.^[12] Unfortunately, Udinese would then be eliminated from the Europa League, following a strings of losses. In mid-January, Brkić soon suffered an injury after fracturing the second finger of his right hand and went to surgery that kept him out at least a month.^[13] A month later, Brkić made his return, playing in friendly match against Gemonese on 26 February 2013. After the match, Brkić says he is prepared to make a comeback.^[14] Brkić made his return on 3 March 2013 against Pescara, where the club won 1-0.^[15] After the match, Brkić returned as a first choice goalkeeper for the rest of the 2012-13 season.

In 2013-14 season, Brkić ruled out for the start of the season after injuring his shoulder whilst exercising in the gym, which he is out for four months.^[16] After three months out, Brkić made his return, in a 2-1 win over Udinese. Brkić performance against Udinese is describe as a "saved at least three goal-bound efforts while blocking several strong shots and commanded his area giving sustenance and substance to his whole defence". This earned him Serie A Team of Week 10.^[17] During a league game at Juventus on 1 December 2013, Brkić was subjected to abuse from schoolchildren who were invited to watch the game. The kids were heard shouting abuse at the goalkeeper every time he took a goal-kick, resulting in €5,000 fine for Juventus.^[18]

International career

Brkić started participating in the national team, playing for Serbia U-21 and was even in the U21 squad for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship despite being age twenty-two. In the European U21 Football Championship, Brkić played three match, all in group-stage. Brkić also managed to keep two clean sheet in the tournament.

On 3 March 2010, Brkić made his senior debut for the national team, coming on for Vladimir Dišljenković as a substitute in the 81st minutes after Dišljenković suffered an injury during a match, in a 3–0 win over Algeria.^[19] In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Brkić was named for the national team squad ahead of the World Cup.^[20] Unfortunately, Brkić was dropped from the squad after manager Radomir Antić trimmed the squad from 24 to 23.^[21] Years on, Brkić soon become the national first choice goalkeeper, beating competition from Vladimir Stojković in the World Cup qualifier.

Career statistics

As of 30 March 2013

References

External links

• Željko Brkić at Utakmica.rs
• Željko Brkić at Soccerway.com
• Željko Brkić at Reprezentacija.rs
• Željko Brkić at Transfermarkt.com