Ilija Spasojević
 Spasojević playing for PSM Makassar in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ilija Spasojević | ||
| Date of birth | 11 September 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Bar, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Putra Samarinda | ||
| Number | 87 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004-2005 | Vojvodina | 1 | (0) |
| 2005-2006 | Sutjeska Nikšić | 17 | (7) |
| 2006-2007 | ČSK Pivara | 18 | (9) |
| 2007-2009 | Dinamo Tbilisi | 61 | (30) |
| 2009 | Borac Čačak | 7 | (0) |
| 2010 | Liepājas Metalurgs | 11 | (6) |
| 2010 | Trikala | 13 | (0) |
| 2011 | Bali Devata | 14 | (8) |
| 2011-2013 | PSM Makassar | 29 | (19) |
| 2013 | Mitra Kukar | 16 | (10) |
| 2014 | Putra Samarinda | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 2002-2004 | FR Yugoslavia U17 | 11 | (6) |
| 2004-2006 | FR Yugoslavia U19 | 13 | (4) |
| 2006-2007 | Serbia-Montenegro U21 | 7 | (3) |
| 2007-2008 | Montenegro U21 | 4 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 January 2010. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Ilija Spasojević (born 11 September 1987 in Bar) is a Montenegrin footballer who currently plays for Putra Samarinda in the Indonesian Super League.[1]
Spasojević was playing for Yugoslavia U17, Yugoslavia U19, Serbia-Montenegro U21 and Montenegro U21 national team. There are rumors about him getting Indonesian passport and playing for Indonesia national team in the future.[2] During his spell in Indonesia, Spasojević scored 37 goals in 59 matches playing for Bali Devata, PSM Makassar and Mitra Kukar. By scoring 10 goals in the finish of the 2013 season he led Mitra Kukar to achieve the biggest success in club's history, 3rd place in the 2013 Indonesian Super League.
Club career
Early career
Spasojević started his senior career in 2004 at the age of 17 playing for Vojvodina in Serbian SuperLiga, alongside former Juventus winger Miloš Krasić. In July 2005 he moved to Montenegrin legendary club Sutjeska Nikšić where he scored 7 goals in 17 matches. In July 2006 Spasojević decided to return to Serbian football, this time it was to ČSK Pivara where he scored 9 goals in 18 matches.
Dinamo Tbilisi
In January 2007 Spasojević signed for former UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winner Dinamo Tbilisi from Georgia. While he was playing for Dinamo Tbilisi he scored 30 goals in 61 matches in Georgian League and Georgian Cup.[3] He became the first foreign topscorer in the history of Dinamo Tbilisi and earned himself a nickname Spasogoal[4] from Georgian media. During his stay in Dinamo Tbilisi Spasojević won the Georgian League, Georgian Cup and Georgian Super Cup, and make his debut in UEFA Champions League, 30 July 2008 against Panathinaikos FC.
Borac Čačak
In July 2009 Spasojević was close to sign a contract with Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld,[5] but transfer failed due to financial disagreement. Red Star Belgrade also showed interest in singing him,[6] but on 31 August 2009 he finally joined Borac Čačak in the Serbian SuperLiga.
Liepājas Metalurgs
On 30 March 2010 Latvian champions Liepājas Metalurgs signed Spasojević. For short time in Latvia he scored 6 goals in 11 matches played in Latvian League and Latvian Cup.
Trikala
On 10 September 2010, only two days before the beginning of the Football League Greece Spasojević joined Trikala. As he arrived late in Trikala he was used as a substitute in the first games, and he only collected 203 minutes on the field in the first 13 matches. At the same time Spasojević received an offer from Indonesian Liga Primer club Bali Devata which he accepted as he was unhappy by lack of first team football in Trikala.
Bali Devata
On 1 January 2011 Spasojević arrived in Indonesia and signed a contract with Bali Devata, where he soon became a key player by scoring 8 goals in first half-season of 2011 Liga Primer Indonesia. He also scored two goals in friendly match played on 23 August 2011 in Surabaya against Indonesia U-23 national team, although Bali Devata was defeated 2:4 in that match.[7]
PSM Makassar
On 1 October 2011 Spasojević signed a contract with PSM Makassar in the Indonesian Premier League. On 23 January 2012 it was reported that Italian Serie B club Brescia Calcio wants to sign him,[8] but PSM Makassar refused the offer few days later.[9] His first 2011-12 season with PSM Makassar he finished as club topscorer by scoring 14 goals,[10] 10 goals in the Indonesian Premier League and 4 goals in the Indonesian Cup,.[11] He was also selected by Goal.com in the best team of 2011-12 season in Indonesia.[12] As a reward for the great season Spasojević was invited by the Indonesian Premier League boards to play alongside Barcelona football star Cesc Fàbregas in charity game between Indonesian national team and "Fabregas and friends".[13] The game took place in Jakarta on 5 July 2012 and was finished by draw result 1:1. Spasojević scored nice goal[14] for "Fabregas and friends" after great assist from Cesc Fàbregas, who visited Indonesia only a few days after winning Euro 2012 with Spain. During his spell in PSM Makassar he scored 19 goals in 29 matches.
Mitra Kukar
On 15 May 2013 Spasojević joined Indonesian Super League club Mitra Kukar shortly after that club failed to sign Andriy Shevchenko. As Goal.com reported,[15] Mitra Kukar offered $100,000 per match to Ukrainian superstar but he refused the offer. The next choice was Spasojević who signed the contract until the end of the 2013 season. Spasojević scored 10 goals in 16 matches, becoming one of the most prolific strikers in Indonesian Super League by scoring goals in every 119 minute.[16] With his important goals in the finish of the 2013 season he led Mitra Kukar to achieve the biggest success in club's history, 3rd place in the Indonesian Super League.
Putra Samarinda
From January 2014 Spasojević is playing for Putra Samarinda in the Indonesian Super League.
International career
Ilija Spasojević was a member of Yugoslavia U17, Yugoslavia U19 and Serbia-Montenegro U21. In 2006, Montenegrins voted on an independence referendum and Serbia and Montenegro became independent countries. Spasojević himself being Montenegrin, decided to play for Montenegro U21 national team.
Honours
Club
Dinamo Tbilisi
- Georgian League: 2007–08
- Georgian Cup: 2009
- Georgian Super Cup: 2008
Individual
- Selected by Goal.com[17] in the best team in Indonesia Premier League season: 2012
- Selected by World Soccer Indonesia[18] as one of 6 best players in Indonesia: 2012
- First player in Indonesian Super League history who accomplished to score 5 goals[19] in one match
Personal life
Ilija Spasojević is married to Indonesian wife and currently living in Indonesia. He fluently speaks English, Spanish, Indonesian, Russian and Georgian.
External links
References
- ↑ "Ilija Spasojevic highlights - PSM Makassar".
- ↑ "Spasojevic will be naturalized?".
- ↑ "Ilija Spasojevic highlights - FC Dinamo Tbilisi".
- ↑ "Ilija Spasojevic - Spasogoal".
- ↑ "Spasojevic replacing Wichniarek at Arminia Bielefeld?". Bild.
- ↑ "Red Star: Spasojevic targeted".
- ↑ "U-23 National team conquer Bali Devata".
- ↑ "Brescia interested in Ilija Spasojevic".
- ↑ "Ilija Spasojevic is staying at PSM".
- ↑ "Spasojevic Berobsesi Jadi Top Skorer".
- ↑ "Spasojevic rejects Thai approach".
- ↑ "The best team of 2011-12 season in Indonesia". Goal.com.
- ↑ "Fabregas impressed by goal of Spasojevic".
- ↑ "Spasojevic scores after Fabregas assist".
- ↑ "Indonesian club Mitra Kukar looking to sign Shevchenko".
- ↑ "Ilija Spasojević statistics".
- ↑ "The best team of season 2011/2012 in Indonesia". Goal.com.
- ↑ "World Soccer Indonesia Chose Spaso Among Best Players".
- ↑ "Spasojevic scored five goals, Mitra Kukar won PSPS".