Shaun Pejic

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Shaun Pejic

Pejic with Vancouver Whitecaps in 2009
Personal information
Full nameShaun Melvyn Pejic[1]
Date of birth (1982-11-16) 16 November 1982[1]
Place of birthHereford, England
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Playing positionDefender
Youth career
000?–2000Wrexham
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2000–2009Wrexham175(0)
2009York City15(0)
2009–2010Vancouver Whitecaps9(0)
2010Crystal Palace Baltimore19(2)
2011Barrow0(0)
2011–2012Bangor City8(1)
Total226(3)
National team‡
2002–2003Wales U216(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:58, 27 September 2011 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:44, 1 August 2011 (UTC)

Shaun Melvyn Pejic (born 16 November 1982) is a footballer who plays as a defender. Born in England, he has represented Wales at under-21 level and played club football in England, Wales, Canada and the United States.

Club career

Born in Hereford, Herefordshire, Pejic began his career with Wrexham at the age of 14, before training on a Youth Training Scheme and signing a professional contract on 9 August 2002.[1][3] He made his first team debut in a 1–1 draw at Port Vale in April 2001.[4] He broke into the first team squad in February 2002, making 12 appearances for Wrexham in the remainder of the 2001–02 season.[5] He made 32 appearances in the 2002–03 season,[6] helping Wrexham to promotion to the Second Division and to win the FAW Premier Cup.[7] A hairline fracture of his leg ended his 2003–04 season early after he had made 23 appearances.[8][9] He signed a new two-year contract in May 2004.[10]

Pejic after playing for York City in the 2009 FA Trophy Final

Pejic impressed in a 3–2 win at Notts County in a Football League Trophy match in September 2004, leading manager Denis Smith to say of him, "Our young central three haven't played together much, but Pejic was immense again, his defensive header in the last minute was worth a goal. He's come on again this season – that's good as we are expecting boys to do men's jobs."[11] It was in this game that Pejic scored his only goal for the club.[12] He featured for Wrexham in the final of the Football League Trophy on 10 April 2005, after coming on as a substitute for Stephen Roberts on 14 minutes, which finished in a 2–0 victory over Southend United after extra time.[13] He made 44 appearances in the 2004–05 season,[14] which saw Wrexham go into administration and relegated to League Two.[15] Pejic missed four months of the 2005–06 season after tearing cruciate knee ligaments in August 2005 but returned in January 2006, helping Wrexham to the final of the FAW Premier Cup for the second year in succession.[16][17] He agreed to a 12-month extension to his contract in June 2006.[18]

Pejic formed a good partnership at centre-back with Steve Evans in the 2006–07 season with manager Denis Smith saying after beating Scunthorpe United in December 2006, "Scunthorpe have got two of the best strikers outside the Championship and my two centre-backs kept them quiet, they are starting to perform consistently as a pair, so that's good."[19] He made 37 appearances as Wrexham avoided relegation to the Conference Premier on the final day of the season and signed a new two-year contract a month later.[20][21] He made 22 appearances in the 2007–08 season as Wrexham were relegated to the Conference Premier.[22][23] Pejic stayed at the club but rarely featured during the first half of the season and was released, along with Steve Evans, on 2 February 2009.[24]

Pejic had a trial at Conference Premier club York City in February, featuring in a reserve team game against Grimsby Town.[25] He eventually signed for the club on a contract until the end of the 2008–09 season.[26][27] His debut came in a 2–0 victory over Havant & Waterlooville in the fourth round of the FA Trophy on 21 February 2009.[28] There were teams in the United States interested in signing Pejic at the end of the season, but he said "I’m keeping my options open and anything could happen yet."[27] He started in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, which York lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough.[29] Following the end of the season, during which he made 19 appearances for York,[30] he entered negotiations with the club over a new contract.[31] He was eventually released by York and he was approached by clubs in Greece and the United States,[32] before signing for USL First Division team Vancouver Whitecaps on 12 August for the rest of the 2009 season, with an option to play for the 2010 season.[33] He joined USSF Division 2 Professional League team Crystal Palace Baltimore on 9 February 2010.[34] After the 2010 season, Palace announced that the team would be on hiatus. Pejic returned to England in the summer of 2011, and following a trial with Barrow, he signed for the Conference Premier side on a short-term contract on 1 August.[35] He was, however, released just a week later.[36]

In August 2011 he joined Bangor City[37] but left the club in January 2012 to return to the United States having recently married a US citizen.

International career

Despite being born in England, he is eligible to play for Wales through a Welsh grandmother and was called into the Wales under-21 squad for a training session in March 2002.[38] He made his debut in a 2–1 defeat to Finland on 6 September.[39] He gained six caps for the under-21 team.[1] He is also eligible to play for Serbia; his paternal grandfather (father of Mike and Mel Pejic) was born in Serbia.

Personal life

Shaun's father, Mel Pejic, is a former player and current physiotherapist for Bolton Wanderers and Wales, and his uncle, Mike Pejic, is also a former footballer.

Career statistics

As of 2 May 2010.
Club Performance
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Wrexham 2000–01 1000000010
2001–02 120000000120
2002–03 270102020320
2003–04 210001010230
2004–05 350202051441
2005–06 260001000270
2006–07 330301000370
2007–08 190102000220
2008–09 1000000010
Subtotal 175 0 7 0 9 0 8 1 199 1
York City 2008–09[30] 150000040190
Total 190 0 7 0 9 0 12 1 218 1

Career statistics across the Atlantic

(correct as of 2 October 2010)
Club Season League Cup Play-Offs Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2009 900---6011501
Total2009–2010900---6011501
Crystal Palace Baltimore 2010 1911------1911
Career Total2009–present2811---6013412
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League and Football Conference.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the FA Trophy and Football League Trophy.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream Publishing. p. 331. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8. 
  2. ↑ "Profiles". Wrexham F.C. Retrieved 2011-08-01. 
  3. ↑ Griffiths, Rob (3 February 2009). "Shaun Pejic sad to leave Wrexham FC". Daily Post. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
  4. ↑ "Games played by Shaun Pejic in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  5. ↑ "Games played by Shaun Pejic in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  6. ↑ "Games played by Shaun Pejic in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  7. ↑ "Cup crowns Wrexham season". BBC Sport. 8 May 2003. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  8. ↑ "Pejic injury return delayed". BBC Sport. 23 April 2004. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  9. ↑ "Games played by Shaun Pejic in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  10. ↑ "Pejic commits to Wrexham". BBC Sport. 29 May 2004. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  11. ↑ "Smith lauds Pejic". BBC Sport. 30 September 2004. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  12. ↑ "Notts County 2-3 Wrexham". BBC. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2014. 
  13. ↑ "Southend 0–2 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 2009-05-22. 
  14. ↑ "Games played by Shaun Pejic in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  15. ↑ "Smith fearing for Wrexham future". BBC Sport. 4 May 2005. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  16. ↑ "Better news for Wrexham's Pejic". BBC Sport. 24 August 2005. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  17. ↑ "Wrexham 1–2 Swansea". BBC Sport. 29 March 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  18. ↑ "Wrexham sign Llewellyn and Pejic". BBC Sport. 30 June 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  19. ↑ "Smith hails Wrexham defensive duo". BBC Sport. 3 December 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-11. 
  20. ↑ "Wrexham joy at relegation escape". BBC Sport. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-11. 
  21. ↑ "Pejic commits future to Wrexham". BBC Sport. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-11. 
  22. ↑ "Games played by Shaun Pejic in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  23. ↑ "Wrexham go out of Football League". BBC Sport. 22 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-11. 
  24. ↑ "Saunders releases defensive duo". BBC Sport. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-15. 
  25. ↑ "York City Trophy tie is all pay at turnstiles". The Press. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-19. 
  26. ↑ "York City sign up defender Pejic". BBC Sport. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-20. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Flett, Dave (23 February 2009). "York City defender Shaun Pejic goes from Wrexham reserves to Wembley in five weeks". The Press. Retrieved 2009-02-27. 
  28. ↑ "York 2–0 Havant & Waterlooville". BBC Sport. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-23. 
  29. ↑ "Stevenage Borough 2–0 York City". BBC Sport. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "York 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2009-02-23. 
    Carroll, Steve (23 February 2009). "Daniel McBreen's double strike ignites York City's Wembley dream in the FA Trophy". The Press. Retrieved 2009-02-23. 
    Flett, Dave (16 March 2009). "Prospect of a Wembley outing in the FA Trophy final provides a welcome fillip for York City". The Press. Retrieved 2009-03-16. 
    Flett, Dave (23 March 2009). "Wembley here we come... York City beat Telford United to book a place in the FA Trophy final". The Press. Retrieved 2009-03-23. 
    Martini, Peter (9 May 2009). "Stevenage 2 York City 0 – FA Trophy Final from Wembley". The Press. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  31. ↑ "York City release seven players". BBC Sport. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-12. 
  32. ↑ Kelso, Darren (12 July 2009). "Foyle ringing the changes". Sunday Sun. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  33. ↑ Mackin, Bob (12 August 2009). "Caps add defender". 24 Hours. Retrieved 2009-08-13. 
  34. ↑ "Palace Sign Trio of Proven Performers". Crystal Palace Baltimore. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-09. 
  35. ↑ "Barrow AFC sign Shaun Pejic and Jack Mackreth". BBC Sport. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-01. 
  36. ↑ Barrow Complete Quinn Loan Deal / Pejic Released Barrow AFC. 09–08–11
  37. ↑ "Pejic signs for Bangor with Williams loaned out". Welsh Premier League. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
  38. ↑ "Shoulder's search for new talent". BBC Sport. 20 March 2002. Retrieved 2008-05-10. 
  39. ↑ "Match Report – Finland 2 – 1 Wales". Football Association of Wales. Retrieved 2009-05-22. 

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