Eldin Jakupović

Eldin Jakupović

Jakupović with Grasshopper in 2009
Personal information
Full nameEldin Jakupović[1]
Date of birth2 October 1984
Place of birthPrijedor, SFR Yugoslavia
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) [2]
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Hull City
Number16
Youth career
–2004Grasshopper
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2005Grasshopper13(0)
2005–2006FC Thun22(0)
2006–2009FC Lokomotiv Moscow20(0)
2007–2009→ Grasshopper (loan)57(1)
2010–2011Olympiakos Volou36(0)
2011–2012Aris1(0)
2012–Hull City9(0)
2014→ Leyton Orient (loan)4(0)
2014→ Leyton Orient (loan)9(0)
National team‡
2005Bosnia and Herzegovina U212(0)
2006Switzerland U211(0)
2008–Switzerland1(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:17, 9 November 2014 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:52, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Eldin Jakupović (born 2 October 1984) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Hull City in the Premier League.

He started his professional career at Grasshopper in 2004, then moved to FC Thun a year later. After success there, Jakupović joined FC Lokomotiv Moscow in March 2006. In September 2011, he joined Aris, and in 2012 moved to Hull.

Having played at under-21 level for both Bosnia and Switzerland, he earned his only senior cap for the latter in 2008, and was part of their squad at UEFA Euro 2008.

Club career

Early career

Jakupović was born in Prijedor, SFR Yugoslavia. He moved to Switzerland at a young age due to the Bosnian War and started his professional career at Grasshopper in 2004. He then moved to FC Thun in 2005. After a successful spell at FC Thun, Jakupović joined FC Lokomotiv Moscow in March 2006.

Grasshopper

Jakupović moved on a year-long loan to Grasshopper on 30 August 2007. He scored a 94th minute equaliser against BSC Young Boys in his third match for the club, earning Grasshopper a 3–3 draw. During the season Jakupović forced Fabio Coltorti to the bench as his backup. At the end of the 2007–08 season, Jakupović extended his loan at Grasshopper for another year, which meant new signing goalkeeper Massimo Colomba was benched.

Lokomotiv return

On 31 August 2009, Jakupović was confirmed as part of the Lokomotiv Moscow squad, with Ivan Pelizzoli leaving on loan to join AlbinoLeffe.[3] Due to the number of foreigners in the Lokomotiv squad, Jakupović was asked to go out on loan again. In December, Jakupović went on trial at Tottenham Hotspur and had a successful week.[4] However, due to various reasons a deal could not be completed with Lokomotiv Moscow. After a turbulent time with the Lokomotiv management, Jakupović was allowed to be released.

Olympiakos Volou

Jakupović had a fine season with Olympiakos Volou. After they were relegated to the Delta Ethniki, Jakupović left the team.

Aris

On 30 September 2011, Jakupović joined Aris, with three other ex-teammates, Noe Acosta, Javier Umbides and Khalifa Sankare. He made his debut in 5 November 2011, against Olympiakos SFP, which finished 2–3.

Hull City

On 20 March 2012, Jakupović joined English Championship club Hull City on trial, and after impressing in training and a friendly match Hull manager Nick Barmby expressed a desire to sign Jakupović on a permanent contract.[5] Following the sacking of Nick Barmby, Jakupović had trials with Ipswich Town. On 9 July 2012, Jakupović signed for Hull City on a two-year contract, becoming Steve Bruce's first full signing as manager.[6][7] He officially joined the team on their pre-season training session in Portugal. He made his debut in a 3–1 friendly win against North Ferriby United on 16 July 2012. His first Championship match for The Tigers came on 21 December 2012 at Derby County, when he played in a 2–1 victory as Hull moved into second place in the Championship table.[8] This was followed up by three more league appearances, all of which consisted of clean sheets.

In January 2014 Jakupović joined Leyton Orient on loan until 8 February.[9] On 29 January 2014, Jakupović was recalled to parent club Hull City.[10] On 13 February 2014, Jakupović re-joined Leyton Orient until 17 May 2014,[11] but was again recalled on 27 March 2014.[12]

On 9 July 2014 Jakupović signed a new two-year contract with Hull City,[13] and began their Premier League campaign as third-choice goalkeeper behind Allan McGregor and Steven Harper. He made his debut in the English top flight on 18 October away to Arsenal as a substitute when Harper injured his arm before half-time, and did not concede until Danny Welbeck equalised for 2–2 in added time.[14] A week later he started for the first time in the division, keeping a clean sheet in a goalless draw against Liverpool.[15]

International career

Jakupović in training for the Swiss national team in June 2008

Jakupović has dual citizenship, both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland, and has represented both at under-21 level.

He has played for Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 for two competitive matches,[16][17] and a friendly match against Austria U21 for Switzerland on 1 March 2006.

In August 2005, Jakupović received his first call-up to the Bosnia and Herzegovina national squad which was a match against Belgium and Lithuania, however he did not accept the call up. In March 2007, Jakupović was asked again to play for the senior Bosnia and Herzegovina against Norway, but declined the offer. Jakupović was included in the Swiss UEFA Euro 2008 squad. He made his debut on 20 August 2008 in a friendly match against Cyprus. He was called up for the first two matches of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification,[18] but was an unused substitute.

In October 2008, Jakupović said that he would not play again for the Swiss national team due to family reasons.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 16. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Barclays Premier League Player Profile Eldin Jakupovic". Premier League. 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Transfer news". Lokomotiv Moscow. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
  4. ↑ "Spurs set to land Swiss keeper Eldin Jakupovic on loan". The Mirror. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Tigers in Jakupovic talks". Sky Sports. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "Hull agree keeper deal". Sky Sports. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Tigers Complete Jakupovic Signing". The Tigers Official Website (Hull City A.F.C.). 9 July 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Derby 1–2 Hull". BBC Sport (BBC). 21 December 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Jakupovic Signs". Leyton Orient FC. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hull City recall keeper Eldin Jakupovic from Leyton Orient". BBC Sport (BBC). 29 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "NEWS: Eldin Jakupovic Returns". Leyton Orient FC. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "Hull City recall keeper Eldin Jakupovic from Leyton Orient". BBC Sport (BBC). 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "New Two-Year Contract For Jakupovic". The Tigers Official Website (Hull City A.F.C.). 9 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  14. ↑ Winton, Richard (18 October 2014). "Arsenal 2–2 Hull". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  15. ↑ Emons, Michael (25 October 2014). "Liverpool 0–0 Hull". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/history/season=2006/round=1910/match=74414/report=lu.html
  18. ↑ "Hitzfeld snubs unfit Senderos". Reuters. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  19. ↑ "Djourou fällt aus" (in German). football.ch. 13 October 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2009.

External links

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