Miroslav Đukić

Miroslav Đukić (pronounced [mǐroslaʋ d͡ʑûkit͡ɕ], Serbian Cyrillic: Мирослав Ђукић; born 19 February 1966) is a Serbian retired footballer who played as a sweeper, and a current coach.

He spent 14 years of his professional career in Spain, notably at the service of Deportivo de La Coruña and Valencia, amassing La Liga totals of 368 games and 11 goals and winning six major titles for the two clubs combined.

Đukić represented Yugoslavia in one World Cup and one European Championship. After retiring he embarked in a managerial career, at both club and international level.

Playing career

Club

Born in Šabac, Serbia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Đukić began his playing career with hometown club FK Mačva Šabac, moving in 1988 to Belgrade with FK Rad, after reported interest from both national giants FK Partizan and Red Star Belgrade.

In the middle of 1990, Đukić signed for Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain, who purchased him for 40 million pesetas in 1990. He only appeared in five league games for the Galicians in his first season, which ended in La Liga promotion, but, from there onwards, became an undisputed starter, never totalling less than 35 matches and 3,000 minutes of action in five consecutive campaigns, as Super Depor was coming to fruition.

On 14 May 1994, in the league's last round, at home against Valencia CF, Đukić missed a penalty kick in the game's last minute (eventual 0–0 draw), as habitual taker Donato had already been replaced and second option Bebeto refused the responsibility.^[1][2] As a result FC Barcelona were crowned champions instead, and the elegant defender left A Coruña at the end of 1996–97 at the age of 31, as his contract was not renewed.

Subsequently, Đukić signed for Valencia, starting in all of the league games he appeared in his first three seasons and helping the Che to two consecutive UEFA Champions League finals, both lost. Already as a backup, the 35-year-old played in 16 contests as the club won the first national championship in 31 years, in 2002.

Đukić returned to Segunda División after 12 years for the last season of his career, playing for CD Tenerife and retiring at the age of 38, having appeared in exactly 400 matches in the Spanish league (both major levels combined).

International

Đukić made his international debut for Yugoslavia on 27 February 1991, in a 1–1 friendly draw against Turkey in İzmir. He went on to win 48 caps scoring twice, and represented the newly formed FR Yugoslavia at UEFA Euro 2000 (all the games and minutes for the eventual quarterfinalists).

Đukić was also a member of the squad that competed at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, but did not play due to injury.

Managing career

Club

On 23 January 2007, Đukić was named head coach of Partizan,^[3][4] being eventually voted Manager of the Year. On 11 June 2009 he signed for R.E. Mouscron in Belgium, replacing Enzo Scifo and being joined at the top division team by former Valencia teammates Amedeo Carboni and Juan Sánchez, who acted as sporting director and technical director, respectively; all left shortly after, as the club folded due to severe economical problems.

In late March 2011, Đukić became Hércules CF manager, after Esteban Vigo was sacked. His first match in charge was a 3–1 away win against Real Sociedad,^[5] but the Valencian club ultimately suffered top flight relegation.

On 6 July 2011, Đukić was appointed at another second division side, agreeing to a three-year contract with Real Valladolid.^[6] In early June 2013, after leading the Castile and León outfit to promotion in his first season – via the playoffs – and the 14th position in the second, he replaced Ernesto Valverde at the helm of former club Valencia.^[7]

Đukić was relieved of his duties on 16 December 2013, following the team's eighth loss of the season, 0–3 at Atlético Madrid which left it in ninth place.^[8] He was revealed as the new Córdoba CF manager on 20 October 2014, succeeding Albert Ferrer.^[9]

International

Đukić earned his coaching license in Spain, and started his new career with Serbia's under-21 team, which he led to the final of the 2007 UEFA European Championship, lost against hosts Netherlands. This arrived after a dramatic play-off qualification (0–3 home loss against Sweden, followed by a 5–0 away win).

On 19 December 2007, Đukić decided not to extend his expired contract with Partizan, and was appointed coach of Serbia, leaving the position on 19 August of the following year without having played any official games, due to various problems with the Football Association.

Honours

Player

Deportivo

• Copa del Rey: 1994–95
• Supercopa de España: 1995

Valencia

• La Liga: 2001–02
• Copa del Rey: 1998–99
• Supercopa de España: 1999
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1998
• UEFA Champions League: Runner-up 1999–2000, 2000–01

Manager

Serbia U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: Runner-up 2007

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miroslav Đukić.

• Miroslav Đukić profile at BDFutbol
• Miroslav Đukić manager profile at BDFutbol
• Deportivo archives
• National team data (Serbian)
• Miroslav Đukić at National-Football-Teams.com
• Miroslav Đukić – FIFA competition record

FR Yugoslavia squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Kralj 2 Mirković 3 Đorović 4 Jokanović 5 Đukić 6 Brnović 7 Jugović 8 Savićević 9 Mijatović 10 Stojković (c) 11 Mihajlović 12 Leković 13 Komljenović 14 Saveljić 15 Drulović 16 Petrović 17 Milošević 18 Govedarica 19 Stević 20 Stanković 21 Ognjenović 22 Kovačević Coach: Santrač

FR Yugoslavia squad – UEFA Euro 2000 1 Korać 2 Dudić 3 Đorović 4 Jokanović 5 Đukić 6 D. Stanković 7 Jugović 8 Mijatović 9 Milošević 10 Stojković (c) 11 Mihajlović 12 Cicović 13 Komljenović 14 Saveljić 15 Bunjevčević 16 Govedarica 17 Drulović 18 Kovačević 19 J. Stanković 20 Kežman 21 Nađ 22 Kralj Coach: Boškov

Serbia squad – 2008 Summer Olympics 1 Stojković (c) 2 Jovanović 3 Kolarov 4 Kačar 5 Rajković 6 Pavlović 7 Smiljanić 8 Gulan 9 Rakić 11 D. Tošić 12 Tadić 13 Fejsa 14 Mrdaković 15 Živković 16 Tomović 17 Z. Tošić 18 Stamenković 19 Kaluđerović Coach: Đukić