Darko Kovačević

Darko Kovačević

Kovačević with Olympiacos in 2008
Personal information
Date of birth	(1973-11-18) 18 November 1973 (age 43)
Place of birth	Kovin, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
	Radnički Kovin
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1994	Proleter Zrenjanin	51	(37)
1994–1996	Red Star Belgrade	47	(37)
1996	Sheffield Wednesday	16	(4)
1996–1999	Real Sociedad	98	(41)
1999–2001	Juventus	47	(11)
2001	Lazio	7	(0)
2001–2007	Real Sociedad	180	(51)
2007–2009	Olympiacos	60	(31)
Total		488	(212)
National team
1994–2004	Yugoslavia	59	(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Darko Kovačević (pronounced [dârko koʋât͡ʃeʋit͡ɕ]; Serbian Cyrillic: Дарко Ковачевић; born 18 November 1973) is a former Serbian football player. He is known for his spells at Real Sociedad where his offensive partnership with Nihat Kahveci was one of the best in Spain. A powerful striker, with an eye for goal, his key attributes are his strength and aerial ability. Kovačević also had positive spells with clubs Juventus and Olympiacos. At international level, he represented Yugoslavia at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and at UEFA Euro 2000.

Beginning his career with his birth-town club FK Radnički Kovin, but was soon spotted by Zrenjanin based Serbian top league club FK Proleter and it became clear, at the young age of 19, that Kovačević would become one of the country's greatest ever goalscorers. Spending two seasons with the club, Kovačević managed over a goal every other game, and was quickly snatched up by Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade. Kovačević flourished at the Belgrade club, becoming one of Europe's hottest prospects and earning a call-up to the Yugoslavia national team. Netting in an astonishing 37 goals in just 47 games, Kovačević was eventually picked up by Premier League club Sheffield Wednesday in December 1995 for £2m.