Predrag Jokanović

Predrag Jokanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Пpeдpaг Јокановић; born 26 October 1968) is a Serbian retired professional footballer, and is a manager.

Predrag Jokanović
Personal information
Full name Predrag Jokanović
Date of birth (1968-10-26) 26 October 1968
Place of birth Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1985–1988 Zemun
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1991 Zemun 44 (3)
1988–1989 → Spartak Subotica (loan) 13 (0)
1991–1993 OFK Kikinda 25 (8)
1993–1995 União Madeira 41 (10)
1995–2001 Marítimo 137 (8)
2001 Marítimo B 1 (1)
2001–2003 Nacional 35 (1)
Total 295 (30)
Managerial career
2007–2008 Nacional
2009–2010 Nacional
2010–2011 Nacional
2011–2013 União Madeira
2014 Bravos do Maquis
2016–2017 Nacional
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In his playing days, spent almost exclusively in Portugal – exactly ten years, nine of those in the Primeira Liga, where he amassed totals of 191 matches and 18 goals – he played mainly as a defensive midfielder (although he could occasionally appear as a central defender).

After retiring in 2003, Jokanović took on a managerial career in the same country. His son Luka Jokanović is also a Portuguese-Serbian footballer[1]

Playing career

Born in Belgrade, Jokanović spent the vast majority of his professional playing career on the Portuguese island of Madeira, appearing for each of the region's biggest clubs. He started at C.F. União in 1993 in the Primeira Liga and, when the team was relegated two years later, he transferred to neighbours C.S. Marítimo, enjoying six steady seasons in which he inclusively played in the 1998–99 edition of the UEFA Cup, losing to Leeds United on penalties.

In 2001, after helping his side to the final of the Cup of Portugal, Jokanović was released, and promptly signed for C.D. Nacional who competed in the second division. After just one season at the club he helped it win promotion, and played there for one more year before retiring at almost 35 years of age.

Coaching career

After almost two years in charge of their under-19 team, Jokanović was appointed manager of Nacional midway through 2006–07, and left the club at the end of the following campaign. After two years as an assistant – he also acted as scout and match observer – he was re-signed on 13 December 2009,[2] replacing Manuel Machado who was recovering from surgery-related complications.

At the end of the 2009–10 season, Jokanović definitely replaced Machado at Nacional's helm, profiting from the opportunity by signing several of his former compatriots (one Montenegrin, one Slovene and three Croats), as his teams rarely fielded more than two or three Portuguese players.

On 13 March 2011, following a 1–1 home draw against Académica de Coimbra – who equalized in the 92nd minute – Jokanović was fired by Nacional.[3][4][5] He remained connected with the team subsequently, in the scouting department.

Jokanović returned to União da Madeira on 11 November 2011 (after 18 years), being appointed head coach at the second-level club. At the end of the 2012–13 campaign, he left.[6]

In 2014, Jokanović was appointed manager of Angolan Girabola club FC Bravos do Maquis, and was sacked before the last game of the season with his team in sixth place.[7] On 30 December 2016 he returned to Nacional for a fourth spell, again replacing Machado.[8]

References
  1. "Jogadores do União da Madeira já procuram novo clube". Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. Futebol profissional: Jokanovic assume comando técnico do plantel nacionalista (Professional football: Jokanovic takes charge of nacionalistas) Archived 18 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine; CD Nacional, 13 December 2009 (in Portuguese)
  3. "Jokanović deixa comando do Nacional" [Jokanovic leaves helm of Nacional] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  4. Predrag Jokanovic resigns from Nacional; PortuGOAL, 14 March 2011
  5. Joka disse adeus ao plantel (Joka said goodbye to squad); March 2011, A Bola (in Portuguese)
  6. "Jokanovic confirma saída" [Jokanovic confirms exit] (in Portuguese). A Bola. 15 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  7. "Girabola: FC Bravos do Maquis rescinde com Jokanovic" [Girabola: FC Bravos do Maquis dismiss Jokanovic] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 3 November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  8. "Nacional confirma Predrag Jokanovic" [Nacional confirm Predrag Jokanovic] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.