Nikola Žigić

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Nikola Žigić
Никола Жигић
Zigic vs Antwerp.jpg
Personal information
Full name Nikola Žigić[1]
Date of birth (1980-09-25) 25 September 1980 (age 32)
Place of birth Bačka Topola, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 2.02 m (6 ft 7 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing position Centre forward
Club information
Current club Birmingham City
Number 19
Youth career
1991–1998 AIK Bačka Topola
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1998–2001 AIK Bačka Topola 76 (68)
2001–2002 Mornar 23 (15)
2002–2003 Kolubara 8 (3)
2003 Spartak Subotica 11 (14)
2003–2006 Red Star Belgrade 79 (47)
2006–2007 Racing Santander 32 (11)
2007–2010 Valencia 28 (5)
2009 → Racing Santander (loan) 19 (13)
2010– Birmingham City 95 (25)
National team‡
2004–2011 Serbia 57 (20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:19, 4 May 2013 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:27, 27 April 2013 (UTC)

Nikola Žigić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Жигић [nǐkola ʒǐːɡitɕ]; born 25 September 1980) is a Serbian footballer who plays for English club Birmingham City as a centre forward.

At 2.02 m (6 ft 7 1⁄2 in),[2][3] Žigić is among the tallest professional players in the world.

Contents

Club career [edit]

Red Star [edit]

Žigić began with modest local teams, netting at an impressive rate, after which he joined bigger club Red Star Belgrade in 2003. During his years at the club, he played 110 matches and scored 71 goals in all competitions[citation needed] (cup, league and European competitions).

Nikola Zigic.jpg

Racing Santander [edit]

On 29 August 2006, Žigić signed a four-year contract with Spanish side Racing de Santander. On 1 April 2007, he scored his first hat-trick in La Liga, in a 5–4 win over Athletic Bilbao.[4] While at Racing, he formed a formidable duo with diminutive veteran forward Pedro Munitis, and netted 12 league goals during the 2006–07 season.

Valencia [edit]

On 8 August 2007, Sky Sports understood that Valencia CF had offered Racing €19 million for Žigić, handing the player a lucrative five-year contract. Numerous other clubs, such as SV Werder Bremen and Manchester City attempted to sign him, but Valencia eventually signed the player, announcing the £20 million deal on their official website the following day. After passing a medical the next day, Žigić was introduced at the Estadio Mestalla.[citation needed]

Žigić's first goal for Valencia came in a Spanish Cup match against Real Unión, adding another to turn the match around, as Valencia won 2–1. However he was unsuccessful in nailing down a starting place in the team under coach Ronald Koeman, who mostly used him as a sub or not at all. His first and only league goal came on 22 December 2007 at Real Zaragoza, as Valencia again came from behind and earned a 2–2 draw. A loan to English club Portsmouth was mooted, but Koeman changed his mind about the player leaving.[5]

After some speculation regarding moves to the Premier League,[6][7] and a thwarted loan return to former side Racing Santander, Žigić finally agreed to stay and fight for a place in 2008–09's Valencia.

Žigić with Birmingham in 2010

Eventually, after having failed to appear in any league matches, being restricted to domestic and UEFA Cup matches, and scoring in both competitions, he was loaned in late December 2008 to former side Santander.[8][9] In June 2009, there were rumours of a move to Sunderland,[10] but nothing came of it.

Žigić was then loaned to a former team, Racing, until the end of the season. On 4 January 2009, in his first game in his second spell with the Cantabrians, Žigić scored the game's only goal in a win at Real Valladolid, repeating the feat in a win at Getafe CF, two matchdays later, and again the following week on 25 January away at Sevilla FC. He finished his second spell with 13 goals in only 19 matches, squad best, and subsequently returned to Valencia, where he continued to be rarely used in the league.

Profiting from a rare chance in the league with the Che, Žigić headed in the only goal of the game at home to RCD Espanyol on 2 January 2010, in the 93rd minute. On 13 January, he added a brace at Deportivo de La Coruña in the 2009–10 Copa del Rey to put Valencia 2–0 up at halftime, in an eventual 2–2 draw (4–3 aggregate loss); on a more positive note, he replaced starter David Villa at Espanyol on 1 May and scored both goals in a 2–0 win (both with his feet).

Birmingham City [edit]

On 25 May 2010, Žigić signed a four-year contract with Premier League club Birmingham City for an undisclosed fee.[11] Media speculation suggested the fee to be in the region of £6 million.[12] He made his debut on the opening day of the season away at Sunderland: replacing Garry O'Connor in the 58th minute, he came close to scoring from outside the penalty area and "injected a note of panic hitherto undetected" in the home team's defence as Birmingham came back from 2–0 down to secure a draw.[13][14]

Žigić's first goal for the club came as Birmingham beat Milton Keynes Dons 3–1 in the League Cup on 21 September.[15] He scored his first Premier League goal on 16 October, opening the scoring at Arsenal with a header from a Keith Fahey cross, but Birmingham lost the game 2–1.[16] His fourth goal of the campaign was the 84th-minute winner as Birmingham progressed to the League Cup semi-final at the expense of local rivals Aston Villa.[17] He scored the opening goal in the 2011 Football League Cup Final with a short-range header as Birmingham defeated favourites Arsenal 2–1 at Wembley Stadium on 27 February 2011.[18] Because of "niggling" hip and groin injuries, Žigić made only two more substitute appearances. His absence deprived the team of what the Birmingham Mail's reporter called their "most effective style: getting the ball forward early, pressing up the pitch and playing off him", as they were relegated to the Championship.[19]

Žigić's first goal in the Championship gave Birmingham a 1–0 win against Leeds United in October 2011.[20] Away to Leeds in January 2012, Žigić scored all four goals as Birmingham came back from 1–0 behind to win 4–1.[21]

He began the 2012–13 season with a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time to gain a point for Birmingham at home to Charlton Athletic on the opening day.[22] On 15 February 2013, Birmingham manager Lee Clark publicly criticised Žigić for producing "possibly the worst training session in terms of a professional footballer I have ever come across", despite knowing he was due to start the forthcoming game against Watford.[23] Up until this incident, Clark had used Žigić more often as substitute than starter. He had scored six league goals at a rate of one goal every 165 minutes, and been sent off twice.[24] Clark said that Žigić would not be involved against Watford, but that it was "in Nikola's hands" as to whether he would prepare properly for the Sheffield Wednesday fixture three days later.[25] Zigic responded well after been dropped scoring goals against Peterborough and Middlesbrough in two wins for Birmingham.

International career [edit]

Although he attracted much attention for his performances with Red Star in the Serbo-Montenegrin league, Žigić only gained a regular place in the national team in mid-2005, after having made his debut the previous year under coach Ilija Petković.

He scored a couple of goals in some friendlies, but it was his substitute appearance in a crucial 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Spain in Madrid in September 2005 that brought him international recognition. After an atrocious first-half at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, during which Serbia-Montenegro rarely crossed the centre line, only being 1–0 down, coach Petković threw Žigić into the mix, and his towering presence up front changed the flow of the match instantly. He would later set up the equalizer, also providing Mateja Kežman with a 2–1 chance, but the ball was clipped wide of Iker Casillas' gaping half-empty net. However, Serbia got the key away point and confirmed their World Cup qualification at home in Belgrade versus Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Žigić again nicely setting up Kežman for the game's only goal.

Žigić's only start at the 2006 World Cup came in the nation's final Group C match, when the team was already eliminated. He scored an early goal in the 10th minute of the first half off a long ball from Dejan Stanković against Côte d'Ivoire, in a 3–2 loss.[26]

Still an automatic choice under new national manager Javier Clemente, his form took a dip. On 24 March 2007, Žigić received a red card during the Euro 2008 qualifying match against Kazakhstan, seconds before the end of the game. This caused him to miss the home game against Portugal.[citation needed] He also missed the match against Finland on 2 June 2007 after surgery on a facial injury received on 27 May.[27]

Also playing a crucial role during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers partnering up with Marko Pantelić scoring three important goals on the way to Serbia's first qualification of a major tournament as an independent nation.

He represented his country in the 2010 World Cup. On 17 November 2010, he scored the winning goal against Bulgaria in a friendly match, which was held in Sofia, but was sent off for a second yellow card shortly before the conclusion of the game. Also scoring three goals in Euro 2012 qualifiers against Faroe islands, Slovenia and Estonia. The sudden retirements of Dejan Stanković and Nemanja Vidić from international football after Serbia failed to qualify for Euro 2012 meant Žigić was appointed captain of the national team.[28]

International goals [edit]

Correct up to and including match played 15 November 2011[2]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 8 June 2005 Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canada  Italy 1–0 1–1 Friendly
2. 15 August 2005 Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine  Poland 1–1 3–2 Friendly
3. 13 November 2005 Nanjing Olympic Sports Center, Nanjing, China  China PR 0–2 0–2 Friendly
4. 21 June 2006 Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany  Ivory Coast 0–1 3–2 2006 World Cup
5. 2 September 2006 Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia  Azerbaijan 1–0 1–0 Euro 2008 qualifying
6. 7 October 2006 Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia  Belgium 1–0 1–0 Euro 2008 qualifying
7. 11 October 2006 Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia  Armenia 3–0 3–0 Euro 2008 qualifying
8. 24 March 2007 Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan  Kazakhstan 2–1 2–1 Euro 2008 qualifying
9. 17 October 2007 Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan 0–2 1–6 Euro 2008 qualifying
10. 17 October 2007 Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan 1–4 1–6 Euro 2008 qualifying
11. 21 November 2007 Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia  Poland 1–2 2–2 Euro 2008 qualifying
12. 6 September 2008 Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia  Faroe Islands 2–0 2–0 2010 World Cup qualification
13. 11 October 2008 Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia  Lithuania 3–0 3–0 2010 World Cup qualification
14. 1 April 2009 Stadion Partizan, Beograd, Serbia  Sweden 1–0 2–0 Friendly
15. 10 October 2009 Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia  Romania 1–0 5–0 2010 World Cup qualification
16. 18 November 2009 Craven Cottage, London, England  South Korea 0–1 0–1 Friendly
17. 3 September 2010 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands  Faroe Islands 0–3 0–3 Euro 2012 qualifying
18. 7 September 2010 Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia  Slovenia 1–1 1–1 Euro 2012 qualifying
19. 8 October 2010 Stadion Partizan, Beograd, Serbia  Estonia 1–0 1–3 Euro 2012 qualifying
20. 17 November 2010 Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria  Bulgaria 0–1 0–1 Friendly

Club statistics [edit]

 This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. (May 2011)
Correct up to and including end of 2012–13 season
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Serbia League Serbian Cup League Cup Europe Total
2003–04 Red Star Prva Liga 28 19 ? 2 5 6 33 27
2004–05 25 15 ? 2 5 3 30 20
2005–06 Super Liga 23 11 ? 2 7 5 30 18
2006–07 3 2 0 0 4 2 7 4
Spain League Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Europe Total
2006–07 Racing Santander La Liga 32 11 1 0 0 0 33 11
2007–08 Valencia 15 1 1 1 2 0 18 2
2008–09 0 0 1 1 3 2 4 3
Racing Santander 19 13 0 0 0 0 19 13
2009–10 Valencia 13 4 4 3 7 2 24 9
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2010–11 Birmingham City Premier League 25 5 2 0 7 3 0 0 34 8
2011–12 The Championship 35 11 1 0 1 0 5 0 43a 12a
2012–13 35 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 36 9
League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Total Serbia 79 47 ? 6 21 16 100 69
Spain 79 29 7 5 12 4 98 38
England 95 25 4 0 8 3 5 0 113a 29a
Career total 253 101 11 11 8 3 38 20 311a 136a

a Totals include one appearance and one goal in the 2011–12 Football League Championship play-offs.

Honours [edit]

Red Star
Valencia
Birmingham City
Individual

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Premier League clubs submit squad lists". Premier League. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c "Žigić Nikola" (in Serbian). reprezentacija.rs. Retrieved 12 April 2013. 
  3. ^ "Nikola Žigić". UEFA. Retrieved 1 June 2010. 
  4. ^ Žigić hat-trick earns Racing 5–4 win over Bilbao; Reuters, 1 April 2007
  5. ^ Valencia keen on Zigic stay; Sky Sports, 30 December 2007
  6. ^ O'Neill denies interest in Zigic; BBC Sport, 22 July 2008
  7. ^ Blackburn weigh up double swoop; BBC Sport, 19 August 2008
  8. ^ Nicola Zigic cayó en la red (Nikola Žigić fell in the net); El Diario Montañés, 30 December 2008 (Spanish)
  9. ^ Žigić heads back to Racing on loan; UEFA.com, 30 December 2008
  10. ^ "Serbia striker Nikola Zigic and Tottenham's £10m-rated Darren Bent top the bill for new Sunderland boss Steve Bruce". Daily Mail. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009. 
  11. ^ "Birmingham seal signing of giant striker Nikola Zigic". BBC Sport. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010. 
  12. ^ Lansley, Peter (27 May 2010). "Alex McLeish planning big things after £6m signing of giant Nikola Zigic". The Times. Retrieved 30 May 2010. 
  13. ^ "Blues fight back for draw". Sky Sports. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2010. 
  14. ^ Ward, Les (16 August 2010). "Bent marks card for Cattermole after captain's loss of discipline". The Independent. Retrieved 13 September 2010. 
  15. ^ "Birmingham 3–1 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2010. 
  16. ^ Sheringham, Sam (16 October 2010). "Arsenal 2–1 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 October 2010. 
  17. ^ McNulty, Phil (1 December 2010). "Birmingham 2–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2010. 
  18. ^ McNulty, Philip (27 February 2011). "Arsenal 1–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2011. 
  19. ^ Tattum, Colin (26 May 2011). "Colin Tattum reviews Birmingham City's season and asks: How did it go so wrong?". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2 June 2011. 
  20. ^ "Birmingham 1–0 Leeds". BBC Sport. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011. 
  21. ^ "Leeds 1–4 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012. 
  22. ^ "Birmingham 1–1 Charlton". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012. 
  23. ^ "Nikola Zigic dropped by Birmingham after 'worst training session ever'". guardian.co.uk. Press Association. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013. 
  24. ^ "N. Žigić". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. 15 February 2013. Archived from the original|archiveurl= requires |url= (help) on 15 February 2013. 
  25. ^ Walker, Andy (15 February 2013). "Zigic set challenge". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 15 February 2013. 
  26. ^ Ivorian comeback shocks Serbians; UEFA.com, 21 June 2006
  27. ^ Serbia's Žigić to miss Euro 2008 qualifier in Finland. He scored 7 goals during the Euro 2008 qualifiers.; Reuters, 28 May 2007
  28. ^ Žigić zadužuje kapitensku traku (Žigić takes the captain's armband); reprezentacija.rs (in Serbian), 5 November 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.

External links [edit]

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Dejan Stanković		 Serbia captain
2011		 Succeeded by
Branislav Ivanović
Awards
Preceded by
Dejan Stanković		 Serbian Footballer of the Year
2007		 Succeeded by
Nemanja Vidić
Serbia and Montenegro squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup
Serbia
Birmingham City F.C. – current squad
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