Zdravko Kuzmanović
Здравко Кузмановић
 |
| Personal information |
| Full name |
Zdravko Kuzmanović |
| Date of birth |
22 September 1987 (1987-09-22) (age 24) |
| Place of birth |
Thun, Switzerland |
| Height |
1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) |
| Playing position |
Midfielder |
| Club information |
| Current club |
Stuttgart |
| Number |
8 |
| Youth career |
| 1994–2001 |
Dürrenast |
| 2001–2003 |
Young Boys |
| 2003–2005 |
Basel |
| Senior career* |
| Years |
Team |
Apps† |
(Gls)† |
| 2005–2007 |
Basel |
34 |
(4) |
| 2007–2009 |
Fiorentina |
70 |
(3) |
| 2009– |
Stuttgart |
78 |
(16) |
| National team‡ |
| 2006–2007 |
Switzerland U21 |
4 |
(0) |
| 2007– |
Serbia |
45 |
(6) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:43, 9 March 2012 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:24, 29 February 2012 (UTC) |
Zdravko Kuzmanović (Serbian Cyrillic: Здравко Кузмановић, born 22 September 1987) is a Serbian footballer who plays as a midfielder for VfB Stuttgart in the German Bundesliga.
[edit] Early life
Born in Thun, Switzerland to a family of Bosnian Serb expats (his father hails from a small village called Skugrić near Modriča, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia), Kuzmanović continued the family tradition as both his father Ljubo and his grandfather played football for the lower league football in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the local club in Gradačac – FK Zvijezda.[1] Kuzmanović's father also played professionally in Berlin, before eventually ending his career at FC Thun of Switzerland, and continuing to live in the country.
[edit] Club career
Kuzmanović started his professional career at Basel. He was promoted to first team in 2005–06 season and also played for Basel II at 1. Liga that season.
On 30 January 2007, at the age of 19, he signed a 4½ year contract with ACF Fiorentina.[2] On 4 March 2007 he played his first Serie A match for Fiorentina against Torino F.C.[3] He went on to become an integral first team player for Fiorentina, notching up over 70 Serie A appearances and featuring in their successful European Competition runs.
On 31 August 2009 on the transfer deadline, Kuzmanović signed a four year contract with VfB Stuttgart worth £7million.[4] Following his move, Kuzmanović eagerly anticipating plying his trade in the Bundesliga.[5] On 12 September 2009, Kuzmanović set to make debut for Stuttgart against Hamburger SV[6] and eventually did as Stuttgart lost 3–1. On 21 November 2009,Kuzmanović scored his first goal for Stuttgart in a 1–1 draw against Hertha Berlin.[7] Kuzmanović made his Champions League debut for Stuttgart in a 1-3 defeat at home to Sevilla on 20 October 2009 and later scored his first Champions League goal in the return leg when Sevilla and Stuttgart played a 1-1 draw. Throughout his two seasons with Stuttgart Kuzmanović caught the interest of Italian clubs Juventus and Lazio, but the Serb said he was happy playing for the German side.[8]
[edit] International career
In early 2007, Serbian FA began talks with him about the possibility of playing for the Serbian national team[9] and he accepted call up to squad against Kazakhstan and Portugal in March 2007. He scored his first two goals for Serbia in the away game versus Belgium, but they weren't enough to get a point, since Serbia lost 3–2. Although Kuzmanović was born in Thun and played for Switzerland at youth level, he has decided to play for Serbia on the senior level, stating: "I'm Serbian and I want to give all for my country, it's a matter of what you feel in your heart and I must listen to it." In the 2010 FIFA World Cup match between Serbia and Ghana, Kuzmanović conceded a penalty by handling the ball, one that Ghana scored and was the only goal in the match which Ghana won.[10]
He played once at 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifying for Switzerland U21[11] thus ineligible to play for Serbia at the same campaign, which Serbia lost to the Netherlands in the final. He also played a friendly verse France U21 in February 2007, before accepted the call-up from Serbia.[12]
[edit] Career statistics
- As of 9 March 2012
[edit] International goals
Zdravko Kuzmanović: International goals
| Goal |
Date |
Venue |
Opponent |
Score |
Result |
Competition |
| 1. |
22 August 2007 |
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium |
 Belgium |
2–1 |
3–2 |
UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 2. |
22 August 2007 |
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium |
Belgium |
3–2 |
3–2 |
UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 3. |
10 October 2009 |
Red Star Stadium, Beograd, Serbia |
 Romania |
3–0 |
5–0 |
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying |
| 4. |
3 March 2010 |
Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria |
 Algeria |
0–2 |
0–3 |
Friendly |
| 5. |
6 September 2011 |
Stadion FK Partizan, Belgrade, Serbia |
 Faroe Islands |
3–1 |
3–1 |
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 6. |
28 February 2012 |
Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus |
 Armenia |
0–1 |
0–2 |
Friendly |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Kuzmanovic, Zdravko |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
footballer |
| Date of birth |
22 September 1987 |
| Place of birth |
Thun, Switzerland |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
Belgium
Romania
Algeria
Faroe Islands
Armenia
