Zvonimir Vukić

Serbian footballer

Zvonimir Vukić (; born 19 July 1979) is a Serbian former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. A former Serbia and Montenegro international, Vukić appeared at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Vukić started out at his hometown club Proleter Zrenjanin, making his senior debut in the 1996–97 season, aged 17. He became a first team regular in the following 1997–98 campaign, attracting the attention of numerous domestic and foreign clubs. In the summer of 1998, Vukić was snapped by Spanish club Atlético Madrid. After spending almost two years with Atlético's B team, playing in the Segunda División, Vukić returned to his homeland and signed with Partizan in April 2000. He made a name for himself over the next four seasons with the Crno beli, scoring 52 goals across all competitions. In the 2002–03 season, Vukić was the league's top scorer with 22 goals, as Partizan won the title. In June 2003, Vukić signed a five year contract with Ukrainian runners up Shakhtar Donetsk. He was their top scorer with 13 goals in all competitions during his debut season. In his second year at the club, Vukić helped the side win the championship despite being scoreless in the process. He also made his UEFA Champions League debut that season against the likes of Barcelona and Milan. In August 2005, Vukić was loaned to Premier League side Portsmouth until the end of the 2005–06 season. He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in a 4–1 win over Sunderland on 29 October 2005. However, after the sacking of manager Alain Perrin and reinstatement of former manager Harry Redknapp, Vukić was deemed surplus to requirements. In January 2006, Vukić found himself back in familiar territory, having been loaned to his former club Partizan for the rest of the 2005–06 season. He rejoined the Belgrade side just a few days following Danko Lazović's comeback. Unfortunately, Vukić broke a foot in a friendly game against Ural Yekaterinburg, managing to play just two competitive matches after a long pause. After his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk expired in the summer of 2008, Vukić joined Moscow. However, the Ukrainian club claimed that they have a valid contract with the player. Eventually, FIFA allowed Vukić to play for the Russian club in October 2008. He scored on his debut for the side in a league fixture against Terek Grozny on 2 November 2008. After the club folded in February 2010, Vukić became a free agent.

In May, and November 2010, after training with the club for several months, Vukić was again linked to Partizan, but no deal was concluded. He eventually signed with his former club on 31 January 2011, penning a one year deal. Vukić chose the number 80 shirt and was officially presented together with Ghanaian international Prince Tagoe. He helped Partizan win the double, scoring from the penalty spot in the Serbian Cup final against Vojvodina. At the start of the 2011–12 campaign, Vukić assumed his old number 10 shirt. He opened the season with a goal against Shkëndija in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. However, after weak form in August 2010, Vukić became the subject of fans' criticism, briefly dropping from the first team. On 21 September 2011, Vukić returned to the lineup and scored a goal in the Serbian Cup first round against Novi Pazar. He then scored a brace in his first league game after six rounds for a 2–0 victory over Spartak Subotica on 15 October 2011. In the next 30 days, Vukić netted five more, including three league and two cup goals. He also scored the opening goal in a 2–0 away win against arch rivals on 26 November 2011, becoming a fans favorite again. In the last two rounds of the first half of the season, Vukić scored two more goals to complete his fantastic performances in late 2011. On 24 January 2012, after much speculation, Vukić signed another one year contract with Partizan. He continued his good performances in the second half of the season, being named in the SuperLiga Team of the Season. However, Vukić was removed from the squad in August 2012, because of disagreements with reappointed manager Vladimir Vermezović.

On 30 January 2013, Vukić joined PAOK on a free transfer, signing a one and a half year deal. He played three matches in the Super League Greece until the end of the 2012–13 regular season, scoring two goals in his first two appearances for the club against Panionios and Panathinaikos. Vukić also recorded four appearances in the Super League playoffs. On 26 April 2014, Vukić was the only scorer for his team in the Greek Cup final, converting a penalty in the 70th minute of their 4–1 loss to Panathinaikos. He was also one of the team's top scorers in the 2013–14 season, with 15 goals in all competitions, before eventually leaving PAOK at the end of his contract. On 7 September 2014, Vukić joined Veria on a free transfer, signing a one year contract. He was given the number 99 shirt. On 12 February 2015, Vukić terminated his contract with Veria by mutual consent.

Vukić earned 26 caps for Serbia and Montenegro, making his full international debut in a 2–2 home draw with Azerbaijan on 12 February 2003. He scored his first national team goal in a 3–2 win over Wales at Millennium Stadium on 11 October 2003. Vukić was a regular member of the team during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, scoring four goals in the process. He was included in the final 23 man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, despite having been in the process of convalescence after a long break due to foot injury. Eventually, Vukić made one appearance in the final tournament, coming in from the bench in a 6–0 loss to Argentina.