Fahrudin Kudozovic
Encyclopedia
Fahrudin 'Faz' Kuduzović (born October 10, 1984 in Vlasenica
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
) is a Bosnian
(with British citizenship) professional footballer who currently plays for Eintracht Trier
in the Regionalliga West
in Germany
. He can play either as a striker
or as an attacking midfielder.
where he settled in Leicester
. Within the first year he was spotted by Leicester City
at a tournament and he played for The Foxes for a year before being picked up by Derby County
. Kuduzović would go on to spend eight years at Pride Park
, earning full-time contracts before he had even left school. However, in his final three years at the club, he played a lot of reserve team football, with his failure to make a breakthrough to the first team leading to his exit in 2004. Almost immediately he signed for Notts County
and made his first-team debut within days. However, halfway through the season, Gary Mills
, who had signed Kuduzović, was sacked, and the Bosnian was unable to find favour under new player/manager Ian Richardson
.
At the end of his time there, having spent most of the season on the bench, Kuduzović admitted that he "wanted to get away" and on 25 January 2005 he completed a move to Ireland when signing for Sligo Rovers
, then managed by Sean Connor
in the League of Ireland First Division. In his first season at The Showgrounds, Kuduzović helped the club to the league title which seen them win promotion back to the top flight for the first time in six years. The striker continued to impress in his performances in the Premier Division as Sligo achieved a credible fifth-placed finish in their first year back up. Twelve months later, Faz finished as the Bit O' Red's top scorer with ten league goals as they ended the season in sixth.
However, midway through the 2008 campaign, he left to join reigning champions Drogheda United for an undisclosed fee. It was a spell that started very brightly as 15 days later he scored the winning goal against Levadia Tallinn
in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League
first qualifying round tie. In the second round, the Boynesiders went within the width of a post of knocking Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev
out. However, a disappointing second half to the season saw them enter examinership
due to financial troubles, with a ten-point deduction leaving them in eighth place in the final table. Kuduzović, who scored three goals in his time at United Park
, was the subject of interest from Connor once more when the Belfast-born boss tried to persuade the striker to join Dundalk at the beginning of last year. However, on 27 January 2009, Kuduzović followed former Drogheda manager Paul Doolin
to Cork City
and he finished as the club's top scorer with nine goals as they ended the season in third - their highest league position since winning the title in 2005.
On 25 February last, shortly after the demise of Cork, Faz signed for Dundalk, and eight days later he made his debut for the Lilywhites when playing the full 90 minutes of their 1-0 win at Bray Wanderers on the opening day of the league campaign. The following weekend, on his first ever outing at Oriel Park
, in his first Louth Derby, Faz scored a late equaliser against Drogheda as Dundalk came from 2-0 down to snatch an unlikely draw. In July, Kuduzović became the first Dundalk player to score on the European stage in almost 19 years when he netted against Grevenmacher
in Stade Josy Barthel
, Luxembourg
. He struck again in the second leg at Oriel Park a week later to write his name into the history books as the first ever foreign player to score in both legs of a European tie for the club, as 2010 saw them compete in their 44th European game as they eventually bowed out to Levski Sofia
in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. On 1 October 2010, Kuduzović scored his first career hat-trick with three second-half goals in a 3-0 win against Galway United at Oriel Park. He ended the season with 16 goals in all competitions, his highest ever return in a single season, to become Dundalk's most prolific scorer in the Premier Division since Peter Hanrahan in 1991.
On 17 December 2010, Eintracht Trier
announced that Kuduzović had signed for them, on a deal which will keep him at Moselstadion until at least 30 June 2011.
Vlasenica
Vlasenica is a municipality and town of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Administratively it is part of Vlasenica Region.-1912:...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
) is a Bosnian
Bosnians
Bosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
(with British citizenship) professional footballer who currently plays for Eintracht Trier
SV Eintracht Trier 05
SV Eintracht Trier 05 is a German association football club based in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate. It was formed on 11 March 1948 out of the merger of Westmark 05 Trier and Eintracht Trier 06, on the 43rd anniversary of the establishment of predecessor Trier Fußball Club 05...
in the Regionalliga West
Regionalliga West
The Regionalliga West is the fourth tier of the German football league system since its introduction in 2008. It covers the states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia and is one of three leagues at this level, together with the Regionalliga Nord and the Regionalliga...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He can play either as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
or as an attacking midfielder.
Club career
Kuduzović left Bosnia in 1994 and moved to United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where he settled in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. Within the first year he was spotted by Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
at a tournament and he played for The Foxes for a year before being picked up by Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. Kuduzović would go on to spend eight years at Pride Park
Pride Park Stadium
Pride Park Stadium is an all-seater football stadium located on the Pride Park business park on the outskirts of Derby, England. It is the current home of Football League Championship club Derby County, who moved to the stadium from the Baseball Ground upon its opening in 1997...
, earning full-time contracts before he had even left school. However, in his final three years at the club, he played a lot of reserve team football, with his failure to make a breakthrough to the first team leading to his exit in 2004. Almost immediately he signed for Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
and made his first-team debut within days. However, halfway through the season, Gary Mills
Gary Mills
Gary Roland Mills is an English former footballer who is currently manager of York City.Mills started his career with Nottingham Forest and he became the club's youngest league player after making his first team debut at the age of 16 in 1978. He played in the victorious 1980 European Cup Final,...
, who had signed Kuduzović, was sacked, and the Bosnian was unable to find favour under new player/manager Ian Richardson
Ian Richardson
Ian William Richardson CBE was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of the Machiavellian Tory politician Francis Urquhart in the BBC's House of Cards trilogy. He was also a leading Shakespearean stage actor....
.
At the end of his time there, having spent most of the season on the bench, Kuduzović admitted that he "wanted to get away" and on 25 January 2005 he completed a move to Ireland when signing for Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers F.C.
Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
, then managed by Sean Connor
Sean Connor
Sean Connor is a former footballer and manager currently without a club.-Playing career:Connor began his career at Distillery in the Irish League where he played for one full season before moving to Port Vale...
in the League of Ireland First Division. In his first season at The Showgrounds, Kuduzović helped the club to the league title which seen them win promotion back to the top flight for the first time in six years. The striker continued to impress in his performances in the Premier Division as Sligo achieved a credible fifth-placed finish in their first year back up. Twelve months later, Faz finished as the Bit O' Red's top scorer with ten league goals as they ended the season in sixth.
However, midway through the 2008 campaign, he left to join reigning champions Drogheda United for an undisclosed fee. It was a spell that started very brightly as 15 days later he scored the winning goal against Levadia Tallinn
FC Levadia Tallinn
MTÜ SK FC Levadia Tallinn is an Estonian football club based in Tallinn. The club was founded in 1998, under the name FC Levadia Maardu. FC Levadia currently play in the Meistriliiga, the highest level of Estonian football...
in the home leg of their UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
first qualifying round tie. In the second round, the Boynesiders went within the width of a post of knocking Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
out. However, a disappointing second half to the season saw them enter examinership
Examinership
Examinership is a process in Irish law whereby the protection of the Court is obtained to assist the survival of a company. It allows a company to restructure with the approval of the High Court....
due to financial troubles, with a ten-point deduction leaving them in eighth place in the final table. Kuduzović, who scored three goals in his time at United Park
United Park
Hunky Dorys Park is a football stadium in Drogheda, Ireland. The ground has been home to League of Ireland side Drogheda United since 1979. The ground has a capacity of 2,000 with 400 seats...
, was the subject of interest from Connor once more when the Belfast-born boss tried to persuade the striker to join Dundalk at the beginning of last year. However, on 27 January 2009, Kuduzović followed former Drogheda manager Paul Doolin
Paul Doolin
Paul Doolin is a former Irish footballer and manager.He played for Bohemians, scoring on his debut on 13 September 1981. In June 1985 he signed for Shamrock Rovers and in his three years at the club won the double twice scoring 30 goals in 107 appearances. In his first season at Milltown he was...
to Cork City
Cork City F.C.
Cork City Football Club is an Irish football team that plays in the League of Ireland. Founded and elected to the league in 1984 to continue the long tradition of Association Football in Cork, City's traditional colours are green and white with red trim, and the crest is a variant of the Cork...
and he finished as the club's top scorer with nine goals as they ended the season in third - their highest league position since winning the title in 2005.
On 25 February last, shortly after the demise of Cork, Faz signed for Dundalk, and eight days later he made his debut for the Lilywhites when playing the full 90 minutes of their 1-0 win at Bray Wanderers on the opening day of the league campaign. The following weekend, on his first ever outing at Oriel Park
Oriel Park
Oriel Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Dundalk, County Louth, Republic of Ireland. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Dundalk F.C. Its current capacity is about 4,500 with 3,000 seats. The ground was opened in 1919.-History:...
, in his first Louth Derby, Faz scored a late equaliser against Drogheda as Dundalk came from 2-0 down to snatch an unlikely draw. In July, Kuduzović became the first Dundalk player to score on the European stage in almost 19 years when he netted against Grevenmacher
CS Grevenmacher
Club Sportif Grevenmacher is a football club, based in Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg.- History :The club was founded in 1909 as 'Stade Mosellan' . The current name, 'CS Grevenmacher' , was adopted in 1919....
in Stade Josy Barthel
Stade Josy Barthel
Stade Josy Barthel is the national stadium of Luxembourg, home to the Luxembourg national football team and also used for athletics. It is located on route d'Arlon, in Luxembourg City.It was first constructed in 1928 and it was entirely rebuilt in 1990...
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. He struck again in the second leg at Oriel Park a week later to write his name into the history books as the first ever foreign player to score in both legs of a European tie for the club, as 2010 saw them compete in their 44th European game as they eventually bowed out to Levski Sofia
PFC Levski Sofia
"Levski Sofia" redirects here. For the sports club, see Levski Sofia .PFC Levski Sofia, otherwise simply known as Levski or Levski Sofia, is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria...
in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. On 1 October 2010, Kuduzović scored his first career hat-trick with three second-half goals in a 3-0 win against Galway United at Oriel Park. He ended the season with 16 goals in all competitions, his highest ever return in a single season, to become Dundalk's most prolific scorer in the Premier Division since Peter Hanrahan in 1991.
On 17 December 2010, Eintracht Trier
SV Eintracht Trier 05
SV Eintracht Trier 05 is a German association football club based in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate. It was formed on 11 March 1948 out of the merger of Westmark 05 Trier and Eintracht Trier 06, on the 43rd anniversary of the establishment of predecessor Trier Fußball Club 05...
announced that Kuduzović had signed for them, on a deal which will keep him at Moselstadion until at least 30 June 2011.
Honours
- League of Ireland First Division: 1
- Sligo RoversSligo Rovers F.C.Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
- 2005
- Sligo Rovers