Ilija Spasojevic
Encyclopedia
Ilija Spasojević is a Montenegrin footballer who plays for PSM Makassar
in the Indonesian Premier League. Spasojević has often been described as an English-style centre forward due to his physical presence and great aerial ability.
in Serbian SuperLiga
. In July 2005 Spasojević moved to Sutjeska Nikšić, and in July 2006 he moved to ČSK Pivara
. One year later he signed for ex-UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
winner (1981
), Dinamo Tbilisi
from Georgia. While he was playing for Dinamo Tbilisi
he showed amazing form by scoring 30 goals from 41 matches, and Georgian football media gave him a nickame Spasogol. In those two seasons with Dinamo Tbilisi
Spasojević won the Georgian League
, Georgian Cup
and Georgian Super Cup
, and make his debut in UEFA Champions League
qualifications, 30 July 2008 against Panathinaikos FC
. Shortly after that, he was very close to sign a contract with Bundesliga
club Arminia Bielefeld
, but transfer failed due to financial disagreement. At the end of transfer window 2009, on 31 August Spasojević approach to Borac Čačak
in the Serbian SuperLiga
, and on 30 March 2010 he transferred to Latvian champions Liepājas Metalurgs. For short time in Latvia he scored 8 goals from 10 games in Virslīga
and Latvian Cup. On 10 September 2010 he was on the move once again, this time it was to Trikala
in Football League (Greece). While he was playing in Greece, Spasojević was unhappy with lack of first team football, and on 1 January 2011 he sign a contract with Bali Devata
, where he soon became a key player by scoring 8 goals in first half-season of Liga Primer Indonesia. Spasojević also scored 2 goals against Indonesia U-23 National team, al though Bali Devata
was defeated 2:4, in Friendly Match which was held on 23 August 2011 at Gelora 10 November Stadium
, Surabaya
. From October 2011 he is playing for PSM Makassar
in the Indonesian Premier League.
. In 2006, Montenegrins voted on an independence referendum and Serbia
and Montenegro
became independent countries. Spasojević himself being Montenegrin, decide to play for Montenegro U21 national team
.
PSM Makassar
PSM, an acronym for Persatuan Sepakbola Makassar, is a football club that plays in the Liga Primer Indonesia. It was once considered as one of Indonesia's strongest football clubs, having won a title in 2000 and finishing runner-up three out of the past four seasons after that...
in the Indonesian Premier League. Spasojević has often been described as an English-style centre forward due to his physical presence and great aerial ability.
Career
Spasojević started his senior career in 2004 at the age of 17, playing for VojvodinaFK Vojvodina
FK Vojvodina is a football club from Novi Sad, Serbia. The club currently competes in the Serbian SuperLiga. FK Vojvodina is the third oldest football club in Serbia's SuperLiga, after OFK Beograd which was founded in 1911 and FK Javor which was founded in 1912.-History:FK Vojvodina was founded...
in Serbian SuperLiga
Serbian Superliga
Serbian SuperLiga is a Serbian professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Serbian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Serbian First League...
. In July 2005 Spasojević moved to Sutjeska Nikšić, and in July 2006 he moved to ČSK Pivara
FK CSK Pivara
ČSK Pivara is a football club from Čelarevo, Serbia. It was founded in 1925 as ČOSK...
. One year later he signed for ex-UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
winner (1981
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1980-81
The 1980–81 season of the European Cup Winners' Cup was won by FC Dinamo Tbilisi in the final against FC Carl Zeiss Jena. The competition included the Real Madrid reserve team Castilla.-Preliminary round:-First round:-First leg:-Second leg:...
), Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi is a Georgian football team, based in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.Dinamo Tbilisi was one of the most prominent clubs in Soviet football and a major contender in the Soviet Top League almost immediately after it was established in 1936...
from Georgia. While he was playing for Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi is a Georgian football team, based in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.Dinamo Tbilisi was one of the most prominent clubs in Soviet football and a major contender in the Soviet Top League almost immediately after it was established in 1936...
he showed amazing form by scoring 30 goals from 41 matches, and Georgian football media gave him a nickame Spasogol. In those two seasons with Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi
FC Dinamo Tbilisi is a Georgian football team, based in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.Dinamo Tbilisi was one of the most prominent clubs in Soviet football and a major contender in the Soviet Top League almost immediately after it was established in 1936...
Spasojević won the Georgian League
Umaglesi Liga
The Georgian Top League is the top division of football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football Federation. From 1927 to 1989, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the Soviet Union...
, Georgian Cup
Georgian Cup
The Georgian Cup is the main "knockout" cup competition in Georgian football.The competition is a knockout tournament.Previous winners are:-Soviet era cup winners:* 1944: Team of Sukhumi* 1945: Dinamo Sukhumi...
and Georgian Super Cup
Georgian Super Cup
The Georgian Super Cup is a competition consisting of a single football played between the champions of the Umaglesi Liga and the winners of the Georgian Cup. It was first held in 1996....
, and make his debut in 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...
qualifications, 30 July 2008 against Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
. Shortly after that, he was very close to sign a contract with Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
club Arminia Bielefeld
Arminia Bielefeld
DSC Arminia Bielefeld is a German sports club from Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. Arminia offers the sports of football, field hockey, figure skating and cue sports. The club has 11,394 members and the club colours are black, white and blue...
, but transfer failed due to financial disagreement. At the end of transfer window 2009, on 31 August Spasojević approach to Borac Čačak
FK Borac Cacak
Fudbalski klub Borac Čačak is a professional football club based in Čačak, Serbia.It was founded in 1926. Borac plays at the Čačak Stadium which has a capacity of 5,000....
in the Serbian SuperLiga
Serbian Superliga
Serbian SuperLiga is a Serbian professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Serbian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Serbian First League...
, and on 30 March 2010 he transferred to Latvian champions Liepājas Metalurgs. For short time in Latvia he scored 8 goals from 10 games in Virslīga
Virsliga
-Past Virslīga winners:-Top scorers:-Riga football league winners:* 1910 Union Riga* 1911 British FC Riga* 1912 Union Riga* 1913 British FC Riga* 1914 British FC Riga* 1915 British FC Riga-Champions of Latvia before Virslīga:* 1922 Ķeizarmežs...
and Latvian Cup. On 10 September 2010 he was on the move once again, this time it was to Trikala
Trikala F.C.
Trikala F.C., or Athlitikos Omilos Trikalon , are a professional football club based in the city of Trikala, in central Greece.-History:The club was formed in 1963 from the merger of two rival Trikala football clubs, Achilleas of Trikala and Α.Ε.Τ...
in Football League (Greece). While he was playing in Greece, Spasojević was unhappy with lack of first team football, and on 1 January 2011 he sign a contract with Bali Devata
Bali Devata F.C.
Bali Devata Football Club is an Indonesian football club based in Bali. The team plays in Liga Primer Indonesia.-Team Officials:-Current squad:-External links:**...
, where he soon became a key player by scoring 8 goals in first half-season of Liga Primer Indonesia. Spasojević also scored 2 goals against Indonesia U-23 National team, al though Bali Devata
Bali Devata F.C.
Bali Devata Football Club is an Indonesian football club based in Bali. The team plays in Liga Primer Indonesia.-Team Officials:-Current squad:-External links:**...
was defeated 2:4, in Friendly Match which was held on 23 August 2011 at Gelora 10 November Stadium
Gelora 10 November Stadium
Gelora 10 November Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Surabaya, Indonesia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 30,000 people...
, Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
. From October 2011 he is playing for PSM Makassar
PSM Makassar
PSM, an acronym for Persatuan Sepakbola Makassar, is a football club that plays in the Liga Primer Indonesia. It was once considered as one of Indonesia's strongest football clubs, having won a title in 2000 and finishing runner-up three out of the past four seasons after that...
in the Indonesian Premier League.
International career
Ilija Spasojević was member of Yugoslavia U17, Yugoslavia U19 and Serbia-Montenegro U21Serbia national under-21 football team
The Serbia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Serbia and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia....
. In 2006, Montenegrins voted on an independence referendum and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
became independent countries. Spasojević himself being Montenegrin, decide to play for Montenegro U21 national team
Montenegro national under-21 football team
The Montenegro national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Montenegro and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro...
.
Personal life
Personal life of Ilija Spasojević has been subject to much media attention in Montenegro. He has been involved in high profile relationship with Montenegrin top model Sanja Brnović, who in 2011 also dated Brazilian football superstar Ronaldinho.Honours
Dinamo Tbilisi- Georgian LeagueUmaglesi LigaThe Georgian Top League is the top division of football in Georgia. Since 1990, it has been organized by the Professional Football League of Georgia and Georgian Football Federation. From 1927 to 1989, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the Soviet Union...
: 2008 - Georgian Super CupGeorgian Super CupThe Georgian Super Cup is a competition consisting of a single football played between the champions of the Umaglesi Liga and the winners of the Georgian Cup. It was first held in 1996....
: 2008 - Georgian CupGeorgian CupThe Georgian Cup is the main "knockout" cup competition in Georgian football.The competition is a knockout tournament.Previous winners are:-Soviet era cup winners:* 1944: Team of Sukhumi* 1945: Dinamo Sukhumi...
: 2009