Ivan Banović
Encyclopedia
Ivan Banović is a Croatia
n football goalkeeper who is currently a free agent
, having been released from the Croatian club Croatia Sesvete
in July 2010. Having had interest from several clubs including FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Inter Milan, he decided to stay in Croatia and remain a free agent for the time being.
and moving to Solin
for the 2005-06 season. He made a total of 43 league appearances during the two seasons, securing himself a move to the Croatian top flight in the summer of 2006, signing with Međimurje.
At Međimurje, he started out as the second-choice goalkeeper, with two league appearances early in the season being his only top-flight appearances during his first season with the club. He managed to become the club's first-choice goalkeeper midway through the 2007-08 season, keeping his place despite the club's relegation from the top flight at the end of the season and going on to help them return to the top flight for the 2009-10 season. He made a total of 62 league appearances for Međimurje during his three and a half seasons with the club, 35 of which were in the top flight.
In January 2010, he moved to Croatia Sesvete
, who were bottom of the table in the Croatian First League for most of the 2009-10 season, to serve as their new first-choice goalkeeper. He appeared in all of the club's 13 matches in the second half of the 2009-10 season, but eventually could not do much to help them avoid relegation as they were not able to move away from the 16th place in the top flight.
that strayed onto the pitch during a Croatian First League match between Šibenik
and Međimurje. He picked up the cat and carried it off the pitch to a safe place under the scoreboard behind his goal. As a result, he was somewhat controversially booked for leaving the pitch without permission.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n football goalkeeper who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, having been released from the Croatian club Croatia Sesvete
NK Croatia Sesvete
NK Croatia Sesvete is a Croatian football club based in the Sesvete district of the City of Zagreb.Previous club names: NK Sljeme , NK Sesvete , NK Badel Sesvete , NK Sesvete .-2010 Match fixing scandal:...
in July 2010. Having had interest from several clubs including FC Barcelona, Manchester United and Inter Milan, he decided to stay in Croatia and remain a free agent for the time being.
Career
Banović started his professional career in the Croatian second division, spending the 2004-05 season with MosorNK Mosor
NK Mosor is a Croatian football club from Žrnovnica, settlement which is part of the city of Split on the Croatian coast.The club was founded in 1928. It existed until World War II when most of its members enlisted in the army. When the war ended, the club had experienced such a high rate of...
and moving to Solin
NK Solin
NK Solin is a Croatian football club based in the town of Solin, near Split.-League and Cup results:-External links:* at Nogometni magazin...
for the 2005-06 season. He made a total of 43 league appearances during the two seasons, securing himself a move to the Croatian top flight in the summer of 2006, signing with Međimurje.
At Međimurje, he started out as the second-choice goalkeeper, with two league appearances early in the season being his only top-flight appearances during his first season with the club. He managed to become the club's first-choice goalkeeper midway through the 2007-08 season, keeping his place despite the club's relegation from the top flight at the end of the season and going on to help them return to the top flight for the 2009-10 season. He made a total of 62 league appearances for Međimurje during his three and a half seasons with the club, 35 of which were in the top flight.
In January 2010, he moved to Croatia Sesvete
NK Croatia Sesvete
NK Croatia Sesvete is a Croatian football club based in the Sesvete district of the City of Zagreb.Previous club names: NK Sljeme , NK Sesvete , NK Badel Sesvete , NK Sesvete .-2010 Match fixing scandal:...
, who were bottom of the table in the Croatian First League for most of the 2009-10 season, to serve as their new first-choice goalkeeper. He appeared in all of the club's 13 matches in the second half of the 2009-10 season, but eventually could not do much to help them avoid relegation as they were not able to move away from the 16th place in the top flight.
"Cat rescue" incident
On 23 November 2009, Banović attracted attention from the media for rescuing a lost catCat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
that strayed onto the pitch during a Croatian First League match between Šibenik
HNK Šibenik
HNK Šibenik is a Croatian football club based in the city of Šibenik on the Croatian coast.The club was formed in 1932. In 2006 the club finished first in the Croatian Second League's southern division and was promoted to the Prva HNL...
and Međimurje. He picked up the cat and carried it off the pitch to a safe place under the scoreboard behind his goal. As a result, he was somewhat controversially booked for leaving the pitch without permission.