Velimir Sombolac
Encyclopedia
Velimir Sombolac(born February 27, 1939 in Banja Luka
) is a former Bosnian Serb football player and manager.
where he, with his team, surprisingly achieved the third place in the Yugoslav national youth championship. After this success, the BSK's coach Aco Mastala received a proposal to move to the city's main club FK Borac Banja Luka, which he accepted and brought along some of the players that helped him previously, between them, obviously, Velimir Sombolac. While in Borac, Velimir's good exhibitions didn't passed unnoticed, and, beside starting to represent the Yugoslav under-21 team
, two seasons after he came there, received an invitation to move to one of the greatest Yugoslav clubs, the Belgrade's FK Partizan
. There, playing alongside stars like Šoškić
, Galić
, Jusufi
, and others, he will play six seasons with a total of 260 matches, being national champion in four occasions. In 1965 he moved to NK Olimpija Ljubljana
where he will play until 1970. Together with Smajlović
Arslanagić and, again, Šoškić, they would make Olimpija one of the most attractive Yugoslav First League
teams. In 1970, instead of moving abroad, as many other Yugoslav players in that period and with his age did, he will move to Second League NK Orijent Rijeka
where he would play one season, before returning to FK Borac Banja Luka where he will hang on his boots in 1973.
held in Rome, and where Yugoslavia won the gold
eliminating hosts Italy in the semi-finals, and winning Denmark ( 3–1 ) in the final. Afterward, Sombolac will also play five matches for the Yugoslavia national football team
.
National team:
final, will play in the European Cup Winners Cup and will gain promotion to the Yugoslav First League. Then he will take charge as main manger of FK Kozara Gradiška
. After three seasons there, he stayed in the club, but he founded his through vocation, that was working with youth .
After the break-up of Yugoslavia, he will work at the Republika Srpska Football Federation, helping to form all the youth categories teams, and will become the main manager of the Republika Srpska national football team.
Banja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
) is a former Bosnian Serb football player and manager.
Club career
Following the steps of his elder brother Petar, he started playing in his hometown club FK BSK Banja LukaFK BSK Banja Luka
BSK Banja Luka is a football club from the city of Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club competes in the First League of the Republika Srpska. Club stadium is called Stadion Caire at part of Banja Luka named Hiseta.-Current squad:-External sources:* at Transfermarkt.* ...
where he, with his team, surprisingly achieved the third place in the Yugoslav national youth championship. After this success, the BSK's coach Aco Mastala received a proposal to move to the city's main club FK Borac Banja Luka, which he accepted and brought along some of the players that helped him previously, between them, obviously, Velimir Sombolac. While in Borac, Velimir's good exhibitions didn't passed unnoticed, and, beside starting to represent the Yugoslav under-21 team
Yugoslavia national under-21 football team
The Yugoslavia national under-21 football team existed in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After the state's dissolution in 1992, the following teams were formed:*Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team...
, two seasons after he came there, received an invitation to move to one of the greatest Yugoslav clubs, the Belgrade's FK Partizan
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
. There, playing alongside stars like Šoškić
Milutin Šoškic
Milutin Šoškić is a Serbian former goalkeeper who is one of FK Partizan's biggest legends.- References :**...
, Galić
Milan Galic
Milan Galić is a former Serbian footballer.He scored 37 international goals in 51 matches for the Yugoslavia national football team. He participated in the 1960 Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal, the 1960 UEFA European Football Championship, where Yugoslavia finished second , and the 1962...
, Jusufi
Fahrudin Jusufi
Fahrudin Jusufi is a former Yugoslav football defender of Gorani origin.-Career:...
, and others, he will play six seasons with a total of 260 matches, being national champion in four occasions. In 1965 he moved to NK Olimpija Ljubljana
NK Olimpija Ljubljana (1911)
NK Olimpija Ljubljana was a Slovenian association football club based in Ljubljana. The club had traced its origin back to 1911 when it was originally founded as SK Ilirija. It had gone through a series of mergers in the first half of the 20th century before adopting the name Olimpija in 1962...
where he will play until 1970. Together with Smajlović
Mišo Smajlovic
Drago "Mišo" Smajlović, nicknamed is a Bosnian football manager and a former player.-Playing career:His career began in FK Sloga, little amateur club from Sarajevo. In 1955. he moved to FK Željezničar youth team. Two years later, he signed a professional contract with the club in which he played...
Arslanagić and, again, Šoškić, they would make Olimpija one of the most attractive Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
teams. In 1970, instead of moving abroad, as many other Yugoslav players in that period and with his age did, he will move to Second League NK Orijent Rijeka
NK Orijent
NK Orijent is a football club which was founded in 1918. It is a club from Sušak, the north-east part of the city of Rijeka in Croatia with long tradition. In season 2008/9 it currently plays in the third division .-External links:...
where he would play one season, before returning to FK Borac Banja Luka where he will hang on his boots in 1973.
National team
After having played tem matches for the Yugoslav U-21 team, and also five for the national "B" team, he will make part of the Olympic team that represented Yugoslavia at the 1960 Summer Olympics1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
held in Rome, and where Yugoslavia won the gold
Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics was held from 26 August to 10 September in 1960 throughout Italy.-Venues:-Medalists:-Group A:---------------------Group B:---------------------Group C:--------...
eliminating hosts Italy in the semi-finals, and winning Denmark ( 3–1 ) in the final. Afterward, Sombolac will also play five matches for the Yugoslavia national football team
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
.
Honours
Club:- Partizan Belgrade
- Yugoslav First LeagueYugoslav First LeagueThe Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
(4): 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63 and 1964-65
- Yugoslav First League
National team:
- Yugoslavia
- 1960 Summer Olympics1960 Summer OlympicsThe 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
: Gold medalFootball at the 1960 Summer OlympicsThe football tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics was held from 26 August to 10 September in 1960 throughout Italy.-Venues:-Medalists:-Group A:---------------------Group B:---------------------Group C:--------...
- 1960 Summer Olympics
Managerial career
Right after retiring, in 1973, he takes charge of a small regional club called FK Sloga Gornji Pogradec, that will provide him a crucial experience for returning, in 1974, to Borac, to become the assistant manager until 1976. During this years, Borac will play one Yugoslav CupYugoslav Cup
The Yugoslav Cup, officially the Marshal Tito Cup, was one of two major football competitions in the former Yugoslavia, the other one being the Yugoslav League Championship. The Yugoslav Cup took place after the league championships when every competitive league in Yugoslavia had finished, in order...
final, will play in the European Cup Winners Cup and will gain promotion to the Yugoslav First League. Then he will take charge as main manger of FK Kozara Gradiška
FK Kozara Gradiška
FK Kozara is a football club from the town of Gradiška, in northern Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club played in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2002-03 season. However, ended up being relegated to the First League of the Republika Srpska after this first season...
. After three seasons there, he stayed in the club, but he founded his through vocation, that was working with youth .
After the break-up of Yugoslavia, he will work at the Republika Srpska Football Federation, helping to form all the youth categories teams, and will become the main manager of the Republika Srpska national football team.
External links
- Profile at Worldfootball.
- Profile and career story at Serbian Federation website.
- Interview at Borac B.Luka official website.