Vjeran Simunić
Encyclopedia
Vjeran Simunić is Croatia
n football manager and former goalkeeper. He is one of the most popular Croatia
n football coaches. He holds Croatian record in number of managed teams. By 2009 he managed 27 clubs.
and NK Zagreb
, where he spent most of the playing career. In 1982 he made transfer to Sporting Lisabon. After one season he moved to Japan
. He was first European player to play in Japan
. The club was Tokyo Verdy. After two more challenges in Italia, he returned to native country. He finished his playing career in Bosnia and Herzegovina
, in NK Posušje
.
, in 1994. Then he changed a couple of Croatian clubs before moving to Italia, then Japan
, and Bahrain
. However, he couldn't stay too much abroad, and he returned to Croatia
, starting impressive row of 13 Croatian clubs, interrupted by 3 BIH
clubs, in 8 years. He said that his mission is to improve table situation of every club he takes, and in most cases he did that. That's why he had so many offers. Searching for new challenge, he moved to Asia
, this time Brunei
. He managed club DPMM, soon after his good results with that club made him coach of Brunei
. He was very popular, had lot of fans in country and even got Happy Birthday song chanted by fans during one match. But, he suddenly returned to Croatia
, and took manager chair of NK Imotski
, where he stayed for only one month. Then he took NK Mosor
once again, but, not surprisingly, left that club also, and after one half-season he took Croatia second division club NK Međimurje, at the start of 2010/11 season.
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 manager and former goalkeeper. He is one of the most popular Croatia
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 coaches. He holds Croatian record in number of managed teams. By 2009 he managed 27 clubs.
Playing career
Simunić started his playing career in Hajduk Split, in 70's. He didn't get too many chances in Hajduk as the competition was very big at the time. After Hajduk, his next station was NK Šibenik, then NK Dinamo VinkovciHNK Cibalia
HNK Cibalia, or just Cibalia, is a Croatian football club from the town of Vinkovci in eastern Croatia. Cibalia currently play in the Prva HNL, Croatia's top flight. Their stadium is located in the south part of their home town and can hold 12,000 spectators...
and NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
, where he spent most of the playing career. In 1982 he made transfer to Sporting Lisabon. After one season he moved to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He was first European player to play in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The club was Tokyo Verdy. After two more challenges in Italia, he returned to native country. He finished his playing career in 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...
, in NK Posušje
NK Posušje
HŠK Posušje is a defunct football club based in Posušje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club is in the First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded in 1950. The club plays at the Mokri Dolac Stadium which has a capacity of 8,000...
.
Managerial career
He started his rich managerial career in NK LipikNK Lipik
NK Lipik is a Croatian football club based in the town of Lipik.- Achievements :* Treća HNL-East: 2009-10* Četvrta HNL-East : 2008-09* 1. league of Pozega-Slavonia county : 2007-08...
, in 1994. Then he changed a couple of Croatian clubs before moving to Italia, then Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. However, he couldn't stay too much abroad, and he returned to Croatia
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 ...
, starting impressive row of 13 Croatian clubs, interrupted by 3 BIH
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...
clubs, in 8 years. He said that his mission is to improve table situation of every club he takes, and in most cases he did that. That's why he had so many offers. Searching for new challenge, he moved to Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, this time Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
. He managed club DPMM, soon after his good results with that club made him coach of Brunei
Brunei national football team
The Brunei national football team nicknamed Tebuan ,is the national team of the Brunei and is controlled by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam.The team was founded in 1959 and joined FIFA in 1969.Their main regional rivalries are against Malaysia and Philippines.The...
. He was very popular, had lot of fans in country and even got Happy Birthday song chanted by fans during one match. But, he suddenly returned to Croatia
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 ...
, and took manager chair of NK Imotski
NK Imotski
NK Imotski is a Croatian football club based in the town of Imotski, in the region of Dalmatia. They play in Druga HNL, Croatia's second level.-Current squad:-Nationalist symbols controversy:...
, where he stayed for only one month. Then he took NK Mosor
NK 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...
once again, but, not surprisingly, left that club also, and after one half-season he took Croatia second division club NK Međimurje, at the start of 2010/11 season.
Personal life
He is married, and has two sons and one granddaughter. He speaks a few foreign languages - Spanish, German, Italian and English particularly well. An interesting fact is that he also finished college.Interesting facts
- He was first European footballer who moved to Asian club. That happened in 1984.
- He is one of the world recorders in number of managed teams
- When he took over DPMM, he was told by everyone that they will be heavy underdogs in ligue of Singapore, but they won Ligue-Cup and were very big surprise
- On his birthday, he was surprised by 20 000 fans during the football match, who chanted him "Happy Birthday to you" song. He also got party after the match, organised by the players.
- After one important win with NK ZadarNK ZadarNK Zadar is a Croatian football club based in Zadar, a city on the Adriatic coast. The club was founded in 1945.Josip Skoblar, Đovani Roso, Dado Pršo and Luka Modrić, are among their most notable former players....
, CroatiaCroatiaCroatia , 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 ...
, he jumped into the sea - Few times happened that he led 2 teams from 2 countries during one week!
- He led 2 teams at the same time during one weekend!
- He finished college
- In 1982, when he was goalkeeper of NK ZagrebNK ZagrebNK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
, he saved 3 penalties in one match! The opponent was big Dinamo ZagrebDinamo ZagrebGNK Dinamo Zagreb, commonly referred to as Dinamo Zagreb , or by their nickname Modri are a Croatian football club based in Zagreb. They play their home matches at Stadion Maksimir. They are the most successful club in Croatian football, having won thirteen Croatian championship titles, ten...
, and the kick takers were awesome Zlatko KranjčarZlatko KranjcarZlatko "Cico" Kranjcar is a Croatian football manager and former striker. He is the currently head coach of Sepahan in Iran Pro League.-Club career:...
, Snješko CerinSnješko CerinSnježan "Snješko" Cerin is a retired Croatian association football striker who spent most of his career playing for his hometown club Dinamo Zagreb in the Yugoslav First League in the 1970s and 1980s....
and Cvetković. It was first time that one goalkeeper got mark 10/10. Apart from the penalties, he saved at least 6 100% chances. - He proved that he didn't "forget" how to play few times at exhibition matches. He still has reflexes and makes parades, although in his 50s
- He is known for his never-changing style: black leather jacket, long black curly hair and mustache
- He personally isn't sure how many clubs he exactly led
- He said that he spent the most beautiful time of his coaching career in BruneiBruneiBrunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
- He met emperor HirohitoHirohito, posthumously in Japan officially called Emperor Shōwa or , was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989. Although better known outside of Japan by his personal name Hirohito, in Japan he is now referred to...