Zoran Knežević (footballer)

Serbian footballer

Zoran Knežević

Knežević in 2024

Personal information
Full name|  Zoran Knežević
Date of birth|  (1986-08-15) August 15, 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth|  Valjevo, SFR Yugoslavia
Height|  1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s)|  Defensive midfielder
Team information

Current team

|  Scarborough SC
Number|  5
Youth career
1998–2002|  Budućnost Valjevo
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2002–2003|  Budućnost Valjevo|  7|  (0)
2003–2005|  Vujić Voda|  20|  (0)
2005–2008|  BSK Borča|  70|  (7)
2008–2009|  Khimki|  1|  (0)
2009–2010|  BSK Borča|  51|  (5)
2010–2012|  Gazovik Orenburg|  14|  (1)
2012–2014|  Sloboda Užice|  46|  (1)
2014–2015|  Padideh|  25|  (0)
2015–2016|  Jagodina|  20|  (0)
2016|  Bali United|  8|  (0)
2017|  Budućnost Krušik 2014|  |
2017|  Grbalj|  10|  (0)
2018–|  Scarborough SC|  0|  (0)
Managerial career
2023–|  Scarborough SC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zoran Knežević (Serbian Cyrillic: Зоран Кнежевић; born August 15, 1986) is a Serbian football manager who coaches Scarborough SC in the Canadian Soccer League.

## Club career

[edit]

### Early career

[edit]

Knežević began playing in 2002 with FK Budućnost Valjevo in the Second League of Serbia and Montenegro, and in 2005 in the Serbian First League with FK BSK Borča.[2] He would re-sign with Borča for the 2007-08 season.[3]

### Russia

[edit]

In the winter transfer window of 2007-08, he was acquired by Russian Premier League side FC Khimki.[4] He appeared in one match against Dynamo Moscow on March 23, 2008.[5] His tenure with Khimki lasted a single season and departed from the club after his contract wasn't renewed.[6] After a season in Serbia, he returned to Russia in the winter of 2011 to play in the second tier with Gazovik Orenburg.[7][8][9] In total, he would play in 14 matches and score one goal.[10]

### Serbia

[edit]

After his first stint in Russia, he returned to his former club Borca in 2009 where he played for two seasons in the country's top-tier league the Serbian SuperLiga.[11][12] Following his second spell in Russia, he resumes his career in the Serbian top tier by signing with Sloboda Užice for the 2012-13 season.[13][14] He would re-sign with Sloboda for another season however the club was relegated after the conclusion of the season.[15]

In 2015, he returned to the SuperLiga to sign with FK Jagodina.[16] In his debut season with Jagodina, he appeared in 20 matches.[17] Knežević departed from Jagodina after their relegation to the second tier.[18]

He returned to Europe in 2017 to play in the Serbian League West with Budućnost Krušik 2014. For the remainder of the 2017-18 season he played in the Montenegrin First League with OFK Grbalj.[19][20]

### Asia

[edit]

In 2014, he played abroad in the Iranian top tier the Persian Gulf Pro League with Padideh F.C.[21] He would depart from the club the following season due to a pay dispute.[22] He would appear in 25 matches for Padideh.[10]

In 2016, he returned to Asia to play in the Indonesia Soccer Championship with Bali United F.C.[23][24][25]

### Scarborough SC

[edit]

In 2018, Knežević played abroad in the southern Ontario-based Canadian Soccer League with Scarborough SC.[26] In his debut season with the Toronto-based club, he contributed a goal in the opening round of the playoffs against Hamilton City which advanced Scarborough to the next round.[27] Scarborough would ultimately reach the CSL Championship final where they were defeated in a penalty shootout by FC Vorkuta.[28][29] He re-signed with Scarborough for the 2019 season where he assisted in securing the club's first championship title after defeating FC Ukraine United.[30][31] The following season saw Scarborough claim their first divisional title after finishing first in the First Division.[32] He made his fourth consecutive championship final appearance where Vorkuta defeated Scarborough.[33][34]

In 2021, he re-signed with the eastern Toronto side for his fourth season.[35] Throughout the 2021 campaign, he appeared in the invitational tournament final the ProSound Cup against rivals Vorkuta where Scarborough was defeated in a penalty shootout.[36][37] He won his second championship title by assisting Scarborough in defeating Vorkuta in the 2021 playoffs.[38][39] He re-signed with Scarborough for the 2022 season.[40] Throughout the 2022 campaign, the eastern Toronto side would achieve an 18-game undefeated streak and playoff position by finishing third.[41][42] Knežević made his third championship appearance, which Scarborough lost to FC Continentals (formerly FC Vorkuta).[43][44]

## International career

[edit]

Knežević represented the Serbia national under-21 football team.[45]

## Managerial career

[edit]

In 2023, he transitioned into management as he was named the head coach of his former team Scarborough SC.[46] Knežević would lead the Toronto-based club to a regular season title.[47] In the 2024 season, he led Scarborough to the Royal CSL Cup final where the Serbian White Eagles defeated them.[48] Throughout the regular season, the club finished as runners-up to the Serbs.[49]

## Honours

[edit]

### Player

[edit]

BSK Borča

* Serbian First League: 2008–09

Scarborough SC

* CSL Championship: 2019[30]
* Canadian Soccer League First Division: 2020

### Manager

[edit]

Scarborough SC

* Canadian Soccer League Regular Season: 2023[47]
* Canadian Soccer League Royal CSL Cup runner-up: 2024[48]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Prvi tim BSK Borča Archived August 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ "Period 1991 - 2012". FK BSK Borča (in Serbian). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
3. ^ "Крчмаревић ствара нови тим" [Krčmarević creates a new team]. Politika Online. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
4. ^ "Кнежевич присоединился к "Химкам"" [Knezhevich joined Khimki]. Sports.ru. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
5. ^ "ФНК - Чемпионат России" [March 23. Moscow. Stadium "Dynamo"]. football.kulichki.net. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
6. ^ ""Химки" отзаявили трех легионеров" ["Khimki" announced three legionnaires]. Sports.ru. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
7. ^ "Gazovik Orenburg 2011-12". en.eufo.de. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
8. ^ ""Газовик" заключил соглашение с сербским полузащитником" [Gazovik signed an agreement with the Serbian midfielder]. Sports.ru. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
9. ^ "Зоран Кнежевич стал игроком Газовика" [Zoran Knezevic became a Gazovik player]. Soccer.ru (in Russian). 30 March 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
10. ^ a b "Serbia - Z. Knežević - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ca.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
11. ^ Vidojević, Mihajlo (6 June 2013). "Sportske.net - Knežević: "Užice živi za fudbal"" [Knežević: "Užice lives for football"]. Sportske.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
12. ^ "BSK Borca 2009-10". en.eufo.de. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
13. ^ "FK Sloboda Uzice 2013-14". en.eufo.de. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
14. ^ "Knežević: Užice živi za fudbal". B92.net (in Serbian). Retrieved 2018-12-15.
15. ^ "Užice to nije zaslužilo..." [Uzice didn't deserve it..]. NOVOSTI (in Serbian). 30 May 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
16. ^ "Novinska agencija Beta" [Jagodina: List of reinforcements in the transition period]. Novinska agencija Beta (in Serbian). 1 September 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
17. ^ "Disebut-sebut Bakal Gantikan Posisi Lucas" [Mentioned Will Replace Lucas]. Bali Tribune. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
18. ^ "Jagodinskog Risea zovu Španci | MozzartSport" [The Spaniards call Jagodinski Rise]. www.mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 6 July 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
19. ^ "Zoran Knežević – OFK Grbalj Radanovići". ofkgrbalj.com (in Bosnian). Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
20. ^ "Stigli Mijuskovic i Kaluderovic" [Mijuskovic and Kaluderovic Arrived]. ofkgrbalj.com. 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
21. ^ "Mrva Jovanović: Iranci su ludi za fudbalom, neke derbije gleda preko 100.000 ljudi | MozzartSport" [Mrva Jovanović: Iranians are crazy about football, some derbies are watched by over 100,000 people]. www.mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 2 July 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
22. ^ "Iran's Padideh face six-point deduction by FIFA". Tehran Times. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
23. ^ "ZORAN KNEZEVIC TIDAK SABAR MEMULAI DEBUT BERSAMA BALI UNITED" [Zoran Knezevic Cannot Wait Any Longer to have his debut with Bali United]. Bali United Official Website. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
24. ^ "Gelandang Serbia Merapat ke Bali United" [Serbian midfielder joins Bali United]. Bola.net. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
25. ^ Muhammad, Imadudin (30 August 2016). "Kualitas Tim Bali United Bikin Zoran Tertarik ke Indonesia - TIMES Indonesia" [The quality of the Bali United team makes Zoran interested in Indonesia]. www.timesindonesia.co.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
26. ^ "2018 Scarborough SC roster". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
27. ^ Adamson, Stan (30 September 2018). "Waterloo and Scarborough Advance in CSL Championship Playoffs". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
28. ^ Adamson, Stan (14 October 2018). "Vorkuta, Vorkuta, Vorkuta Spells Three CSL Titles". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
29. ^ Stanchev, Stancho (October 18, 2018). "Прокобата на дузпите отново провали К. Димитров в Канада" [The execution of the penalties again failed K. Dimitrov in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-01-26.
30. ^ a b Adamson, Stan (26 October 2019). "Scarborough on Top…..Vorkuta B wins Second Division Championship – Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
31. ^ Stanchev, Stancho (28 October 2019). "ОТ ТРЕТИЯ ОПИТ! Брежанецът К. Димитров триумфира с шампионската титла в Канада" [FROM THE THIRD ATTEMPT! K. Dimitrov from Brežan triumphed with the championship title in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 30 October 2022.
32. ^ Stanchev, Stancho (October 14, 2020). "К. Димитров-Брежанеца отново спечели редовния сезон на канадската лига" [K. Dimitrov-Brezhanetsa again won the regular season of the Canadian league]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-11-26.
33. ^ Stanchev, Stancho (October 30, 2020). "Брежанецът К. Димитров и подопечните му сдадоха титлата в Канада, привикаха на пожар ексорлето Кр. Бибишков, но не го пуснаха на терена" [Brezhanets K. Dimitrov and his wards handed over the title in Canada, summoned the exorcist Kr. Bibishkov, but they did not let him on the field]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2020-11-26.
34. ^ Adamson, Stan (18 October 2020). "VORKUTA RALLY FOR CSL CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY – Canadian Soccer League". Canadian Soccer League. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
35. ^ "2021 Scarborough SC roster". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
36. ^ "Vorkuta Triumphant in ProSound Final...Penalty kicks defeat Scarborough". Canadian Soccer League. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
37. ^ Stanchev, Stancho (30 October 2021). "Брежанският мениджър К. Димитров загуби футболен финал в Канада" [Brežan manager K. Dimitrov lost a football final in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 11 September 2022.
38. ^ Adamson, Stan (7 November 2021). "Scarborough CSL Champs.......Decisive 4-1 victory over FC Vorkuta". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
39. ^ Stanchev, Stancho (11 November 2021). "Брежанският мениджър К. Димитров изведе "Скарбъро" до втора титла в Канада" [Brzezany manager K. Dimitrov leads Scarborough to second title in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
40. ^ "2022 Scarborough SC roster". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
41. ^ Stanchev, Stancho (5 August 2022). ""Скарбъро" на К. Димитров-Брежанеца с първа загуба от 2 г. насам" ["Scarborough" of K. Dimitrov-Brezhanetsa with the first loss in 2 years]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 5 September 2022.
42. ^ "К. Димитров-Брежанеца на две стъпки от дубъл на титлата в Канада" [K. Dimitrov-Brezhanetsa is two steps away from a double title in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 19 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
43. ^ Adamson, Stan (28 August 2022). "Continentals Win Championship Squeaker..." Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
44. ^ Stanchev, Stancho (8 September 2022). "Мениджърът К. Димитров от Брежани и "Скарбъро" останаха без титла в Канада" [Manager K. Dimitrov from Brezhani and "Scarborough" remained without a title in Canada]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
45. ^ "Zoran Knezevic srbijafudbal.net profile". srbijafudbal.net. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
46. ^ "Брежански мениджър смени треньора и подсили "Скарбъро" с трио от елита на Ямайка" [Brezhanski manager replaced the coach and strengthened Scarborough with a trio of Jamaica's elite]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 19 July 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
47. ^ a b "Брежанският мениджър К. Димитров изведе канадския "Скарбъро" до нова титла в редовния сезон" ["Brezhan manager K. Dimitrov led the Canadian "Scarborough" to a new title in the regular season"]. Вестник СТРУМА (in Bulgarian). 29 September 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
48. ^ a b Adamson, Stan (6 June 2024). "Pavicevic Goals Win Royal CSL Cup". Canadian Soccer League. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
49. ^ Orošić, Miloš (3 October 2024). "Ipak su Srpski orlovi najbolji! Definitivno smo fudbalska nacija, ni Kanađani im ne mogu ništa!" [Serbian Eagles are the best after all! We are definitely a soccer nation, not even the Canadians can do anything to them!] (in Serbian). Republika. Retrieved 4 October 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Zoran Knežević at Soccerway

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals