Robert Kovač

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Kovač [ˈrɔbɛrt ˈkɔʋaːtʃ] (born April 6, 1974 in West Berlin, West Germany) is a Croatian football defender who is a part of the Croatian national team. He is generally considered one of Croatia's best defenders in recent history.

Robert Kovač, along his older brother Niko, were both born in West Berlin to a family of Croatian gastarbeiters from Livno, and are among a handful of players on the national team born in foreign countries, and the pair have brought some of the stamina necessary to play in the Bundesliga to Croatia's game.

Kovač started his career in lower league clubs Rapide Wedding and Hertha Zehlendorf (1994–1995) before making his Bundesliga debut with FC Nuremberg in 1995. Then, he played for Bayer Leverkusen (1996-2001) and then moved to Bayern Munich in 2001.

He played for Croatia at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. He also started for Croatia at World Cup 2006 and played well in defence however after picking up a second yellow against Japan he missed the final group match against Australia through suspension. Without Kovač, Croatia struggled in defence with his replacement Tomas committing handball for Australia's first goal via penalty kick. Croatia eventually drew 2-2 with Australia but were eliminated from the tournament. With Croatia, Leverkusen, and Bayern, Robert was teammates with brother Niko Kovač.

Armed with a good sense of timing, sophistication rather than raw power, strength and speed, Kovač is the incarnation of the modern defender who can venture forward and supply defence-splitting passes with ease.

Although there were reports that he agreed on all terms to play with Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb at the start of the 2007–2008 season, the transfer fell out due to inability to agree on terms. Instead, he agreed terms with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on June 20.

He is married and with his wife Anica Kovač he has three children.

[edit] External links

• Leverkusen who's who
• Kovač profile from Croatian Football Portal

v • d • e Croatia squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Pletikosa • 2 Šerić • 3 Šimunić • 4 Tomas • 5 Rapaić • 6 Živković • 7 Vugrinec • 8 Prosinečki • 9 Šuker • 10 Niko Kovač • 11 Bokšić • 12 Butina • 13 Stanić • 14 Soldo • 15 Šarić • 16 Vranješ • 17 Jarni • 18 Olić • 19 Vlaović • 20 Šimić • 21 Robert Kovač • 22 Balaban • 23 Vasilj • Coach: Jozić

v • d • e Croatia squad - UEFA Euro 2004 1 Vasilj • 2 Tokić • 3 Šimunić • 4 Tomas • 5 Tudor • 6 Živković • 7 Rapaić • 8 Srna • 9 Dado Pršo • 10 Niko Kovač • 11 Šokota • 12 Butina • 13 Šimić • 14 Neretljak • 15 Leko • 16 Babić • 17 Klasnić • 18 Olić • 19 Mornar • 20 Rosso • 21 Robert Kovač • 22 Bjelica • 23 Didulica • Coach: Otto Barić

v • d • e Croatia squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Pletikosa • 2 Srna • 3 Šimunić • 4 Robert Kovač • 5 Tudor • 6 Vranješ • 7 Šimić • 8 Babić • 9 Dado Pršo • 10 Niko Kovač • 11 Tokić • 12 Didulica • 13 Tomas • 14 Modrić • 15 I. Leko • 16 J. Leko • 17 Klasnić • 18 Olić • 19 N. Kranjčar • 20 Šerić • 21 Balaban • 22 Bošnjak • 23 Butina • Coach: Z. Kranjčar

v • d • e Croatia squad - UEFA Euro 2008 1 Pletikosa • 2 Šimić • 3 Šimunić • 4 Robert Kovač • 5 Ćorluka • 6 Vejić • 7 Rakitić • 8 Vukojević • 9 Kalinić • 10 Niko Kovač • 11 Srna • 12 Galinović • 13 Pokrivač • 14 Modrić • 15 Knežević • 16 Leko • 17 Klasnić • 18 Olić • 19 Kranjčar • 20 Budan • 21 Petrić • 22 Pranjić • 23 Runje • Coach: Bilić