Ante Covic
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ante Covic | ||
Date of birth | 13 June 1975 | ||
Place of birth | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||
Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Wellington Phoenix | ||
Number | 40 | ||
Youth career | |||
1995 | Hurstville Zagreb | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1996–1997 | APIA Leichhardt Tigers | 23 | (0) |
1997–1999 | Marconi Stallions | 46 | (0) |
1999–2001 | PAOK | 8 | (0) |
2000 | → AO Kavala (loan) | 15 | (0) |
2001–2002 | Dinamo Zagreb | 0 | (0) |
2002–2007 | Hammarby IF | 121 | (0) |
2007–2009 | Newcastle Jets | 54 | (0) |
2009–2011 | IF Elfsborg | 59 | (0) |
2011–2012 | Melbourne Victory | 24 | (0) |
2012–2015 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 78 | (0) |
2015–2016 | Perth Glory | 28 | (0) |
2016–2018 | Rockdale City Suns | 49 | (0) |
2018 | Wellington Phoenix | 0 | (0) |
Total | 505 | (0) | |
International career | |||
2006–2008 | Australia | 2 | (0) |
Managerial career | |||
2018– | Marconi Stallions (goalkeeping coach) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Ante Covic (Croatian: Ante Čović; [ˈaːntɛ ˈtʃɔːʋitɕ]; born 13 June 1975) is a former Australian football (soccer) goalkeeper.
Covic was a member of the Australian national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and represented Australia on two occasions.
Personal life
Covic is of Croatian heritage.[1]
Club career
He formerly played for Marconi Stallions and Sydney Olympic in Australia's National Soccer League, PAOK Salonika and AO Kavala in Greece and Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
Hammarby IF
Leaving Australia in 1999 Covic made numerous appearances in various european clubs before arriving in Hammarby IF, a Swedish club based in Stockholm. There he battled Erland Hellström for the spot as first keeper, a fight where the outcome in no way was predetermined. About a month into the Swedish Allsvenskan series, Covic made his debut between the posts (however, not his debut game with Hammarby as he made an appearance roughly three weeks earlier in a cup game) and after that he was more or less given in the starting eleven.
Covic left Hammarby in 2006 after having played 121 games - a feat that has only been surpassed by three other goalkeepers in the history of the club.[2]
Newcastle Jets
Covic made his A-League debut in a 3–2 loss to Adelaide United in December 2006 at Hindmarsh Stadium. Čović was the starting goalkeeper for Newcastle Jets in the 2007 season which he won the A-League championship. On 17 March 2009, it was announced that Covic was leaving the Jets for a three-year deal with Swedish club IF Elfsborg.
Melbourne Victory
On 4 October 2011, Covic signed a one-year deal with Melbourne Victory as an injury replacement for Tando Velaphi who was ruled out for 12 weeks. Čović debuted in the opening game for the A-League season against Sydney FC at Etihad Stadium in front of 40,000 in attendance. Covic achieved instant hero status with the home fans when he thwarted Emerton from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute, he was named man of the match in the 0–0 draw. He was again named man of the match after the Melbourne Derby two weeks later.
In the A-League round 5 match between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory in 2011, Covic, along with fellow Victory defender Matthew Foschini, were controversially sent off by referee Ben Williams for challenges against Roar defenders, reducing the Victory to playing with nine men throughout the match.[3]
On 1 May 2012, it was announced new Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou would not resign the veteran goalkeeper, opting to stay with younger goalkeepers Lawrence Thomas and Tando Velaphi. The shock decision came after Covic was awarded the Player's Player of the Year award at the Melbourne Victory Awards Dinner.
Western Sydney Wanderers
On 2 July 2012, Covic joined A-League expansion club Western Sydney Wanderers on a free transfer.[4] The Wanderers performed above expectations and won the Premier's Plate in their maiden season,[5] with Čović being named in the inaugural A-League All-Star team.[6] He helped his side to win 2014 AFC Champions League, with keeping 8 clean sheets in 12 matches. At the end of the final which they defeated Al-Hilal, he was named as MVP of the tournament.
Perth Glory
On 8 July 2015, Covic joined Perth Glory.[7]
In June 2016, at the end of his contract, Covic decided to leave Perth Glory to return east to be closer to his family.[8]
Covic retired from football at the end of the 2018 National Premier Leagues in November 2018, after playing for Rockdale City Suns for two seasons to take a position as goalkeeper coach for Marconi Stallions.[9] In December, he joined Wellington Phoenix as short-term injury cover following an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Filip Kurto.[10] He remained on the bench for the duration of the side's 3-1 win over Sydney FC.[11]
International career
He was part of the Australian squad for the 2006 World Cup play-offs against Uruguay and was Australia's third choice goalkeeper behind Mark Schwarzer and Željko Kalac for the finals in Germany.
He made his debut for Australia against Bahrain on 22 February 2006 in an Asian Cup qualifier. On 22 March 2008 he earned his second and last cap against Singapore in an international friendly and was captain for part of the second half after Harry Kewell and Jade North left the field.
Career statistics
- As of 15 May 2015
CS = Clean Sheets
Club | Season | Division | League1 | Cup | International2 | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | CS | Apps | CS | Apps | CS | Apps | CS | |||
Marconi Stallions | 1997–98[12] | National Soccer League | 25 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 14 |
1998–99[12] | 21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 7 | ||
Total | 46 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 21 | ||
PAOK | 1999–2000[12][13] | Alpha Ethniki | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 4 |
2000–01[13] | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
Total | 8 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 4 | ||
AO Kavala (loan) | 1999–2000 | Alpha Ethniki | 15 | ? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
Total | 15 | ? | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
Dinamo Zagreb | 2001–02 | Prva HNL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Hammarby IF | 2002[12][13] | Allsvenskan | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
2003[13] | 26 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 12 | ||
2004[12][13] | 26 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 10 | ||
2005[13] | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 8 | ||
2006[13] | 23 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 9 | ||
Total | 121 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 127 | 39 | ||
Newcastle Jets | 2006–07[14] | A-League | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 |
2007–08[12][14] | 25 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 10 | ||
2008–09[12][14][15] | 21 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 26 | 5 | ||
Total | 54 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 64 | 18 | ||
IF Elfsborg | 2009[15] | Allsvenskan | 29 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 14 |
2010[15] | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 7 | ||
2011[15] | 13 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 8 | ||
Total | 59 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 76 | 29 | ||
Melbourne Victory | 2011–12[14] | A-League | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 |
Total | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 | ||
Western Sydney Wanderers | 2012–13[14] | A-League | 29 | 11 | – | – | – | – | 29 | 11 |
2013–14[14][15] | 28 | 10 | – | – | 12 | 8 | 40 | 18 | ||
2014–15[14][15] | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 5 | ||
Total | 78 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 10 | 97 | 34 | ||
Career Total | 405 | 121 | 13 | 4 | 42 | 21 | 460 | 145 |
1 – includes A-League final series statistics
2 – includes continental tournaments and FIFA Club World Cup; AFC Champions League statistics are included in season ending during group stages (i.e. ACL 2014 and A-League season 2013–14 etc.)
National team statistics
- As of 23 January 2014
CS = Clean Sheets[15]
|
|
Honours
Club
- A-League Premiership: 2012–13
- AFC Champions League: 2014
Individual
- Melbourne Victory Victory Medal: 2011–12
- A-League Goalkeeper of the Year: 2012–13
- PFA A-League Team of the Season: 2012–13
- AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player: 2014
Records
- Oldest Western Sydney Wanderers player: 39 years, 326 days
- Oldest Perth Glory player: 40 years, 309 days
References
- ^ "Former Socceroo, Ante Covic "the Croatian community has more players play for Australia than any other nationality"". Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- ^ "Julkalendern lucka 12: Australien" [Christmas calendar luck 12: Australia]. Hammarby IF (in Swedish). Hammarby IF. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
- ^ "Nine-Man Victory Heroically Hold Champs". FourFourTwo Australia. 5 November 2011. Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Wanderers snare Covic and Haliti". Football Federation Australia. 2 July 2012.
- ^ "Wanderers Secure Premiership With 3-0 Win Over Newcastle!". Western Sydney Football. 29 March 2013.
- ^ "A-League All Star team to face Manchester United full of Mariners, Wanderers". ABC. 20 June 2013.
- ^ "Ante Covic heads west for more Glory". Perth Glory. 8 July 2015.
- ^ Chadwick, Justin (24 June 2016). "Glory sign journeyman goalkeeper Reddy". Yahoo7.
- ^ "Episode 182". Bill and Boz. 13 November 2018. Fox Sports.
- ^ https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/109145348/wellington-phoenix-sign-43yearold-goalkeeper-ante-covic-as-injury-cover
- ^ https://www.sofascore.com/wellington-phoenix-sydney-fc/wucstbd
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ante Čović » Club matches". worldfootball.net.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ante Čović Soccer Stats". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Ante Covic (Western Sydney Wanderers)". Ultimate A-League.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ante Covic at Soccerway
External links
- Western Sydney Wanderers profile
- Oz Football profile
- Ante Covic at National-Football-Teams.com
- Use dmy dates from December 2012
- 1975 births
- Australian soccer players
- Australian people of Croatian descent
- Australia international soccer players
- A-League players
- Association football goalkeepers
- Wellington Phoenix FC players
- Perth Glory FC players
- Western Sydney Wanderers FC players
- Melbourne Victory FC players
- IF Elfsborg players
- Newcastle Jets FC players
- Hammarby Fotboll players
- PAOK FC players
- Kavala F.C. players
- Hurstville Zagreb players
- APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC players
- Marconi Stallions FC players
- Superleague Greece players
- Football League (Greece) players
- 2006 FIFA World Cup players
- Allsvenskan players
- National Soccer League (Australia) players
- Australian expatriate soccer players
- Expatriate footballers in Greece
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in Greece
- Expatriate footballers in Croatia
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
- Expatriate footballers in Sweden
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in Sweden
- Soccer players from Sydney
- Living people
- Croatian First Football League players