Zvonimir Vukic Signs

Pompey have signed midfield man Zvonimir Vukic and they have gained themselves an attacking man in doing so.

Vukic was the Serbia & Montenegro leagues top scorer when he bagged 22 goals in 30 matches for FK Partisan Belgrade.

For the last two seasons he has been playing for Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk where he has struck another twelve.

The 26 year old began his career with FK Proleter Zrenjanin before going to Spain with Atletico-B de Madrid. He then spent four seasons at Belgrade where he scored 53 goals in the Serbian & Montenegro league.

Pompey Chairman Milan Mandaric said: "We have an attacking midfielder that is a very welcome addition to our squad.

"We were looking for a middle man who chips in with goals and this player not only has a proven record of doing that he actually bagged 22 in one season which is a little more than chipping in.

"That makes him a real bargain and his nose for goal will sharpen us up a little more."

Chief Executive Peter Storrie said: "He is the type of player we have been looking for and has proved he knows where the goal is which will be an asset to us.

"We needed a midfield man with an eye for goal and in Zvonimir we have our man."

Serbia and Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic has named Vukic in his 20-man squad for the World Cup qualifying games against Lithuania and Spain.

News taken from: The Official Portsmouth FC Website (Pompey Sign Offensive Midfielder - 29/08/2005)

We certainly needed this! Just a top class striker to go!

When searching the internet for pictures of Zvonimir Vukic, I found this on our new signing.

Gifted Serb international attacking midfielder who quit Partizan Belgrade for Shakhtar last year and was especially impressive in the second-leg of the third qualifying round against Club Brugge, scoring both goals in the 2-2 draw in Belgium.

Once dubbed "The Maradona of the Balkans" by his former coach at Partizan, Lothar Matthaus, the 25-year-old has all the qualities a midfield general needs: vision, technical ability, good movement and an eye for goal. Indeed, in his last season at Partizan (2002-03), he was the top scorer in the Serbian League with 22 goals.

Shakhtar are not his first overseas club. In the late 1990s he left the Proleter Zrenjanin for Atletico Madrid but after spending two years with the Spanish outfit's B team, he returned home to play for Partizan.

Article taken from: Worldwide Soccer (Shakhtar Donetsk Midfielder - 29/08/2005)

Anyone described as "The Maradona of the Balkans" must have something about him!