Ilija Lukić Explained

Ilija Lukić
Birth Date:21 January 1942
Birth Place:Belgrade, Nazi-occupied Serbia
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:1957-1961
Youthclubs1:Železnik
Years1:1961–1966
Clubs1:Priština
Years2:1966
Clubs2:Partizan
Caps2:12
Goals2:11
Years3:1967–1968
Clubs3:Oakland Clippers
Caps3:14
Goals3:2
Years4:1969
Clubs4:Heracles
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:1969–1971
Clubs5:Rennes
Caps5:52
Goals5:21
Years6:1971–1972
Clubs6:Rouen
Caps6:19
Goals6:9
Years7:1973–1974
Clubs7:Rapid Lienz
Years8:1975–1976
Clubs8:SW Bregenz
Years9:1976–1977
Clubs9:Rita Berlaar
Manageryears1:1973-1974
Managerclubs1:Rapid Lienz (player/manager)
Manageryears2:1975-1976
Managerclubs2:SW Bregenz (player/manager)
Manageryears3:1976-1977
Managerclubs3:Rita Berlaar (player/manager)
Manageryears4:1978-1979
Managerclubs4:Železnik
Manageryears5:1979-1980
Managerclubs5:Srem SM
Manageryears6:1980-1982
Managerclubs6:Kabwe Warriors
Manageryears7:1982-1983
Managerclubs7:JS Kairouan
Manageryears8:1983-1984
Managerclubs8:YUMCO Vranje
Manageryears9:1985-1986
Managerclubs9:Srem SM
Manageryears10:1987-1989
Managerclubs10:Trudbenik
Manageryears11:1990-1993
Managerclubs11:Al Wasl (asst.)
Manageryears12:1995-1997
Managerclubs12:Ittihad (asst.)
Manageryears13:1997-1998
Managerclubs13:Sharjah (asst.)
Manageryears14:1998-2000
Managerclubs14:Ittihad (asst.)
Manageryears15:1999-2001
Managerclubs15:Al Wahda (asst.)
Manageryears16:2003
Managerclubs16:Al Ahli Jeddah
Manageryears17:2005
Managerclubs17:Al Ahli Jeddah

Ilija Lukić (Serbian Cyrillic: Илија Лукић; 21 January 1942 – 13 June 2018) was a Yugoslav footballer who played as a forward.

Playing career

Lukić started playing in the youth teams of Belgrade's FK Železnik. In 1961, at age 19, he joined Second League FK Priština and he was soon regarded as one of the finest strikers in the country. That made attention turn to him and he signed with the FK Partizan that was having that season their historic achievement of reaching the 1966 European Cup Final that they lost to Real Madrid. After not getting many opportunities to play, he was moving next season to the California based Oakland Clippers where he would help the club win the 1967 National Professional Soccer League. Next year, he was back to Europe first in Dutch club Heracles Almelo and, after a disappointing season there, to Franch Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais. He stayed four seasons there becoming very popular among the fans. During this time the club had their most enjoyable period, winning the French Cup in 1971. Following season he moved to another Ligue 1 club FC Rouen before moving to Austria where he was appointed player-manager of Second League Rapid Lienz.[1] Eventually achieving their goal to play in the newly inaugurated Bundesliga, he finished his playing career as a player-manager of Belgian FC Berlaar.

Coaching career

During his successful, 30-year coaching career, he worked in 13 different clubs,[2] at eight countries on three continents[3] .

He worked as an assistant to Dimitri Davidović in the Middle East and won four national championships: a treble with Al-Ittihad (Jeddah) in Saudi Arabia and one in UAE with Al Wasl. As the first coach of Al-Ittihad he also lifted four national cups in Saudi Arabia, and two in UAE, one with Al-Wasl and another with Sharjah FC. Together with Davidović he won in 1999 with Al-Ittihad the Asian Cup Winners Cup. As the manager of Al Ahli Jeddah he won in 2002 three big trophies: the Prince Faysal bin Fahad Tournament for Arab Clubs (later becoming the Arab Champions League, the Golf Club Champions Cup and Saudi Federation Cup.

He earned his degree in football from a Higher Coaching School of the Belgrade University's Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, as well as a Diploma from a University of California, San Francisco.

Personal life

Lukić was married to Mirjana and had two children, a son Ivan and a daughter Maria.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Geschichte und Entwicklung des Vereins (SV Rapid Sonnenstadt Lienz Club History). ÖFB. de. 16 November 2024.
  2. Web site: IN MEMORIAM Zvanični sajt FK Partizan. Volim Partizan. sr. 13 June 2018. 16 November 2024.
  3. Web site: Ilija Lukić. Stade Rennais online. fr. 16 November 2024.
  4. http://www.ilijalukic.com/?lang=en&page=Home Career story at his personal website Ilijalukic.com