| Vladica Kovačević | |
| Fullname: | Vladimir Kovačević |
| Birth Date: | 7 January 1940 |
| Birth Place: | Ivanjica, Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
| Death Place: | Belgrade, Serbia |
| Height: | 1.69 m |
| Position: | Forward |
| Youthyears1: | 1955–1958 |
| Youthclubs1: | Partizan |
| Years1: | 1958–1966 |
| Clubs1: | Partizan |
| Caps1: | 151 |
| Goals1: | 73 |
| Years2: | 1966–1967 |
| Clubs2: | Nantes |
| Caps2: | 29 |
| Goals2: | 8 |
| Years3: | 1967–1969 |
| Clubs3: | Partizan |
| Caps3: | 32 |
| Goals3: | 6 |
| Years4: | 1969–1972 |
| Clubs4: | Angers |
| Caps4: | 68 |
| Goals4: | 28 |
| Totalcaps: | 280 |
| Totalgoals: | 115 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1960–1965 |
| Nationalteam1: | Yugoslavia |
| Nationalcaps1: | 13 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 2 |
| Manageryears1: | 1972–1973 |
| Managerclubs1: | Partizan (assistant) |
| Manageryears2: | 1981–1983 |
| Managerclubs2: | Lyon |
Vladimir "Vladica" Kovačević (pronounced as /sh/; 7 January 1940 – 28 July 2016) was a Yugoslav and Serbian footballer who played as a forward.[1]
Born in Ivanjica, Kovačević moved to Belgrade in 1955 and joined the youth system of Partizan.[2] He was promoted to the first team in 1958, making his official debut in a 2–1 home league win over Rijeka. During the next eight seasons, Kovačević helped Partizan win the Yugoslav First League on four occasions (1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, and 1964–65). He was also a member of the team that lost the 1966 European Cup Final to Real Madrid.[3] Two years earlier, Kovačević was the competition's joint top scorer with seven goals, along with Sandro Mazzola and Ferenc Puskás.[4]
In 1966, Kovačević moved abroad to France and signed with Nantes, spending there just one season. He subsequently returned to Yugoslavia to perform his compulsory military service and rejoined Partizan.[5] In late 1969, Kovačević moved back to France and joined Angers.
At international level, Kovačević earned 13 caps for Yugoslavia between 1960 and 1965, scoring two goals.[6] He was a member of the team at the 1962 FIFA World Cup, as Yugoslavia lost to Chile in the third-place match.
Scores and results list Yugoslavia's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 September 1964 | Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Yugoslavia | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
| 2 | 9 May 1965 | Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Yugoslavia | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |