Review : Slovenia All-Time Greatest Team
Slovenia All-Time Greatest Team
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| Slovenia World Cup 2010 |
Yugoslavia World Cup 2018
Macedonia/Montenegro/Kosovo
Serbia , Croatia,
Yugoslavia World Cup 1994
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 2014, I create an all-time Yugoslavian team that featured players from all the former republics. Later I created an all-time team for Croatia and Serbia. Then, I also posted an all-time Yugoslavian team, excluding players from Croatia and Serbia. In 2019, I decided to create individual all-time team for Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both countries have qualified for the World Cup Finals after the breakup of Yugoslavia. My All-time Yugoslavian team, excluding players from Croatia and Serbia became Macedonia/Montenegro/Kosovo.
Between 1920 and 1991, Slovenia played under Yugoslavia. Slovenia played its first official match in 1992, one year after the country gained independence from Yugoslavia. Slovenian national team has participated in three major football competitions. In 1999, Slovenia qualified for the UEFA Euro 2000 . Slovenia achieved another success two years later, qualifying for the 2002 World Cup Finals.The team did not lose a match in its whole qualifying campaign. Despite failing to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Slovenia was the only team to defeat the eventual World Cup winners Italy during the campaign. Slovenia qualified for its last major tournament in 2009 after defeating Russia in a playoff to clinch a berth for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
This is my all-time team for Slovenia. If there were an All-Time World Cup, this would be the 23 players I would bring to the tournament.
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| Slovenia Euro 2000 |
GK: Samir Handanović (Slovenia)
From 2004, Samir Handanović was capped over 70 times for Slovenia. He went to the World Cup Finals in 2010. For club football, he was best remembered as a top keeper in Serie A. He was voted the best keeper for 2013 in Italy. He is one of only three non-Italian keepers to be named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year, winning the honor twice. He is nicknamed Batman due to his acrobatic saves.
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| Samir Handanović |
Oblak made his debut for Olimpija Ljubljana in the 2009–10 season aged 16 before joining Benfica in 2010. Starting in 2014, he plays for Atletico Madrid. At the time of writing, he has won La Liga Zamora Trophy three times. At the international level, he became the first-choice goalkeeper of the national team after the international retirement of Samir Handanović at the end of 2015.
GK: Maksimilijan Mihelčič (Yugoslavia)
Maksimilijan Mihelčič played in the 1920's and the 1930's. In his club career, he played for ŽŠK Hermes, HŠK Građanski Zagreb and HSK Sparta. He played 18 times for Yugoslavia, which was know as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. He competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
RB/LB: Miso Brecko (Slovenia)
Miso Brecko started with Factor and Šmartno in Slovenia. In 2004 he joined Hamburger SV. He had loan spells with Hansa Rostock, FC Erzgebirge Aue. He played for FC Köln in 2008 to 2015. Then, he played 3 seasons with Koln. He represented Slovenia at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and gained 77 international appearances.
RB/DF: Stanko Tavčar (Yugoslavia)
Stanko Tavčarwas the first Slovenian footballer that played in the Yugoslav national team. He spend his entire football career, from 1912 until 1922, playing as defender in ŠK Ilirija Ljubljana winning with them 3 Slovenian football championships. He played two matches for Yugoslav national team, both at the 1920 Summer Olympics tournament.
CB: Darko Milanič (Yugoslavia/Slovenia)
Milanič joined Partizan at age 17. In 1993, he moved to Sturm Graz, where he played there successfully for eight years. He earned five caps for Yugoslavia. He earned caps with them even after Slovenian independence. He was included by Yugoslavia to UEFA Euro 1992. From 1992 to 2000, he played 42 times for Slovenia. Her captained his side at Euro 2000, including the first group stage game against Yugoslavia.
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| Darko Milanič |
Dragan Holcer was born in captivity in a Nazi prison camp to a Slovenian mother imprisoned there. His father was killed during the war as partisan fighter. He played 52 times for Yugoslavia and went to play in European Championship of 1968. He is one of Hajduk Split's greatest player. He also played for Stuttgart between 1975 and 1981 and Schalke 04 for a single season in Germany.
CB: Marko Elsner (Yugoslavia/Slovenia)
Marko Elsner played with Olimpija Ljubljana between 1977 and 1983. In 1983, he was brought by Red Star Belgrade. In 1987, he moved aboard. He had two spells with Nice while he played a single season with Austrian Bundesliga side Admira Wacker. He played 14 games for Yugoslavia between 1984 and 1988. He was a apart of the team at the 1984 Olympics. After the independence of Slovenia, he played twice for Slovenia.
CB: Željko Milinovič (Slovenia)
Milinovič began his career with local side Slovan in 1991. He moved to Olimpija Ljubljana in 1992. He also had a few successful spells abroad, namely in Austria (LASK Linz and GAK) and Japan (JEF United Ichihara). Milinovič was capped 38 times and scored three goals for Slovenia. He was a participant at the Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002.
CB: Bostjan Cesar (Slovenia)
Bostjan Cesar is Slovenia's most capped player of all time. He started his career with Dinamo Zagreb. he joined Marseille in 2005, but was unsuccessful, spending a season out on loan with West Bromwich Albion. He played with Grenoble Foot 38. Finally, he settled down with Chievo. From 2003 to 2-18, he played for Slovenia. He was the first Slovenian player to reach 100 caps. He went to the 2010 World Cup Finals.
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| Bostjan Cesar |
Jokić made his debut in 2003 with Triglav Kranj, and moved to Gorica in 2005. He later played with Sochaux, Chievo, Villarreal, Nottingham Forest, and Ufa. He started playing for Slovenia in 2003. At the time of writing, he has earned 100 caps and will break Bostjan Cesar's all-time record soon. He appeared in the 2010 World Cup Finals.
DM: Srečko Katanec (Yugoslavia/Slovenia)
In 1988 he joined VfB Stuttgart. This team reached UEFA Cup finals in 1989 and lost against Diego Maradona's Napoli. He stayed in Germany only one season. In 1989 he signed for Italian Sampdoria and already at his first season there he won European Cup Winners' Cup. In 1991, his Sampdoria won a "Scudetto", next year it reached Champions League finals and lost against FC Barcelona. He played for both Yugoslavia and Slovenia national teams.
CM: Robert Koren (Slovenia)
Robert Koren played for Dravograd and Celje in his home country, before transferring to Norwegian side Lillestrøm in 2004, where he played until 2007. Then, he played with West Bromwich Albion from 2007 to 2010. From 2010 to 2014, he was with Hull City. From 2003 to 2011, he earned 63 caps for Slovenia. He was the captain of their 2010 World Cup team.
LB/LM: Dzoni Novak (Yugoslavia/Slovenia)
Novak started his career playing at Olimpija in 1988. He played for FK Partizan, Fenerbahçe SK, Le Havre, CS Sedan, SpVgg Unterhaching and Olympiacos before retiring. He earned four caps for Yugoslavia. He was included by Yugoslavia with fellow Slovenian Darko Milanič on their Euro 1992 team. He switched to Slovenia, where he earned over 71 caps. He was a participant at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.
In 1988 he joined VfB Stuttgart. This team reached UEFA Cup finals in 1989 and lost against Diego Maradona's Napoli. He stayed in Germany only one season. In 1989 he signed for Italian Sampdoria and already at his first season there he won European Cup Winners' Cup. In 1991, his Sampdoria won a "Scudetto", next year it reached Champions League finals and lost against FC Barcelona. He played for both Yugoslavia and Slovenia national teams.
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| Srečko Katanec |
Robert Koren played for Dravograd and Celje in his home country, before transferring to Norwegian side Lillestrøm in 2004, where he played until 2007. Then, he played with West Bromwich Albion from 2007 to 2010. From 2010 to 2014, he was with Hull City. From 2003 to 2011, he earned 63 caps for Slovenia. He was the captain of their 2010 World Cup team.
LB/LM: Dzoni Novak (Yugoslavia/Slovenia)
Novak started his career playing at Olimpija in 1988. He played for FK Partizan, Fenerbahçe SK, Le Havre, CS Sedan, SpVgg Unterhaching and Olympiacos before retiring. He earned four caps for Yugoslavia. He was included by Yugoslavia with fellow Slovenian Darko Milanič on their Euro 1992 team. He switched to Slovenia, where he earned over 71 caps. He was a participant at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.
AM/CM: Branko Oblak (Yugoslavia)
At home, Branko Oblak was known for his career with Olimpija in Yugoslavia. In 1975 he signed a two-year contract with Schalke 04 of the German Bundesliga for what was a world record fee for that season. He moved to Bayern Muinch two seasons later. He earned 46 caps for Yugoslavia. He played in the 1974 World Cup where he was selected into the team of the tournament. He also played in the 1976 European Championship hosted at home. |
| Branko Oblak |
Danilo Popivoda was capped 20 times for Yugoslavia in the 1970's. He went to the World Cup Finals in 1974 and the European Championship in 1976, where he scored a goal in a match against West Germany. For his club career, he played for Olimpija Ljubljana at home between 1975 and 1985 and Eintracht Braunschweig in Germany between 1975 and 1981. He was the 1974 Yugoslav First League top scorer.
AM/RW/LW: Valter Birsa (Slovenia)
Valter Birsawas played with Primorje and Gorica. In 2006, he signed for French club Sochaux. He then played for Auxerre, Genoa, Torino, Milan, etc before joining Chievo in 2015, where he played until 2019. He then joined Cagliari. He played 90 times for the Slovenia team between 2006 and 2018. He went to the 2010 World Cup Finals.
LW: Milenko Acimovic (Slovenia)
Ačimovič started his career with Železničar Ljubljana. From 1996 until 1998 he played for Olimpija and from 1998 to 2002, he plated Red Star Belgrade. He then spent two seasons with Tottenham Hotspur. Then, he was very successful with Lille and FK Austria Wien. He had 74 caps for Slovenia. He scored a goal from the distance against Ukraine the Eyuro 2000 Qualification playoff. He represented Slovenia at both Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002.
AM/RW/LW: Valter Birsa (Slovenia)
Valter Birsawas played with Primorje and Gorica. In 2006, he signed for French club Sochaux. He then played for Auxerre, Genoa, Torino, Milan, etc before joining Chievo in 2015, where he played until 2019. He then joined Cagliari. He played 90 times for the Slovenia team between 2006 and 2018. He went to the 2010 World Cup Finals.
LW: Milenko Acimovic (Slovenia)
Ačimovič started his career with Železničar Ljubljana. From 1996 until 1998 he played for Olimpija and from 1998 to 2002, he plated Red Star Belgrade. He then spent two seasons with Tottenham Hotspur. Then, he was very successful with Lille and FK Austria Wien. He had 74 caps for Slovenia. He scored a goal from the distance against Ukraine the Eyuro 2000 Qualification playoff. He represented Slovenia at both Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002.
LW/FW: Josip Pirmajer (Yugoslavia)
Josip Pirmajer played for Elan Srbobran and RFK Novi Sad. During the winter-break of the 1963–64 season, he was brought by FK Partizan, reaching the 1966 European Cup Final. During his spell in Partizan he got the record of having played 252 consecutive competitive matches. He also played with FK Vojvodina and abroad, in France, with Nîmes Olympique. Capped 4 times.
AM: Josip Iličić (Slovenia)
Josip Iličić played for SC Bonifika and Interblock before joining Maribor. From 2010 to 2013, he played for Palermo and from 2013 to 2017, with Fiorentina. Then, he joined Atalanta in 2017. He was on the Serie A Team of the Year: 2018–19. Since 2010, he played for the Slovenian national team. At the time of writing, he had over 65 caps.
Josip Pirmajer played for Elan Srbobran and RFK Novi Sad. During the winter-break of the 1963–64 season, he was brought by FK Partizan, reaching the 1966 European Cup Final. During his spell in Partizan he got the record of having played 252 consecutive competitive matches. He also played with FK Vojvodina and abroad, in France, with Nîmes Olympique. Capped 4 times.
AM: Josip Iličić (Slovenia)
Josip Iličić played for SC Bonifika and Interblock before joining Maribor. From 2010 to 2013, he played for Palermo and from 2013 to 2017, with Fiorentina. Then, he joined Atalanta in 2017. He was on the Serie A Team of the Year: 2018–19. Since 2010, he played for the Slovenian national team. At the time of writing, he had over 65 caps.
AM: Zlatko Zahovič (Slovenia)
Zahovic had 80 caps between 1992 and 2004. He is the all-time goal scorer for Slovenia. He was a key player for Slovenia when they qualified for Euro 2000 and the World Cup Finals in 2002. The best part of his club career was spent in Portugal where he played for both Porto and Benfica. He also played for Valencia, but not so successful. Nevertheless, he played in the Final of 2001 Champions League against Bayern Munich.
Zahovic had 80 caps between 1992 and 2004. He is the all-time goal scorer for Slovenia. He was a key player for Slovenia when they qualified for Euro 2000 and the World Cup Finals in 2002. The best part of his club career was spent in Portugal where he played for both Porto and Benfica. He also played for Valencia, but not so successful. Nevertheless, he played in the Final of 2001 Champions League against Bayern Munich.
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| Zlatko Zahovič |
ST: Edvard Hočevar (Yugoslavia)
Edvard Hočevar played with FK Partizan in the Yugoslav First League. He also played with NK Olimpija ljubljana (named nk Odred at time) in the 1958–59 Yugoslav Second League. He played one match and scored once for the Yugoslav national team in a friendly match against Denmark played on 28 May 1950
Edvard Hočevar played with FK Partizan in the Yugoslav First League. He also played with NK Olimpija ljubljana (named nk Odred at time) in the 1958–59 Yugoslav Second League. He played one match and scored once for the Yugoslav national team in a friendly match against Denmark played on 28 May 1950
ST: Ivan Toplak (Slovenia)
At the club level, Toplak started with NK Olimpija Ljubljana in 1951. In 1954, Toplak left Olimpija for Red Star Belgrade. He played at Red Star for seven years, until 1961. On international club level, he won the Mitropa Cup in 1958. and Red Star Belgrade. He played once for Yugoslavia in 1956.
ST: Milivoje Novaković (Slovenia)
Milivoje Novaković is the Slovenian Footballer of the Year in 2008. He started with Olimpija, but was rejected for the senior club. He played in Austria before starring in Bulgaria with Litex Lovech. From 2006 to 2014, he played with Koln. From 2006 to 2017, he earned 80 caps, scoring over 30 goals for Slovenia. He is the second all-time leading scorer for his country.
At the club level, Toplak started with NK Olimpija Ljubljana in 1951. In 1954, Toplak left Olimpija for Red Star Belgrade. He played at Red Star for seven years, until 1961. On international club level, he won the Mitropa Cup in 1958. and Red Star Belgrade. He played once for Yugoslavia in 1956.
ST: Milivoje Novaković (Slovenia)
Milivoje Novaković is the Slovenian Footballer of the Year in 2008. He started with Olimpija, but was rejected for the senior club. He played in Austria before starring in Bulgaria with Litex Lovech. From 2006 to 2014, he played with Koln. From 2006 to 2017, he earned 80 caps, scoring over 30 goals for Slovenia. He is the second all-time leading scorer for his country.
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| Milivoje Novaković |
Honorable Mention
Amir Karic, Miran Pavlin, Andrej Komac, Matjaž Kek, Adriano Fegic, Marinko Galič, Željko Milinovič, Vili Ameršek, Tomislav Prosen, Mladen Kranjc, Aleš Čeh, Danilo Popivoda.
Explanation Squad
-- The players played under Yugoslavia's era are selected through ethnicity. The players under Slovenia is based upon national representation.
-- Goalkeeper Samir Handanović is the only player on my Yugoslavia All-time team, but I do believe that Jan Oblak may take over his spot. The other must-in players for this all-time team are Zlatko Zahovič, Branko Oblak and Srecko Katanec.
-- Slovenia qualified for their first major tournament after their independence in 2000 when they reached the Finals of Euro 2000. Zlatko Zahovič scored eight out of twelve team goals during the qualification. Two years later, they also qualified for the 2002 World Cup Finals. From that generation, I selected Zlatko Zahovič, Darko Milanic, Željko Milinovič, Dzoni Novak and Milenko Ačimovič. Srečko Katanec was their manaager.
-- Darko Milanič was the captain of the Euro 2000 team. He retired by the time of the World Cup Finals in 2002. He was included by Yugoslavia national football team to UEFA Euro 1992, but Yugoslavia was banned due to the war in the region.
-- Slovenia also qualified for the 2010 World Cup Finals. They won their first ever match in the World Cup Finals agains Algeria in 2010. Samir Handanović, Mišo Brečko, Boštjan Cesar, Robert Koren, Valter Birsa, Milivoje Novaković and Bojan Jokic made this all-time team from the 2010 World Cup team..
-- Samir Handanović and Jan Oblak are obvious choices for goalkeepers. The third keeper is the big question mark. It was between Maksimilijan Mihelčič and Marko Simeunovič. I went with the older Maksimilijan Mihelčič.
Amir Karic, Miran Pavlin, Andrej Komac, Matjaž Kek, Adriano Fegic, Marinko Galič, Željko Milinovič, Vili Ameršek, Tomislav Prosen, Mladen Kranjc, Aleš Čeh, Danilo Popivoda.
Explanation Squad
-- The players played under Yugoslavia's era are selected through ethnicity. The players under Slovenia is based upon national representation.
-- Goalkeeper Samir Handanović is the only player on my Yugoslavia All-time team, but I do believe that Jan Oblak may take over his spot. The other must-in players for this all-time team are Zlatko Zahovič, Branko Oblak and Srecko Katanec.
-- Slovenia qualified for their first major tournament after their independence in 2000 when they reached the Finals of Euro 2000. Zlatko Zahovič scored eight out of twelve team goals during the qualification. Two years later, they also qualified for the 2002 World Cup Finals. From that generation, I selected Zlatko Zahovič, Darko Milanic, Željko Milinovič, Dzoni Novak and Milenko Ačimovič. Srečko Katanec was their manaager.
-- Darko Milanič was the captain of the Euro 2000 team. He retired by the time of the World Cup Finals in 2002. He was included by Yugoslavia national football team to UEFA Euro 1992, but Yugoslavia was banned due to the war in the region.
-- Slovenia also qualified for the 2010 World Cup Finals. They won their first ever match in the World Cup Finals agains Algeria in 2010. Samir Handanović, Mišo Brečko, Boštjan Cesar, Robert Koren, Valter Birsa, Milivoje Novaković and Bojan Jokic made this all-time team from the 2010 World Cup team..
-- Samir Handanović and Jan Oblak are obvious choices for goalkeepers. The third keeper is the big question mark. It was between Maksimilijan Mihelčič and Marko Simeunovič. I went with the older Maksimilijan Mihelčič.
-- Central defender Dragan Holcer's father was Sloveinian. However, his name was frequently mentioned as one of Croatia's greatest defenders even through I thought that he was a Slovenian. He was one of Hajduk Split's greatest player. I also selected him for both this team and my Croatia All-Time team even through his ethnicity was a question mark for me.
-- Central midfielder Branko Oblak is not related to Jan Oblak. However, Branko was Jan Oblak's coach at Olimpija Ljubljana, where Branko gave Jan his debut at the age of 16.
-- At the 1974 World Cup Finals, Branko Oblak and his teammate Danilo Popivoda became the first Slovenians to play in a World Cup. Oblak was also selected into the Team of the Tournament of the World Cup.
-- Stanko Tavčar was was the first ever Slovenian footballer that played in the Yugoslav national team. I think he was a rightback, but I am very uncertain. I know that he was more liked a modern wingback, but I do not know which side.
-- Boštjan Cesar is Slovenia's most capped player of all time, but Bojan Jokic will probably break his record one day.
-- When the Republic was under Yugoslavia, no many Slovenian player played for Yugoslavia. I found several all-time greats for Olimpija Ljubljana and Maribor who never played for Yugoslavia. I believed some of the uncapped players were as good as the ones selected here, but it was hard to judge them with limited information.
-- Vili Ameršek was an all-time great with Olimpija Ljubljana, but outside Yugoslavia, he was unknown because he was an uncapped player. Tomislav Prosen and Mladen Kranjc was were also all-time greats with Maribor, but they were also uncapped players.
-- Central midfielder Branko Oblak is not related to Jan Oblak. However, Branko was Jan Oblak's coach at Olimpija Ljubljana, where Branko gave Jan his debut at the age of 16.
-- At the 1974 World Cup Finals, Branko Oblak and his teammate Danilo Popivoda became the first Slovenians to play in a World Cup. Oblak was also selected into the Team of the Tournament of the World Cup.
-- Stanko Tavčar was was the first ever Slovenian footballer that played in the Yugoslav national team. I think he was a rightback, but I am very uncertain. I know that he was more liked a modern wingback, but I do not know which side.
-- Boštjan Cesar is Slovenia's most capped player of all time, but Bojan Jokic will probably break his record one day.
-- When the Republic was under Yugoslavia, no many Slovenian player played for Yugoslavia. I found several all-time greats for Olimpija Ljubljana and Maribor who never played for Yugoslavia. I believed some of the uncapped players were as good as the ones selected here, but it was hard to judge them with limited information.
-- Vili Ameršek was an all-time great with Olimpija Ljubljana, but outside Yugoslavia, he was unknown because he was an uncapped player. Tomislav Prosen and Mladen Kranjc was were also all-time greats with Maribor, but they were also uncapped players.
-- Due to the breakup of Yugoslavia and the war, Matjaž Kek only had a single cap. I know it is unfair not to select because of his lack of international experience.
-- Josip Iličić is a Croatian born in present day Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he represented Slovenia in football. He was on Serie A team of the year in the 2018-2019 season.
-- Josip Iličić is a Croatian born in present day Bosnia and Herzegovina, but he represented Slovenia in football. He was on Serie A team of the year in the 2018-2019 season.
-- Danilo Popivoda is listed as a Slovenian.
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