Player Profile: Simon Vukcevic  

Full name: Simon Vukcevic

Position: Midfielder

Date of Birth: 29 January 1986

Birthplace: Podgorica, Yugoslavia

In the summer of 2007 a few eyebrows were raised when Sporting splashed out a sizeable chunk of the 25m euro windfall from the sale of Nani on largely unknown Eastern European players, one of whom was Montenegrin Simon Vukcevic.

Along with the capture of another left-sided attacking midfielder, Marat Izmailov, it was hoped one or both players could fill the gap left by the young Sporting winger who had followed in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo in switching from the Lisbon club to Old Trafford.

Both Vukcevic and Izmailov made significant contributions in their first months at the Lisbon club, but up until the time of writing it is undoubtedly the former who has proven himself to be an excellent acquisition, turning in a string of man-of-the-match performances and making himself one of the lynchpins of Paulo Bento’s team.

Magic left peg

Blessed with a majestic left foot, Vukcevic combines the ability to ping pin-point crosses into the box, a rocket of a shot and a combative attitude into a single hard-working package that has already made him a firm favourite among the Sporting faithful.

Born in what was then Yugoslavia, Vukcevic was brought up in the best traditions of the technically gifted footballers hailing from the country, and his skill and exquisitely cultured left foot earned him a place in the Partizan Belgrade youth system at 16 years of age. After two years honing his skills he burst into the first team, scoring and creating goals from midfield, and soon attained huge popularity among the fervent Partizan supporters.

Two sparkling seasons later Russian side FC Saturn swooped for the player, in January 2006. However, things never worked out for Vukcevic in Moscow, and run-ins with both the coach and the local press only made matters worse. The Montenegrin did nothing to smooth out relations when he bluntly stated that his Saturn move was a mistake and he should have joined a more ambitious club.

Unsurprisingly, his days in the Russian capital were numbered, and in June 2007 Vukcevic got his wish as a €2 million transfer was agreed with Sporting, whereby Saturn would also receive 50% of any subsequent fee if he moves on.

Debut goal

Vukcevic scored on his debut in a pre-season friendly against Lille and wasted little time in making himself a mainstay of Paulo Bento’s team. The midfielder was especially impressive during a rough period Sporting endured either side of Christmas, several times carrying the side with his never-say-die attitude and eye for goal.

The year 2007 is likely to be a turning point in the career of Vukcevic. He scored 4 goals in 15 league outings for Sporting in the first half of the season and made his debut for his country’s senior side in a 2-1 win over Hungary.

Should the exciting midfielder, still only 21, continue to enhance his reputation in Portugal, Sporting fans will quickly forget the void left by Nani and Vukcevic himself will stand every chance of forging a brilliant career.

* League appearances only

** Up to 22 February 2009