Igor Duljaj

Igor Duljaj (Serbian Cyrillic: Игор Дуљај; born 29 October 1979) is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He is best remembered for his tenacious playing style and stamina.

Igor Duljaj
Duljaj with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2009
Personal information
Full name Igor Duljaj
Date of birth (1979-10-29) 29 October 1979
Place of birth Topola, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Partizan (assistant)
Youth career
1990–1997 Partizan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2004 Partizan 154 (4)
2004–2010 Shakhtar Donetsk 118 (5)
2010–2014 Sevastopol 82 (3)
Total 354 (12)
National team
2000–2007 Serbia 47 (0)
Teams managed
2016–2019 Shakhtar Donetsk (assistant)
2020– Partizan (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

During his footballing career, Duljaj played with only three clubs, namely Partizan, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sevastopol. He won 14 major trophies at club level, including the 2008–09 UEFA Cup.[1]

At international level, Duljaj earned 47 caps for Serbia (and its predecessors). He represented Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[2]

Club career

Born in Topola, Duljaj was spotted by Partizan in 1990. He initially traveled to Belgrade to attend training sessions for several years, before permanently relocating to the capital city.[3] In the 1997–98 season, Duljaj was promoted to the main squad, appearing in five league games and scoring once. He became a first-team regular in his third year as a senior, collecting 41 appearances in all competitions while scoring one goal in the league. Over the course of the next three seasons, Duljaj was an irreplaceable member of the team that won one national cup and back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003. He subsequently helped the side progress to the group stage of the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, eliminating Newcastle United in the last qualifying round.

In February 2004, Duljaj was transferred to Shakhtar Donetsk.[4] He penned a five-year contract with the club, rejoining his former Partizan teammate Zvonimir Vukić. Over the following seven seasons, Duljaj won four Ukrainian Premier League titles, two Ukrainian Cups, two Ukrainian Super Cups, and one UEFA Cup. He amassed a total of 195 appearances in all competitions and scored six goals.

In July 2010, Duljaj signed with fellow Ukrainian club Sevastopol. He spent four seasons with the side, two in the top flight and two in the second tier, before retiring from the game.

International career

Duljaj was capped for FR Yugoslavia at under-18 and under-21 level. He also represented the country at the Millennium Super Soccer Cup in early 2001. Led by manager Ilija Petković, Duljaj appeared in all five of his team's games and scored two goals, helping the side win the tournament.[5] However, these caps are not officially recognized by FIFA.

Previously, Duljaj made his full international debut for FR Yugoslavia in a 2–1 friendly loss against Romania on 15 November 2000.[6] He went on to represent his country on 47 occasions, being a member of the team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Post-playing career

In the summer of 2016, Duljaj joined the coaching staff at Shakhtar Donetsk, becoming an assistant to manager Paulo Fonseca.

In December 2019, it was announced that Duljaj would be joining Savo Milošević's staff at Partizan.[7]

Personal life

Duljaj has two brothers, Joakim and Nenad. Together they run the Duljaj Football Academy in their hometown of Topola.

Career statistics

Club
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Partizan 1997–98 512000—71
1998–99 1505020—220
1999–2000 3212070—411
2000–01 2815040—371
2001–02 2911140—342
2002–03 3103070—410
2003–04 14010100—250
Total 1544191340—2075
Shakhtar Donetsk 2003–04 902000—110
2004–05 2427013000442
2005–06 2401010010360
2006–07 201407010321
2007–08 141716010282
2008–09 1312010010261
2009–10 1402020—180
Total 1185251480401956
Sevastopol 2010–11 23010——240
2011–12 28220——302
2012–13 22150——271
2013–14 9010——100
Total 82390——913
Career total 354125328204049314

International
National teamYearAppsGoals
FR Yugoslavia 200020
200120
200270
Serbia and Montenegro 200360
200450
200580
200650
Serbia 200660
200760
Total470

Honours

Club
Partizan
Shakhtar Donetsk
Sevastopol

Individual

Notes

    References
    1. "S Donetsk 2-1 W Bremen (aet)". bbc.co.uk. 20 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    2. "Igor DULJAJ". sporting-heroes.net. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
    3. "Umesto hleba, prodavao je finte sa loptom!" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    4. "Igor Duljaj potpisao za ukrajinski Šahtjor!" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 17 February 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    5. "Mirna Bosna" (in Serbian). glas-javnosti.rs. 25 January 2001. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    6. "Poraz po meri" (in Serbian). glas-javnosti.rs. 15 November 2000. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
    7. "Duljaj se vratio u Partizan da bude deo Miloševićevog stručnog štaba" (in Serbian). rts.rs. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
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