Ervin Boban

Last updated

Ervin Boban
Personal information
Full name Ervin Boban
Date of birth (1965-03-17) 17 March 1965 (age 59)
Place of birth Split, Croatia
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1976–1984 Split
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1984–1989 Split (24)
1989–1995 Johor (83)
1996 Woodlands Wellington
? Uskok
–2002 NK Poljičanin Srinjine
Managerial career
2001–2003 Split (u-12 head coach)
2003–2005 Split (u-13 head coach)
2006–2008 Split (u-14 head coach)
2009–2012 Split (u-15 head coach)
2014 Split (u-16 head coach)
2015–2018 Johor Darul Ta'zim III (u-21 head coach)
2018–2019 Johor Darul Ta'zim II
2021– Ittihad Kalba FC (youth coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ervin Boban (born 17 March 1965 in Split) is a former Croatian professional football player, who is currently a coach for feeder club Johor Darul Ta'zim II. He started his career in professional football and coaching in his home town club, RNK Split.

Contents

Boban was one of Malaysia's top foreign footballers from the late 1980s through the 1990s. He is remembered as a living legend by local football fans. He was first introduced to Malaysian football in 1989. At that time he represented Johor FA, which was one of the competitive teams in the semi-pro era.

Playing career

Ervin Boban started his career in 1976, when he was selected for Split's youth team. After eight years on the youth team, he was promoted to the senior team.

Boban joined Johor FA in April 1989, after which the team underwent a major and expensive overhaul. Johor FA won the Malaysia Cup championship for the first time in 1985 and was the runner-up in 1986, when it lost 1–6 to Selangor FA, led by Supermokh (Mokhtar Dahari). The team only qualified for the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Cup in 1987 and 1988. [1]

The Johor Football Association invested RM1.6 million, a huge sum at the time, to obtain three players and one coach from Yugoslavia: Ervin Boban (attacker), Jeremez Jure (defense), Mate Borovac (midfielder), and Marin Kovacic (coach). This was the first time Johor FA had acquired foreign players. Boban was known for his speed and height, especially when playing at the Larkin Stadium.

After poor performances by Jeremez and Boravac in the 1989 season, Johor FA decided to retain Boban and sign two new strikers who played for the Australian national team: Alistair Edwards and Abbas Saad. Edwards and Saad were former youth team players who had been coached by Michael Urukalo in Australia.

This trio's combined talents caused difficulties for their opponents when trying to decide how to defend against their attacks. In 1990, Boban rejected an offer from the Division Two Austrian club, Klangerfurt FC, because he wanted to focus on the Johor FA team, and he was comfortable with the style of play in Liga Malaysia (the Malaysian League). In 1991, Boban helped Johor FA win the League Cup Division One and the Malaysia Cup Final 1991 saw Johor FA beat Selangor FA, 3-1, Boban having scored the three goals. The Johor manager at the time was Datuk Suleiman Mohammed Noor. [2]

However, in 1993, Abbas Saad and Alistair Edwards chose to play for the Singapore Division Two club. Edwards had previously played for Singapore in 1990. Hasnim Haron from Singapore FA, and Darren Stewart (Australia), replaced Saad and Edwards. Boban also trained with players such as Marco Bilić, Michael Urukalo and Wan Jamak Wan Hassan, then coach of the Malaysia national football team. Among the players who have played with Boban on Johor FA are: Salehan Mohamed Som, Hassan Miskam, The Professor Nasir Yusof, Ramlan Rashid, Anuar Abu Bakar, Salim Sulaiman, Fadzli Ahmad, Nasir Sazali, Sani Usman, Khalid Shahdan, Nazaruddin Atan, Aidel Mohamed Nor, and Nizaruddin Kadir.

After seven seasons with the Johor FA - from 1989 to 1995 - Boban chose to join the Singapore Professional League (S-League), which was founded in 1996. He joined Woodlands Wellington FC (WWFC). WWFC was the only Premier League club not absorbed into the Singapore S-League in 1996.

In 1996, WWFC was sponsored by Bandai (Hong Kong) Company Limited, which was then known as a manufacturer of plastic toys (like Power Rangers) and video games for Sega and Game Boy). Bandai provided lucrative sponsorships totaling $360,000 to WWFC allowing R. Vengadasalam to sign big name players in the Malaysian League like Jan Janostak (Kedah FA), Joe Caleta (Perak FA) and Boban. WWFC's 1996 lineup also included: the late Borhan Abu Samah, Tamil Marren, Zakaria Awang, and Croatian goalkeeper Sandro Radun. The presence of star players attracted tens of thousands of spectators during the early years of the establishment of the S-League.

In April 1996, WWFC played against Tiong Bahru United FC in front of 22,000 spectators at the Stadium of Singapore that ended in a draw, 2-2. Boban also excelled in a meeting with Geylang United FC scoring on goalkeeper David Lee in front of 30,000 spectators, leading WWFC to a 1-0 win. [3]

In the 1996 Final Resistance Tiger Beer Series Geylang United FC and WWFC met in front of 30,000 people; Gaylang United FC was victorious. [4]

Boban retired from professional football in 2002, after a knee injury. [5]

Coaching career

After Boban retired, he received his UEFA A Coaching license and coached his home town club Split. During his 13 years coaching in Split, he managed to become Head Coach for U12, U14, and U16. [5]

In June 2014, Boban returned to Malaysia, where he had played striker for nearly seven seasons, at the personal invitation of the Head of State, Prince of Johor. He was inducted into a local Malaysian Hall of Fame, the second footballer to receive the honour. [6]

In late 2014, HRH Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Johor FA's Chairman, hired Boban as its head coach for the 2015 Malaysian President's Cup. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore Premier League</span> Professional association football league in Singapore

The Singapore Premier League, commonly abbreviated as SPL, officially known as the AIA Singapore Premier League for sponsorship reasons, is a men's professional football league sanctioned by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), which represents the sport's highest level in the Singapore football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fandi Ahmad</span> Singaporean footballer

Fandi bin Ahmad is a Singaporean professional football manager and former player. He is the current technical advisor and head coach of Malaysia Super League club Sri Pahang. During his professional career, he mainly played as a striker, but also played as a midfielder. Along with the Singapore FA, he had also played for Malaysia Cup state sides Kuala Lumpur FA and Pahang FA, and won titles with all three, including two doubles in 1992 and 1994, as well as the Golden Boot in 1988. Fandi also played for Indonesia's Niac Mitra, Netherlands' Groningen as well as local Singaporean clubs Geylang United and SAFFC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geylang International FC</span> Association football club in Singapore

Geylang International Football Club is a professional football club based in Bedok, Singapore, that competes in Singapore Premier League, the top division of football in Singapore. The club was founded in 1973 to build a successful football team that would be remembered for generations to come. They played their first season in 1974, winning the FAS Division Three League which earned a spot in National Football League Division One the following year. They enjoyed their greatest successes in the 1980s and 90s, winning six consecutive FAS Premier League titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodlands Wellington FC</span> Singaporean football club

Woodlands Wellington Football Club was a professional football club based in Woodlands, Singapore which played in the S.League, the top division of football in Singapore. The club took part in S.League from 1996 to 2014. They are at the 4,300 seater Woodlands Stadium, where they have played since their establishment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbas Saad</span> Football player and coach (born 1967)

Abbas Saad is a soccer manager and former player. Born in Lebanon, Saad played for the Australia national team.

Milan Blagojević is an Australian retired soccer player.

Ronald Smith is a former football player and coach. He is a former technical analyst for the Australia national team.

Ahmad Latiff Khamarudin is a former professional footballer who last played in the S.League.

Alistair Martin Edwards is an Australian former soccer player and coach. A prominent forward, he made a name for himself with National Soccer League clubs Sydney Olympic and Perth Glory. He was also a favourite with Malaysian League teams Sarawak FA, Selangor FA, Singapore FA, Johor FA and Kedah FA in the 1990s. Alistair is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Johor Darul Ta'zim.

Darren Stewart was an Australian association football player. He was an Australia national football team player and was named Australian Player of the Year in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LionsXII</span> Singaporean football club

LionsXII, also known as Singapore LIONSXII, was a Singaporean football club founded in 2011 that played in the Malaysian Super League, the top tier of Malaysian football, from their inaugural season until their dissolution following the 2015 season. Their home ground was the 8,000-seater Jalan Besar Stadium, where they had played all their home matches since their establishment.

The 2013 S.League was the 18th season since the establishment of the S.League, the top professional football league in Singapore. It is known as the Yeo's Great Eastern S.League for sponsorship reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shahfiq Ghani</span> Singaporean footballer

Muhammad Shahfiq bin Ghani, also known as just Shahfiq, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays mainly as a forward or midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Geylang International and the Singapore national team. Shahfiq is known as a free-kick specialist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.</span> Malaysian football club

Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. or simply JDT is a professional football club based in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia that competes in the Malaysia Super League, the top tier of Malaysian football. Founded in 1972 as PKENJ FC, the club renamed as Johor FC in 1996, before adopting its current name in 2013. Johor Darul Ta'zim is owned by Tunku Ismail Idris, the Crown Prince of Johor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sahil Suhaimi</span> Singaporean footballer

Mohamad Sahil bin Suhaimi is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a forward or midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Albirex Niigata (S) and the Singapore national team. He was best known for outstanding performances during his time at LionsXII.

The 2013 season was LionsXII's 2nd season in the Malaysia Super League, when they won their first MSL title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johor Darul Ta'zim III F.C.</span> Malaysian football club

The Johor Darul Ta'zim III or simply known as JDT III, is an under-21 football team. Johor Darul Ta'zim III is a feeder team for Johor Darul Ta'zim II F.C., which plays in the Malaysia Premier League.

Mohd Shahrul bin Mohd Saad is a Malaysian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim and the Malaysia national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johor Darul Ta'zim II F.C.</span> Association football team in Malaysia

Johor Darul Ta'zim Football Club II or simply JDT II is a Malaysia football club based in Johor Bahru, Johor. The club currently plays in the MFL Cup, the u-23 development professional football league in Malaysia. Johor Darul Ta'zim II is a feeder club for Johor Darul Ta'zim.

Jörg Peter Steinebrunner is a German football coach. He is currently the head coach of Angthong.

References

  1. "1986 MSL". RSSSF . Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  2. "1986 MSL". RSSSF . Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  3. "Boban goal separates top pair in classic game". starknorth.wordpress.com. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  4. "Ervin Boban". chedinsphere.blogspot.com. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Exclusive Interview - Ervin Boban". Vimeo, LLC. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  6. "Exclusive Interview - The Split coach Ervin Boban in Malaysia inducted into the Hall of Fame". stari.dalmacijanews.com. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  7. "JDT IV TEAM (PRESIDENT) 2015". johorsoutherntigers.com.my. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.