Robert Kovač

Robert Kovač
Personal information
Full name	Robert Kovač
Date of birth	6 April 1974 (1974-04-06) (age 35)
Place of birth	Berlin, Germany
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	NK Dinamo Zagreb
Number	4
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1992–1995 1995–1996 1996–2001 2001–2005 2005–2007 2007–2008 2009–	Hertha Zehlendorf 1. FC Nuremberg Bayer Leverkusen Bayern Munich Juventus Borussia Dortmund Dinamo Zagreb	085 (11) 033 0(1) 134 0(1) 100 0(0) 035 0(1) 026 0(0) 012 0(0)
National team2
1999–	Croatia	080 0(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 June 2009. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Robert Kovač (Croatian pronunciation: [ˈrɔbɛrt ˈkɔʋaːtʃ]; born 6 April 1974 in Berlin, Germany) is a Croatian football defender who is a part of the Croatian national team.

Career

Kovač started his career in lower league clubs Rapide Wedding and Hertha Zehlendorf (1994–1995) before making his Bundesliga debut with FC Nuremberg in 1995. Then, he played for Bayer Leverkusen (1996-2001) and then moved to Bayern Munich in 2001.

Although there were reports that he agreed on all terms to play with Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb at the start of the 2007–2008 season, the transfer fell out due to inability to agree on terms. Instead, he agreed terms with Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on 20 June 2007.

On 29 January 2009 he moved to NK Dinamo Zagreb.

This section requires expansion.

International career

He played for Croatia at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. He also started for Croatia at World Cup 2006 and played well in defence however after picking up a second yellow against Japan he missed the final group match against Australia through suspension. Without Kovač, Croatia struggled in defence with his replacement Tomas committing handball for Australia's first goal via penalty kick. Croatia eventually drew 2-2 with Australia but were eliminated from the tournament. With Croatia, Leverkusen, and Bayern, Robert was teammates with brother Niko Kovač.

Personal

Robert Kovač, along his older brother Niko, were both born in Berlin to a family of Croatian immigrants, and are among a handful of players on the national team born in foreign countries, and the pair have brought some of the stamina necessary to play in the Bundesliga to Croatia's game.

He is married and with his wife Anica Kovač he has three children.

External links

• Leverkusen who's who
• Profile at Croatian FA (Croatian)
• Robert Kovač FIFA competition record

v • d • e Croatia squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Pletikosa • 2 Šerić • 3 Šimunić • 4 Tomas • 5 Rapaić • 6 Živković • 7 Vugrinec • 8 Prosinečki • 9 Šuker • 10 N. Kovač • 11 Bokšić • 12 Butina • 13 Stanić • 14 Soldo • 15 Šarić • 16 Vranješ • 17 Jarni • 18 Olić • 19 Vlaović • 20 Šimić • 21 R. Kovač • 22 Balaban • 23 Vasilj • Coach: Jozić

v • d • e Croatia squad – UEFA Euro 2004 1 Vasilj • 2 Tokić • 3 Šimunić • 4 Tomas • 5 Tudor • 6 Živković • 7 Rapaić • 8 Srna • 9 Pršo • 10 Niko Kovač • 11 Šokota • 12 Butina • 13 Šimić • 14 Neretljak • 15 Leko • 16 Babić • 17 Klasnić • 18 Olić • 19 Mornar • 20 Roso • 21 Robert Kovač • 22 Bjelica • 23 Didulica • Coach: Otto Barić

v • d • e Croatia squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Pletikosa • 2 Srna • 3 Šimunić • 4 R. Kovač • 5 Tudor • 6 Vranješ • 7 Šimić • 8 Babić • 9 Pršo • 10 N. Kovač • 11 Tokić • 12 Didulica • 13 Tomas • 14 Modrić • 15 I. Leko • 16 J. Leko • 17 Klasnić • 18 Olić • 19 N. Kranjčar • 20 Šerić • 21 Balaban • 22 Bošnjak • 23 Butina • Coach: Z. Kranjčar

v • d • e Croatia squad – UEFA Euro 2008 1 Pletikosa • 2 Šimić • 3 Šimunić • 4 R. Kovač • 5 Ćorluka • 6 Vejić • 7 Rakitić • 8 Vukojević • 9 Kalinić • 10 N. Kovač • 11 Srna • 12 Galinović • 13 Pokrivač • 14 Modrić • 15 Knežević • 16 Leko • 17 Klasnić • 18 Olić • 19 Kranjčar • 20 Budan • 21 Petrić • 22 Pranjić • 23 Runje • Coach: Bilić