Samir Handanovic
Encyclopedia
Samir Handanovič, is a Slovenia
n footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Italian club Udinese
and the Slovenian national team
. He is well known for his ability to save pentalies. During the course of 2010–11 Serie A
season he has saved a total of six penalty shots thus tying an all time league record, set in 1948–49 season and is, as of May 2011, five short of an all time league record.
and was later transferred to Domžale
where he spent two seasons. He was signed by Udinese
in the summer of 2004 at the age of 20. He was on loan to Treviso
in summer 2005, but in January 2006, he was exchanged with Matteo Sereni
to Lazio
.
In July 2006, he was loaned to Rimini
. with a pre-set price of €1.2 million, The club finished 5th in the Serie B
and conceded the 4th least number of goals in the league. He returned to Udinese in summer 2007, as Udinese excised the counter-option to reject the buying, where he replaced Morgan De Sanctis
, and signed a new and improved contract which would last until 30 June 2012. He signed the contract along teammates Asamoah Gyan
and Fabio Quagliarella
. In May, 2011, during a match against Lazio
he saved a penalty shot to Mauro Zarate
and tied an all time league record with six saved penalties during the course of one season.
In August 2011 he signed a new 5-year contract.
. He made his debut for national team on 17 November 2004, in a match against Slovakia
. He also played for Slovenia in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
.
He became a hero in Estonia
after saving the penalty of Nemanja Vidić
in Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia
which sent the Estonia national football team
into qualification play-offs.
His elder cousin, Jasmin Handanović
also embarked on a career in Italy from 2007 to 2011 and currently plays for Maribor
in Slovenian PrvaLiga. They both play as goalkeepers for the Slovenia national football team
. Handanovič is in a long standing relationship with the former KK Olimpija cheerleader named Zoja with whom he has a son Alen, born on 19 January 2011.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Italian club Udinese
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
and the Slovenian national team
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
. He is well known for his ability to save pentalies. During the course of 2010–11 Serie A
2010–11 Serie A
The 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011...
season he has saved a total of six penalty shots thus tying an all time league record, set in 1948–49 season and is, as of May 2011, five short of an all time league record.
Club career
Handanović started his career at SlovanND Slovan
ND Slovan is a Slovenian football club, based in Kodeljevo district in Ljubljana. The team currently plays in the Slovenian third division West.-History:...
and was later transferred to Domžale
NK Domžale
NK Domžale is a Slovenian football club that plays in the town of Domžale. They have won the Slovenian League two times and both Slovenian Cup and Slovenian Supercup once.-History:...
where he spent two seasons. He was signed by Udinese
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
in the summer of 2004 at the age of 20. He was on loan to Treviso
Treviso F.B.C. 1993
Football Club Treviso is an Italian football club based in Treviso. The club was formed in 1909, and refounded in 1993 and in 2009. The club currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.Treviso's official colours are light blue and white.-History:...
in summer 2005, but in January 2006, he was exchanged with Matteo Sereni
Matteo Sereni
Matteo Sereni is an Italian football goalkeeper.-Career:Born in Parma, Sereni started his career at UC Sampdoria, and was loaned out to A.C. Crevalcore in 1994. He returned to Sampdoria and only made 10 appearances before being transferred to Piacenza Calcio in 1997...
to Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
.
In July 2006, he was loaned to Rimini
Rimini Calcio F.C.
Associazione Calcio Rimini 1912 is an Italian association football club based in Rimini, Emilia-Romagna....
. with a pre-set price of €1.2 million, The club finished 5th in the Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
and conceded the 4th least number of goals in the league. He returned to Udinese in summer 2007, as Udinese excised the counter-option to reject the buying, where he replaced Morgan De Sanctis
Morgan De Sanctis
Morgan De Sanctis is an Italian football goalkeeper who currently plays for Serie A club Napoli and the Italian national team.-Club career:...
, and signed a new and improved contract which would last until 30 June 2012. He signed the contract along teammates Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Emirati club Al Ain in the UAE Pro-League , and the Ghana national team....
and Fabio Quagliarella
Fabio Quagliarella
Fabio Quagliarella is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Juventus and internationally for the Italian national team. He is known for scoring incredible goals from unconventional angles that often catch the goalkeeper by surprise.-Early career:Quagliarella began his...
. In May, 2011, during a match against Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
he saved a penalty shot to Mauro Zarate
Mauro Zárate
Mauro Matías Zárate is an Argentine footballer who plays for Serie A club Internazionale on loan from Lazio.Zárate started his career with Vélez Sársfield in his native country, playing three years for the team and winning the Primera División title in the 2005 Clausura tournament...
and tied an all time league record with six saved penalties during the course of one season.
In August 2011 he signed a new 5-year contract.
International career
Handanović has been capped 50 times for SloveniaSlovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
. He made his debut for national team on 17 November 2004, in a match against Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
. He also played for Slovenia in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
.
He became a hero in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
after saving the penalty of Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011....
in Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia
Serbia national football team
The Serbia national football team represents Serbia in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia, the governing body for football in Serbia. Serbia's home ground is Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and their last head coach was Vladimir Petrović...
which sent the Estonia national football team
Estonia national football team
The Estonia national football team represents Estonia in international association football. Team members are selected by the head coach of Estonian Football Association . Estonia play their home matches at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
into qualification play-offs.
Personal life
Handanovič's parents are of Bosnian descent.His elder cousin, Jasmin Handanović
Jasmin Handanovic
Jasmin Handanović is a Slovenian football goalkeeper who plays for Maribor in Slovenian PrvaLiga.-Career:...
also embarked on a career in Italy from 2007 to 2011 and currently plays for Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
in Slovenian PrvaLiga. They both play as goalkeepers for the Slovenia national football team
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
. Handanovič is in a long standing relationship with the former KK Olimpija cheerleader named Zoja with whom he has a son Alen, born on 19 January 2011.
External links
- Player profile – NZS