Branko Ilić

Branko Ilić (born 6 February 1983) is a Slovenian former professional footballer. Usually a right-back, he also played as a central defender.

Not to be confused with Brana Ilić.

Branko Ilić
Ilić in 2015
Personal information
Full name Branko Ilić[1]
Date of birth (1983-02-06) 6 February 1983[2]
Place of birth Ljubljana, SFR Yugoslavia[2]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Grosuplje
0000–2002 Olimpija
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Olimpija 55 (0)
2002 → Grosuplje (loan) 13 (2)
2005–2007 Domžale 63 (2)
2007 → Betis (loan) 13 (0)
2007–2010 Betis 21 (0)
2009 → FC Moscow (loan) 6 (0)
2010–2011 Lokomotiv Moscow 11 (0)
2012–2013 Anorthosis 26 (1)
2013–2014 Hapoel Tel Aviv 29 (1)
2014–2015 Partizan 27 (4)
2015 Astana 9 (0)
2016–2017 Urawa Red Diamonds 0 (0)
2017–2019 Olimpija 41 (0)
2019 Vejle 5 (0)
2019–2020 Domžale 4 (0)
Total 322 (10)
International career
2001 Slovenia U19 3 (1)
2003–2005 Slovenia U21 9 (0)
2004–2015 Slovenia 63 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

In his country, he appeared for Olimpija Ljubljana (two spells), Grosuplje, and Domžale (two stints). He also competed professionally in Spain, Russia, Cyprus, Israel, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Japan and Denmark.

A Slovenian international between 2004 and 2015, Ilić was part of the squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Born in Ljubljana, Socialist Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Ilić started his career at local NK Olimpija, where he made his senior debut in 2003 against FC Koper. He joined NK Domžale in January 2005, after his former club went bankrupt.

Ilić was loaned to Real Betis in January 2007, becoming the first Slovenian to play for them.[3] His first official appearance came against city rivals Sevilla FC, in a Copa del Rey quarter-final clash.[4] On 4 February he first appeared in La Liga, providing the assist for Robert's goal in a 2–1 away win at Athletic Bilbao.[5][6]

After a positive spell,[7] the Andalusian side completed the transfer for €1.5 million in the summer of 2007, but Ilić eventually fell out of rotation in 2008–09 after the signing of S.L. Benfica's Nélson, in a relegation-ending season where he only featured in three matches.[8]

On 6 September 2009, FC Moscow signed Ilić on loan from Betis, for one year. In late January 2010, however, he was released by the latter,[9] immediately joining another Moscow-based team, FC Lokomotiv.[10]

On 13 August 2010, Sky Sports reported that Ilić was on trial in England with Premier League's Blackpool,[11] but nothing came of it. On 5 June 2013, after one season in the Cypriot First Division with Anorthosis Famagusta FC, he and teammate Jürgen Colin signed two-year contracts with Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. from Israel.[12]

Ilić agreed to a two-year deal with Serbian club FK Partizan on 10 July 2014.[13] The following summer he moved teams and countries again, joining Kazakhstan Premier League champions FC Astana.[14]

On 6 January 2016, Ilić signed for Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan.[15] On 5 February of the following year he returned to his homeland, joining Olimpija Ljubljana.[16]

Ilić signed for Vejle Boldklub in Denmark on 15 January 2019.[17] In July 2020, after a second spell with Domžale, the 36-year-old announced his retirement.[18]

International career

Ilić represented Slovenia at youth level, making his competitive debut for the under-19 team in October 2001 against Greece.[19] He was also capped for the under-21s, playing nine matches in UEFA competitions.[19]

Ilić made his debut for the senior side on 18 August 2004 in a friendly with Serbia and Montenegro. He was included in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa,[20] but did not leave the substitutes bench in an eventual group-stage exit.

Overall, Ilić played 63 games for his country,[18] scoring one goal against San Marino in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers (6–0 home victory).[21]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[22][23]
Club Season League National cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Olimpija 2002–03 Slovenian PrvaLiga 13020—150
2003–04 2601030300
2004–05 16020—180
Total 5505030630
Grosuplje (loan) 2002–03 Slovenian Second League 13200—132
Domžale 2004–05 Slovenian PrvaLiga 13000—130
2005–06 3422050412
2006–07 1601040210
Total 6323090752
Betis (loan) 2006–07 La Liga 130—130
Betis 2007–08 La Liga 180—180
2008–09 30—30
Total 2100000210
FC Moscow (loan) 2009 Russian Premier League 600060
Lokomotiv Moscow 2010 Russian Premier League 1000—10
2011–12 1001020130
Total 1101020140
Anorthosis 2012–13 Cypriot First Division 2612040321
Hapoel Tel Aviv 2013–14 Israeli Premier League 2811040331
Partizan 2014–15 Serbian SuperLiga 2745090414
Astana 2015 Kazakhstan Premier League 9000120210
Urawa Red Diamonds 2016 J1 League 00001010
Olimpija 2017–18 Slovenian PrvaLiga 3004020360
2018–19 Slovenian PrvaLiga 1101070190
Total 4105090550
Vejle 2018–19 Danish Superliga 5000—50
Domžale 2019–20 Slovenian PrvaLiga 40002060
Career total 3221022055039910

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[24]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Slovenia 200410
200560
200680
2007100
200890
200910
201040
201130
201200
201390
201450
201571
Total631
Score and result list Slovenia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Ilić goal.
International goal scored by Branko Ilić
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
127 March 2015Stožice, Ljubljana, Slovenia San Marino6–06–0Euro 2016 qualifying[21]

Honours

Olimpija

Domžale

Partizan

Olimpija Ljubljana

See also

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of players" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  2. "Branko Ilic". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  3. "El esloveno Branco [sic] Ilic pasó reconocimiento médico antes de firmar con el Betis" [Slovenian Branco Ilic passed medical before signing with Betis]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 January 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  4. Melero, Delfín (1 February 2007). "El Betis aguanta el primer asalto ante un perezoso Sevilla" [Betis withstand first round against lazy Sevilla]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  5. "Athletic Bilbao 1–2 Real Betis". ESPN Soccernet. 4 February 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  6. Melero, Delfín (4 February 2007). "Un 'machote' Betis sale reforzado de San Mamés" ['Macho-like' Betis leave San Mamés enpowered]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  7. Cariño, Carlos (9 February 2008). "Si Chaparro quiere, puedo jugar de central" [If Chaparro wants, I can play as a stopper]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  8. "Ilic: "Siempre estoy preparado para jugar"" [Ilic: "I am always ready to play"]. Marca (in Spanish). 12 February 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. Ramírez, Álvaro (18 January 2010). "Branko Ilic se desvincula del Betis" [Branko Ilic cuts ties with Betis] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  10. "Илич подписал контракт с "Москвой"" [Ilić signed a contract with Moscow] (in Russian). Sports.ru. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2010.
  11. "Pool look at Slovenian, Holloway weighs up move for Ilic". Sky Sports. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  12. יורגן קולין וברנקו איליץ' חתמו לשנתיים בהפועל [Colin and Ilić sign two-year contracts at Hapoel] (in Hebrew). One. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  13. "Iliću se konačno ispunila želja da pređe u Partizan" [Ilić finally fulfilled desire to move to Partizan] (in Serbian). FK Partizan. 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  14. Бранко Илич – игрок ФК Астана [Branko Ilić – player of FC Astana] (in Russian). FC Astana. 6 July 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  15. ブランコ・イリッチ選手 加入内定のお知らせ (in Japanese). Urawa Red Diamonds. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  16. Dominko, Peter (5 February 2017). "Obramba zmajev močnejša za Branka Ilića" [Defence of "The Dragons" is stronger for Branko Ilic] (in Slovenian). SN Portal. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  17. Christensen, Lars (15 January 2019). "VB skriver med erfaren slovener" [VB agree with experienced Slovene] (in Danish). Vejle Boldklub. Archived from the original on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  18. Viškovič, Rok (21 July 2020). "Čudovito nogometno popotovanje slovenskega Franza Beckenbauerja" [The Slovenian Franz Beckenbauer's wonderful football journey] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  19. "Branko Ilić". UEFA. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  20. "World Cup 2010: No surprises in final Slovenia squad". BBC Sport. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  21. Sever, Grega (27 March 2015). "Slovenia set new record win against San Marino". UEFA. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  22. "Branko Ilić" (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  23. "B. Ilič". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  24. "Branko Ilič". European Football. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
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