Nikola Jovanovic: Man United defender Profile & Stats
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Portrait of Nikola Jovanovic

Nikola Jovanovic

Position: defender

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia flag

PWDLFA

HAN P W D L F A Diff Win%
H 11 1 9 1 15 11 +4 9.09
A 15 4 5 6 16 21 -5 26.67
TOTALS 26 5 14 7 31 32 -1 19.23

Name: Nikola Jovanović
Birthdate: 18-09-1952
Age: 73
Birthplace: Cetinje, Yugoslavia
Height: 6' 3" (1.91m)
Weight: 13st 10lbs (87.09kg)
Years at Club: 1980-1981
Signing Info: Transferred from: Red Star Belgrade, 01/1980 , £350,000
Previous Clubs: Red Star Belgrade, FC Buducnoet (loan)
Debut: 02/02/1980 v Derby County (A) 3-1 (League Division One)
Farewell: Contract cancelled 11/1982
Passed Away:

Biography

Nikola Jovanović (born 18 September 1952, Cetinje, Montenegro, then part of Yugoslavia) is a former professional footballer who played as a commanding goalscoring central defender. He is remembered in Manchester United history as the club’s first ever non-British or Irish signing, joining in 1980 from Red Star Belgrade.

Early Career in Yugoslavia
Jovanović began his career with Budućnost Titograd before signing for Red Star Belgrade, one of the most successful clubs in Yugoslavia. Renowned for his aerial ability, strong tackling, goalscoring ability and calm presence at the back, he helped Red Star win the Yugoslav First League title in 1977. His performances in domestic and European competition attracted interest from clubs abroad, and he earned recognition as one of Yugoslavia’s leading defenders of the late 1970s where he amassed 339 appearances & scored 50 goals.

Manchester United (1980–1982)
In January 1980, Jovanović made history when he signed for Manchester United for a fee of around £300,000. His arrival was seen as a bold move by United and manager Dave Sexton, who were looking to strengthen their defence during a transitional period at the club. Unfortunately, injuries and difficulties adapting to the physical demands of English football restricted his opportunities. Jovanović made 26 appearances and scored 4 goals for United before leaving in November 1982.

Later Career and Retirement
After leaving Old Trafford, he returned to Yugoslavia, later playing for Buducnost Titograd on loan before making permanent move, before retiring from professional football.

Legacy
Though his time at Manchester United was brief, Nikola Jovanović is remembered as a trailblazer – the first overseas signing in the club’s history, paving the way for future international stars to wear the red shirt of United.
 
League League Cup FA Cup Charity Shield European Cup Europa League Super Cup Cup Winners Cup Inter-cont Cup World Clubs Cup    
Season Goals Season Apps
No Season League Goals League Apps LC Goals LC Apps FAC Goals FAC Apps CS Goals CS Apps EC Goals EC Apps Europa Goals Europa Apps SC Goals SC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps IC Goals IC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps Season
Goals		 Season
Apps
1. 1979-1980 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2. 1980-1981 4 19 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 24
TOTALS 4 21 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 26

Detailed Match & Performance Charts

MUFC Player Goals MUFC Player Appearances MUFC Player Opponent Manager MUFC Player Club Manager
No Opponent Goals Appearances
1. Leicester City 2 1
2. West Bromwich Albion 1 1
3. Sunderland 1 1
No Opponent Appearances Goals
1. Coventry City 3 0
2. Ipswich Town 2 0
3. Leicester City 2 2
4. Widzew Lodz 2 0
5. Arsenal 2 0
6. Stoke City 2 0
7. Brighton 2 0
8. Derby County 1 0
9. Sunderland 1 1
10. Tottenham Hotspur 1 0
11. Leeds United 1 0
12. Nottingham Forest 1 0
13. Aston Villa 1 0
14. Crystal Palace 1 0
15. Southampton 1 0
16. Norwich City 1 0
17. Liverpool 1 0
18. West Bromwich Albion 1 1
No Opponent Manager No
1. Milne, Gordon 3
2. Robson, Bobby 2
3. Wallace, Jock 2
4. Machcinski, Jacek 2
5. Neill, Terry 2
6. Durban, Alan 2
7. Mullery, Alan 2
8. Addison, Colin 1
9. Knighton, Ken 1
10. Burkinshaw, Keith 1
11. Adamson, Jimmy 1
12. Clough, Brian 1
13. Saunders, Ron 1
14. Walley, Ernie 1
15. McMenemy, Lawrie 1
16. Brown, Ken 1
17. Paisley, Bob 1
18. Atkinson, Ron 1
No MUFC Managers Count
1. Sexton, Dave 26
Stadiums Competition Opponents Opponent Nationality
No Stadium Count
1. Old Trafford 11
2. Portman Road 2
3. Baseball Ground 1
4. Carrow Road 1
5. City Ground, Nottingham 1
6. Elland Road 1
7. Filbert Street 1
8. Goldstone Ground 1
9. Highbury 1
10. Highfield Road 1
11. Selhurst Park 1
12. Stadio TKS 1
13. The Hawthorns 1
14. Victoria Ground 1
15. White Hart Lane 1
No Competition Count
1. League Division One 21
2. Europa League 2
3. League Cup 2
4. FA Cup 1
No Opponent Count
1. Coventry City 3
2. Ipswich Town 2
3. Leicester City 2
4. Widzew Lodz 2
5. Arsenal 2
6. Stoke City 2
7. Brighton 2
8. Derby County 1
9. Sunderland 1
10. Tottenham Hotspur 1
11. Leeds United 1
12. Nottingham Forest 1
13. Aston Villa 1
14. Crystal Palace 1
15. Southampton 1
16. Norwich City 1
17. Liverpool 1
18. West Bromwich Albion 1
No Opponent Nationality Count
1. England 24
2. Poland 2
Roy Keane own goal v Real Madrid Old Trafford 2000 Cup Finals
No Date Opponent Competition Own Goals
1. 06-12-1980 Norwich City League Division One 1
No Date Opponent WDL F-A Competition
Player never featured in a Cup Final.
Penalties scored for Manchester United Manchester United Hat-Tricks
No Date Opponents Competition Penaltys
Player has never scored a penalty for the club.
No Date Opponent Competition Goals
Player has never scored a hat-trick or better during a game.
 
Red Cards  
No Date Opponent Competition
Player has never been sent off during a match.
 

All Matches played
No Date Comp Opponent WDL F-A HAN Goal!! Scorers Opponent scorers
1. 02-02-1980 Div 1 Derby County W 3-1 A 0 Mickey Thomas 38', Sammy McIlroy 90', Barry Powell 90' (o.g.) Barry Powell 33'
2. 01-03-1980 Div 1 Ipswich Town L 0-6 A 0 *Alan Brazil 2', 53', Paul Mariner 24', 27', 87', Frans Thijssen 81'
3. 27-08-1980 LC Coventry City L 0-1 H 0 Tom English 66'
4. 30-08-1980 Div 1 Sunderland D 1-1 H 1 Nikola Jovanovic 59' Alan Brown 84'
5. 02-09-1980 LC Coventry City L 0-1 A 0 Andy Blair 46'
6. 06-09-1980 Div 1 Tottenham Hotspur D 0-0 A 0
7. 13-09-1980 Div 1 Leicester City W 5-0 H 2 Steve Coppell 3', Ashley Grimes 43', Nikola Jovanovic 49', 67', Lou Macari 59'
8. 17-09-1980 EL Widzew Lodz D 1-1 H 0 Sammy McIlroy 4' Krzysztof Surlit 6'
9. 20-09-1980 Div 1 Leeds United D 0-0 A 0
10. 01-10-1980 EL Widzew Lodz D 0-0 A 0
11. 04-10-1980 Div 1 Nottingham Forest W 2-1 A 0 Lou Macari 43', Steve Coppell 73' Ian Wallace 31'
12. 08-10-1980 Div 1 Aston Villa D 3-3 H 0 Sammy McIlroy 35' (pen), 57', Steve Coppell 36' Peter Withe 15' Gordon Cowans 55' (pen), Gary Shaw 67'
13. 11-10-1980 Div 1 Arsenal D 0-0 H 0
14. 18-10-1980 Div 1 Ipswich Town D 1-1 A 0 Sammy McIlroy 67' (pen) Paul Mariner 55'
15. 22-10-1980 Div 1 Stoke City W 2-1 A 0 Joe Jordan 15', Lou Macari 58' Bren O'Callaghan 80'
16. 01-11-1980 Div 1 Crystal Palace L 0-1 A 0 Peter Nicholas 27'
17. 08-11-1980 Div 1 Coventry City D 0-0 H 0
18. 22-11-1980 Div 1 Brighton W 4-1 A 0 Joe Jordan 12', 38' Sammy McIlroy 44', Mick Duxbury 84' *Andy Ritchie 68'
19. 29-11-1980 Div 1 Southampton D 1-1 H 0 Joe Jordan 88' Nick Holmes 82'
20. 06-12-1980 Div 1 Norwich City D 2-2 A 0 Kevin Bond 10' (o.g.), Steve Coppell 33' Nikola Jovanovic 59' (o.g.), Justin Fashanu 73'
21. 13-12-1980 Div 1 Stoke City D 2-2 H 0 Lou Macari 28', Joe Jordan 68' Paul Randall 8', Lee Chapman 21'
22. 20-12-1980 Div 1 Arsenal L 1-2 A 0 Lou Macari 67' Graham Rix 29', Paul Vaessen 58'
23. 26-12-1980 Div 1 Liverpool D 0-0 H 0
24. 27-12-1980 Div 1 West Bromwich Albion L 1-3 A 1 Nikola Jovanovic 54' Gary Owen 35' (pen), *Peter Barnes 43', Cyrille Regis 61'
25. 03-01-1981 FAC Brighton D 2-2 H 0 Mick Duxbury 70', Mickey Thomas 74' Brian Horton 12', *Andy Ritchie 23'
26. 07-02-1981 Div 1 Leicester City L 0-1 A 0 Jim Melrose 64'
 

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