Milan Borjan

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Milan Borjan
Milan Borjan 2018 crop.jpg
Borjan with Red Star Belgrade in 2018
Personal information
Full name Milan Borjan[1]
Date of birth (1987-10-23) 23 October 1987 (age 33)
Place of birth Knin, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Red Star Belgrade
Number 82
Youth career
Dinara Knin[3]
Radnički Jugopetrol
Mount Hamilton
2006 Nacional Montevideo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 Quilmes 0 (0)
2009–2011 Rad 36 (0)
2011–2014 Sivasspor 43 (0)
2012 → Vaslui (loan) 16 (0)
2014 Ludogorets Razgrad 2 (0)
2015 Radnički Niš 15 (0)
2015–2017 Ludogorets Razgrad 16 (0)
2017 → Korona Kielce (loan) 14 (0)
2017– Red Star Belgrade 122 (0)
National team‡
2011– Canada 56 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 September 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 September 2021

Milan Borjan (Serbian Cyrillic: Милан Борјан, pronounced [mǐlan bǒrjan]; born 23 October 1987) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays for and captains Red Star Belgrade. He plays for the Canadian national soccer team internationally.

Club career[]

Early life and South American career[]

Borjan was born in Knin, Croatia (part of Yugoslavia at the time) to Boško and Mirjana Borjan of Croatian Serb ethnicity. Borjan's family lived in Knin until Operation Storm in 1995,[4] at which point his family moved to Belgrade, and Borjan began playing soccer with FK Radnički Beograd. In 2000, the family emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario, where his parents still reside.[4]

Borjan went on trial with Boca Juniors,[year needed] but failed to sign a contract with the club.[5] In 2006, he joined Club Nacional de Football in Montevideo, Uruguay, playing for their youth team,[5] and in July 2007, he went on trial with the Argentine club Club Atlético River Plate.[6] His final South American stint was with Quilmes, with whom he played from January 2008[7] through the end of the 2007–08 Primera B Nacional season.[8]

Rad[]

Borjan returned to Serbia in January 2009, signing with the Belgrade Serbian SuperLiga club FK Rad.[9] He initially had difficulty breaking into the team, signed as the third-string goalkeeper.[citation needed] However, due to trouble with the starting keeper's work permits,[citation needed] and an injury from the second string,[citation needed] Borjan soon became the only available goalkeeper on the club roster. He made his debut on 16 August 2009 in a 3–2 victory over FK Smederevo. By fall 2010, he was the starting keeper, with a nine-game winning streak.[10] Under his tenure, FK Rad became fourth in the league, gaining them a berth in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds.[11]

Sivasspor and Vaslui[]

Following an appearance in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Borjan joined the Turkish club Sivasspor,[12] and made his debut on 11 September 2011 in a 2–1 loss against Karabükspor.[13] Due to a lack of playing time in Turkey, Borjan was loaned to Romanian club SC Vaslui in a deal that would keep him in Romania through the end of the season, with an option to purchase the player for an undisclosed transfer fee.[14] Borjan joined the club as the starting goalkeeper and played seven clean sheet games in 16 starts, securing Vaslui a spot in the UEFA Champions League.[15]

After returning from a successful stint in Romania, Borjan returned to the starting lineup in the third match of the 2012–13 season in a 0–0 draw against Fenerbahçe on 2 September 2012.[16] In February 2014, following a decrease in playing time under new manager Roberto Carlos, Borjan's contract with Sivasspor was terminated.[17] Speculation arose, after the termination, that a deal had been put in place for Borjan to join Napoli in June, as the Turkish Football Association blocked a January move.[17][18]

Ludogorets Razgrad[]

Following reports that he had signed for Bosnian Premier League club FK Sarajevo as a free agent, Borjan accepted an offer from Bulgarian club PFC Ludogorets Razgrad on 12 September 2014.[19] The club had already qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage, and four days after signing, Borjan made his club debut in a 2–1 Champions League away defeat to Liverpool F.C.[20] That game marked the first time that a Canadian international played in the group stage since Lars Hirschfeld played with Rosenborg BK in 2007.[21] Razgrad released Borjan shortly thereafter, having secured first-choice goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov through the summer of 2015.[22]

Radnički Niš[]

Spurning interest from FK Sarajevo,[23] Borjan signed a one-year contract with SuperLiga club FK Radnički Niš on 15 February 2015.[24] Due to his Serbian passport, Borjan did not count as a foreigner while playing at Radnički.[25] He debuted in a 0–0 draw against Red Star Belgrade on 23 February,[26] the first of three clean sheets in a row.

Return to Razgrad[]

Borjan turned down a contract to return to Radnički, instead returning to the Bulgarian A Football Group of Ludogorets, where he signed a three-year deal on 2 June 2015.[27] Although he was signed as the second-string goalkeeper, Borjan began to start after Stoyanov sustained a major injury.[citation needed] On 15 February 2017, Borjan was loaned to the Ekstraklasa club Korona Kielce through the end of the season,[28] where he made 14 league appearances and five clean sheets.[29]

Red Star Belgrade[]

Three years after rumors of a transfer to Red Star Belgrade,[30] Borjan made the transfer official, replacing Filip Manojlović on 24 July 2017. Borjan signed a three-year contract with the club and chose the jersey number 82.[31] He made his debut in the first leg of the third qualifying round for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League, keeping a clean sheet in a home victory against Sparta Prague on 27 July 2017.[32] He played his first eternal derby with the club a month later.[33]

In his second season with the club, Borjan would help Red Star qualify for the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, and would earn two clean sheets: once in the group stage opener against Napoli,[34] and again in a 2–0 home win against Liverpool.[35] In February 2019, Zvezdan Terzić announced that Borjan would sign a contract extension until 2023, and would finish his career after that. He was honored by Red Star shortly after as the club athlete of the year.[36]

International career[]

Borjan with the Canadian national team

Borjan was called to join the Canada national team in 2010, following strong performances with FK Rad.[37] He was called up to the Canadian senior team on 3 February 2011, and made his team debut in an exhibition game against Greece a week later.[38] That summer, Borjan was called up to the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster, making his Gold Cup debut on 11 June 2011 in a 1–0 victory over Guadeloupe at Raymond James Stadium.[39] He also recorded his first national team game on home soil at BMO Field on 1 June 2011 in an exhibition against Ecuador that ended in a 2–2 draw.

Due to the suspension of first choice goalkeeper Lars Hirschfeld, Borjan started in the 0:0 home draw against Honduras in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier on 12 June 2012. Since the end of 2012, Borjan has been Canada's starting goalkeeper, named to the final squad in the 2013,[40] 2017,[41] and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[42] He earned his first red card for Canada on 11 June 2015 in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match, handling the ball outside the box after a mistake from Julian de Guzman.[43]

Career statistics[]

Club[]

As of match played 17 September 2021[29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rad 2009–10 Serbian SuperLiga 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2010–11 23 0 0 0 0 0 23 0
Total 36 0 0 0 0 0 36 0
Sivasspor 2011–12 Süper Lig 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
2012–13 29 0 8 0 0 0 37 0
2013–14 4 0 5 0 0 0 9 0
Total 43 0 13 0 0 0 56 0
Vaslui (loan) 2011–12 Liga I 16 0 3 0 0 0 19 0
Ludogorets Razgrad 2014–15 Bulgarian First League 2 0 1 0 1 0 4 0
2015–16 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
2016–17 7 0 2 0 1 0 10 0
Total 18 0 3 0 2 0 23 0
Radnički Niš 2014–15 Serbian SuperLiga 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
Ludogorets Razgrad II 2015–16 Bulgarian Second League 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Korona Kielce (loan) 2016–17 Ekstraklasa 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
Red Star Belgrade 2017–18 Serbian SuperLiga 31 0 3 0 12 0 46 0
2018–19 28 0 4 0 14 0 46 0
2019–20 26 0 2 0 14 0 42 0
2020–21 32 0 3 0 12 0 47 0
2021–22 5 0 0 0 7 0 12 0
Total 122 0 12 0 59 0 193 0
Career total 266 0 31 0 61 0 358 0

International[]

As of 8 September 2021[44]
Canada
Year Apps Goals
2011 5 0
2012 4 0
2013 7 0
2014 4 0
2015 7 0
2016 5 0
2017 5 0
2018 3 0
2019 9 0
2020 0 0
2021 7 0
Total 56 0

Personal life[]

Borjan is married to Snežana Filipović, a former marketing director of FK Partizan and sister of Nenad Filipović.[45][46]

Borjan is often a subject of controversy in Croatia, where his views are frequently described as Greater Serbian.[47] After a Europa League 1–0 victory of Red Star Belgrade over 1. FC Köln on 7 December 2017, Borjan was seen posing with a flag saying "Delije Knin". He went on to state: "I know who I am and where I come from! Knin was always a Red Star-supporting town and this victory over Köln was for the entire Serbian Dalmatia."[48] In a 2018 interview with B92, he stated: "I was not born in Croatia, I was born in Krajina, Dalmatia. That was a Serbian place. I describe myself as someone who hails from Serbia, from Dalmatia, but I feel like a Canadian because I spent many years there."[49][50]

Honours[]

Club[]

Ludogorets
Red Star Belgrade

Individual[]

References[]

  1. ^ "40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: Canada" (PDF). CONCACAF. p. 2. Retrieved 20 May 2019 – via Bernews.
  2. ^ "Milan Borjan". canadasoccer.com. Canadian Soccer Association. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  3. ^ SportKlub (25 December 2017). "Borjan, Knin i Zvezda - ima neka tajna veza" (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b The Globe and Mail (24 August 2012). "Milan Borjan happy to pay his dues". Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Arquero serbio en la cuarta division". futbol.com.uy. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  6. ^ Ole.com.ar (28 July 2007). "Ataja en todos los idiomas" (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Con calor y con Batalla". elsolnoticias.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Quilmes vuelve al trabajo en una semana donde habrá novedades". perspectivasur.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  9. ^ Vujčić, Đurađ (18 September 2012). "Borjan za B92: Kanada može na SP" (in Serbian). B92. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  10. ^ Borjan grateful for opportunity Canada presents Archived 25 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Red Nation Online, 24 January 2011
  11. ^ Canadian Exports: Hoilett helps keep Blackburn from drop; Major League Soccer, 23 May 2011
  12. ^ Milan Borjan u Sivasporu Archived 29 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine; FK Rad, 23 June 2011
  13. ^ Shelton scores on debut in Turkey Archived 19 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Jamaica Observer, 12 September 2011
  14. ^ "Borjan positive on loan to FC Vaslui". 23 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  15. ^ "Across the Pong: May 21, 2012". 23 May 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  16. ^ "Sivas'ta kör dövüşü!". sporx.com.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b "Milan Borjan linked with Napoli of Serie A". rednationonline.ca.
  18. ^ "Milan Borjan ipak ne ide u Napoli". B92.net.
  19. ^ "Ništa od dolaska na Koševo: Borjan ide u Ludogorets: September 12, 2014". 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  20. ^ "Liverpool 2-1 Ludo Razgd". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  21. ^ "Milan Borjan set to face Liverpool in Champions League". 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  22. ^ "Милан Борян си тръгна от Лудогорец". sportal.bg (in Bulgarian). Sportal. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
  23. ^ "Ništa od Sarajeva: Borjan potpisao za Radnički iz Niša". sportsport.ba. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  24. ^ "Nišlije se baš pojačale". 15 February 2015.
  25. ^ Radnički dobio veliko pojačanje na golu, Borjan godinu dana u Nišu Archived 16 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine at FK Radnički Niš official website, 15-2-2015 (in Serbian)
  26. ^ "Звезда однела бод са "Чаира"". 23 February 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  27. ^ "Borjan u starom jatu". 2 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Milan Borjan piłkarzem Korony!". Korona Kielce. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Milan Borjan profile". Soccerway.
  30. ^ RedNation Online (25 July 2014). "Milan Borjan to join Wigan Athletic?". Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Predstavljen Milan Borjan". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). Red Star Belgrade. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  32. ^ Црвена звезда - Спарта Праг 2:0 (1:0). Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 27 July 2017. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  33. ^ "KRAJ: Crvena zvezda – Partizan 0:0 (VIDEO)". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  34. ^ "Red Star hold Napoli on Champions League debut". The New Star. 20 September 2018.
  35. ^ "C Zvezda 2-0 Liverpool - Match Report & Highlights". skysports.com. Sky UK. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  36. ^ Canadian Press (5 March 2019). "Canadian international goalkeeper Milan Borjan honoured by Red Star Belgrade". National Post.
  37. ^ Srbin iz Superlige na golu Kanade!; mondo.rs, 23 November 2010 (in Serbian)
  38. ^ Canada announces roster for Greece friendly Archived 9 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Canadasoccer.com, 3 February 2011
  39. ^ Canada edges Guadeloupe Archived 9 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine; Calgary Herald, 12 June 2011
  40. ^ Bedakian, Armen (9 September 2014). "Canada 3, Jamaica 1 - International Friendly Match Recap".
  41. ^ Zeitlin, Dave (27 June 2017). "Canada names nine MLS players to 23-man CONCACAF Gold Cup roster".
  42. ^ "Together We Rise: Canada Soccer announces squad for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup". 30 May 2019.
  43. ^ "Dominica 0, Canada 2 - World Cup Qualifying Match Recap". 11 June 2015.
  44. ^ Milan Borjan at National-Football-Teams.com
  45. ^ "Топла връзка между Лудогорец и Партизан (СНИМКА). Канадският страж призна любовта си" (in Bulgarian). topsport.bg. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  46. ^ "Udaje se direktorka Partizana: Snežana Filipović postaje gospođa Borjan!". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 26 September 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  47. ^ "Vrataru kojem je Dalmacija u Srbiji, a Knin zvezdaški grad žestoko izvrijeđali suprugu". Večernji list (in Croatian). 19 October 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  48. ^ "Slavio uz zastavu 'Delije Knin': Ovo je za srpsku Dalmaciju!". Večernji list (in Croatian). 10 December 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  49. ^ Čukanović, Filip (8 May 2018). "Milan Borjan za B92 o "srpskoj" Dalmaciji i kakvi su "grobari" ljudi". B92 (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  50. ^ "GOLMAN CRVENE ZVEZDE ŠOKIRAO IZJAVOM: 'Nisam rođen u Hrvatskoj, rođen sam u Krajini, Dalmaciji. To je bilo srpsko mjesto'". Net.hr (in Croatian). 8 May 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

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