Name: Stevan Jovetic
Born: Nov. 2, 1989, in Titograd, Yugoslavia
Position: Striker
Pro club: Manchester City
Following in the footsteps of Edinson Cavani, Stevan Jovetic is the latest marquee player to command a big-money transfer this week, moving from Italian side Fiorentina to Premiership outfit Manchester City for a reported 28 million pounds on Thursday. Jovetic was linked to a number of glamour clubs, including Juventus and Arsenal. But in the end it was City who won out, with the Blues strengthening their roster by signing the sublimely talented 23-year-old striker who looks poised for a breakout campaign.
He’s special because
Jovetic makes up for his lack of speed and strength in the air with his technical ability. The Montenegrin is a technically astute and a two-footed forward, is very comfortable on the ball and is versatile – he can either play as the lead striker or in the hole in a more withdrawn role. His goal-scoring record could be better — he scored only 35 goals in Serie A over five seasons with Fiorentina. But Jovetic has a good first touch and plays teammates into scoring positions with his immaculate passing ability.
Club career
Jovetic joined local youth side FK Mladost as an 11-year-old before moving to Belgrade three years later where he signed with Partizan. He spent time with the team’s youth academy and was handed his debut with the senior team when he was just 16 in a Serbian league match against Vozdovac in April 2006. He slowly established himself as a key starter for Partizan, and scored a memorable hat trick in a UEFA Cup qualifier against Croatian side Zrinjski in 2007. He was handed the captain’s arm band in 2008 when he was 18. Several big clubs began to take notice of him, including Manchester United and Real Madrid. But it was Fiorentina who signed him away from Partizan in 2008. He showed promise in his first two seasons in Italy, but missed the entire 2010-11 campaign when he suffered a knee injury during pre-season. He returned better than ever, though, scoring 27 goals over the past two Serie A seasons, establishing himself as one of the hottest properties in world soccer.
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International career
In 2007, Jovetic succeeded Mirko Vucinic as captain of Montenegro’s under-21 side when he was only 17. He was also a founding member of the Montenegrin national team that played its first game against Hungary in March 2007 following the dissolution of Serbia-Montenegro. Jovetic has 10 goals in 27 appearances for Montenegro – his first goal came against Hungary in a friendly in Budapest on Aug. 20, 2008.
His most famous moment
After netting an equalizing goal in the playoffs against Sporting Lisbon to send Fiorentina through to the group stage of the 2009-10 Champion League, Jovetic scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Liverpool on Sept. 29, 2009, a crucial result that helped propel LA Viola through to the knockout round.
Here’s an interesting fact
His idols include Juventus forward and fellow Montenegro international Mirko Vucinic, and former AC Milan and Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko.
He said it
“I’ve been at Fiorentina since 2008, five very intense seasons. I really feel like I’ve given everything. I’m young and ambitious and it is normal to feel the need to test myself elsewhere. I do not think there’s anything wrong with desire.” — Jovetic recently told Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
What they’re saying about him
“He is utterly fearless and I don’t see a limit to his potential. Is he the new Savicevic? No, he can be even better. He reminds me of Johan Cruyff.” — Former Montenegro manager Dejan Savicevic on comparisons between himself and Jovetic.
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