Danny Vukovic

Danny Vukovic

Personal information
Full name	Danny Vukovic
Date of birth	27 March 1985 (1985-03-27) (age 26)
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Perth Glory
Number	1
Youth career
1999–2002	Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2004	Parramatta Power	5	(0)
2004–2005	Bonnyrigg White Eagles	14	(0)
2005–2010	Central Coast Mariners	104	(0)
2010	Konyaspor	0	(0)
2010–2011	Wellington Phoenix	17	(1)
2011–	Perth Glory	6	(0)
National team‡
2005	Australia U-20	4	(0)
2006–2008	Australia U-23	18	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:30, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

Danny Vukovic (born 27 March 1985 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player of Serbian decent. Who has recently signed a three year contract with the Perth Glory, an Australian-based A League franchise.

Club career

Vukovic has previously played for Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Parramatta Power.

Central Coast Mariners

Vukovic made his A-League debut for the Central Coast Mariners in September 2005 against Melbourne Victory after the team's first-choice keeper suffered a season-ending hip injury. They lost the game 2-1, however Vukovic saved an Archie Thompson penalty and was widely praised for his debut effort. He went on to play 19 more games for the Mariners in the 2005-06 season, achieving five clean sheets, and also saved a penalty from Sydney FC's star player, Dwight Yorke.

Like many Mariners players, Vukovic still spends time in schools and at local junior football games, encouraging football at a grassroots level. It was known that Vukovic had desires to play overseas, and it was revealed on 29 June he has signed with TFF First League club Konyaspor.^[1]

2008 Grand Final Controversy

During the third A-League Grand Final on 24 February 2008, Vukovic received a red card for slapping referee Mark Shield's hand following an alleged handball by Newcastle Jets player James Holland. On the day after the Grand Final, Football Federation Australia (FFA) gave Vukovic a 15-month ban (with 6 months suspended), meaning he would not be able to play in the A-League until 24 November 2008.

On 4 March 2008, this ban was reduced on appeal to 12 months (with 3 months suspended), meaning that if Vukovic re-offended in the following year, the 3 month suspended sentence would be activated. The ban extended to national team duty, which precluded him from competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics with the Australian U-23 team, the Olyroos, which he represented in all Olympic qualifiers for Beijing and had captained on occasion.

Vukovic's ban was appealed a second time and on 22 April 2008 Football Federation Australia announced that the appeals committee had settled on a split suspension; up to 24 June 2008 and then from 29 August through to 5 October 2008. Vukovic was also fined $10,000 and will have a further part of his sentence suspended from 6 October 2008 through to 25 January 2009.

Although Vukovic will be ineligible to play for the Mariners in the early rounds of the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season, the decision means he will be eligible for selection for the Australian Olympic team competing in Beijing.^[2]

But in June, FIFA re-stated that his ban from International Competition did include a ban on competing in the Olympic Games with the Olyroos. He is banned from International football till 6 October, when the ban is suspended till 25 January 2009 subject to no further infringement up to, and including, 25 January 2009.^[3]

Konyaspor

Vukovic signed for the Turkish club on a 2-year deal ^[4] but was released on 13 August 2010 by the club after it was found they had too many overseas players on their books.^[5]

Wellington Phoenix

After being released by Konyaspor Vukovic signed a one-year deal for the remainder of the 2010-11 season with the Wellington outfit, largely due to an injury suffered by back-up goalkeeper Reece Crowther. He initially backed-up regular custodian Mark Paston with occasional appearances, and eventually became first-choice when Paston suffered a season ending knee injury. On 13 February, he scored the first goal of his career and the first for any keeper in the Hyundai A-League for the Phoenix with a 93rd minute penalty in the final round clash against the North Queensland Fury.^[6]

Perth Glory

Vukovic signed a 3 year deal beginning in the 2011-12 season with Perth Glory. He will likely be the number one goalkeeper at Perth, due to the exit of Tando Velaphi.

Honours

With Central Coast Mariners:

• A-League Premiership: 2007-2008

Personal Honours:

• Central Coast Mariners Mariners Medal: 2006-2007
• Central Coast Mariners Members Player of the Year: 2006-2007

References

1. ^ "Vukovic has signed today" (in Turkish, English translation). 29 June. http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.memleket.com.tr%2Fnews_detail.php%3Fid%3D70070&sl=auto&tl=en. Retrieved 29 June 2010. 
2. ^ Mariners Joy At U-Turn On Ban - Australian FourFourTwo - The Ultimate football Website
3. ^ FIFA crush Vukovic's Olympic dream
4. ^ "Vukovic has signed today" (in Turkish). 29 June. http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.memleket.com.tr%2Fnews_detail.php%3Fid%3D70070&sl=auto&tl=en. Retrieved 29 June 2010. 
5. ^ Danny Vukovic ile yollarımız ayrıldı
6. ^ Phoenix claim place in play-off

External links

• Central Coast Mariners profile
• FFA - Olyroo profile

Awards
Preceded by Michael Beauchamp Matt Simon	Central Coast Mariners Mariners Medal 2006-07 2009-10	Succeeded by Mile Jedinak Joshua Rose

Persondata
Name	Vukovic, Danny
Alternative names
Short description	Australian footballer
Date of birth	27 March 1985
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Date of death
Place of death