Rade Prica

Football player infobox
playername = Rade Prica


fullname = Rade Prica
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|6|30|df=yes
cityofbirth = Ljungby, Småland
countryofbirth = Sweden
height = height|m=1.85
currentclub = Sunderland
clubnumber = 45
position = Striker
youthyears = 1995–1997
youthclubs = Ljungby
years = 1995–1997
1998–2002
2002–2006
2006–2008
2008–
clubs = Ljungby
Helsingborgs IF
Hansa Rostock
Aalborg BK
Sunderland
caps(goals) = 037 (14)
073 (27)
113 (20)
048 (28)
006 0(1)
nationalyears = 1999–2001
2001–
nationalteam = Sweden U21
Sweden
nationalcaps(goals) = 013 0(5)
014 0(2)
pcupdate = 19:03, 1 July 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 20:24, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

Rade Prica (pronounced: "Preetza"), (born 30 June 1980) is an Swedish professional footballer, who plays as striker for Sunderland.

Club career

Of Serbian heritage, Prica started his footballing career as a youth player for Ljungby, he then made his way into the first team, making 37 appearances and scoring 14 goals, over a period of 3 seasons.cite web|url=http://www.ronaldzwiers.0catch.com/Spelers/P/Prica,%20Rade/Rade%20Prica.htm|title=Rade Prica profile on ronaldzwiers.0catch.com|accessdate=2008-01-23|language=swedish|publisher=ronaldzwiers.0catch.com]

After leaving Ljungby, Prica signed for renowned Swedish club Helsingborg in 1998, he then went on to play for them for 5 seasons playing 73 times scoring 27 goals, Prica then moved to German team Hansa Rostock. [cite web|url=http://www.abcgoal.com/news.php?type=transfer&no=11536|title=Rade Prica signs for Hansa Rostock|accessdate=2008-01-23|publisher=abcgoal.com] He made his debut for the Sweden national football team in February 2001 against Thailand coming on as a substitute in the 66th minute replacing Martin Åslund.

Prica signed for Aalborg BK in 2006 after being released by Hansa Rostock, [cite web|url=http://www.abcgoal.com/news.php?type=transfer&no=11535|title=Rade Prica signs for AaB Aalborg|accessdate=2008-01-23|publisher=abcgoal.com] During the season 2006–07 he was topscorer in the Danish Superliga scoring 19 goals.cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/team/?page_id=2623&player_id=205|title=Rade Prica's safc profile|accessdate=2008-01-24|publisher=www.safc.com]

During AaB's UEFA Cup Campaign in 2007, wellknown scout Simon Prince was doing some scouting. It was at White Hart Lane that Prince noticed the hard man's goalscoring abilities and great movement. "Aalborg put on a strong performance that night, but there was one lad who stood out", said Prince. "He was outstanding".The next day Prince told two other scouts of Prica's abilities. When news of Prica's arrival at the Stadium of Light came in, Prince was not surprised at all.

Sunderland completed the signing of Prica on 23 January 2008 for a fee of more than £2 million on a three-and-a-half year contract. [cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/news/?page_id=14050|title=Rade Prica signs for Sunderland|accessdate=2008-01-23|date=2008-01-23|year=2008|month=01|publisher=www.safc.com]

He scored on his debut for Sunderland against Birmingham City on 29 January, 2008, and missed out in scoring a second with referee Mark Halsey ruling it out for handball. [cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/match/?page_id=14080&fixture=2848443&t=2|title="Sunderland vs Birmingham City match report"|accessdate=2008-01-30|date=2008-01-29|year=2008|month=01|publisher=www.safc.com]

Prica ultimately flopped for Sunderland and did not start a game. It was reported on Sky Sports News that Prica has been made available for loan.Prica is currently in talks with a number of Scandinavian clubs about a move and Sunderland manager Roy Keane has expressed that he is willing to let Prica go.

References

External links

*soccerbase|15830|Rade Prica
* [http://www.safc.com/team/?page_id=2623&player_id=205 Rade Prica's safc profile]
*sv icon [http://www.svenskfotboll.se/t9.aspx?id=28&p=704887 Swedish national team profile]