Robert Koren

Football player infobox
playername = Robert Koren


fullname = Robert Koren
nickname =" "Robbie"
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|9|20
cityofbirth = Ljubljana
countryofbirth = SFR Yugoslavia
height = height|m=1.75
weight = 73 kg
currentclub = West Bromwich Albion
clubnumber = 7
position = Attacking Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1996–2001
2001–2004
2004–2007
2007–
clubs = NK Dravograd
NK Publikum
Lillestrøm
West Bromwich Albion
caps(goals) = 129 (17)
078 (22)
075 (19)
060 (10)
nationalyears = 2001-2002
2003-
nationalteam = Slovenia U-21
Slovenia
nationalcaps(goals) = 12 0(1)
32 0(1)
pcupdate = 23:55, 13 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 21:27, 15 September 2008 (UTC)

Robert Koren (born September 20 1980) is a Slovenian football midfielder who currently plays for West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League.

Career

Koren played for NK Publikum, NK Dravograd and NK Radlje in his home country, before transferring to Norwegian side Lillestrøm in 2004. He became one of the most highly rated players of the Norwegian Premier League, many regarding him as the best foreigner in the entire competition. Koren was the definitive playmaker for Lillestrøm, and has often been compared to his former idol Zlatko Zahovič. During his time in Norway he was linked with moves to English clubs Leeds United and Manchester City.

On January 4, 2007, Koren signed for English Championship club West Bromwich Albion in a Bosman ruling, penning an 18 month contract with a further year's option in the club's favour. [cite news
title=Slovenian Koren joins West Brom
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/6231543.stm
publisher=BBC Sport
date=2007-01-04
accessdate=2007-04-25] He made his debut two days later as a late substitute in the Baggies' 3–1 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup 3rd round. Koren scored his first goal for the club in a 7–0 home win against Barnsley on 6 May, 2007, the last day of the league season. The victory ensured Albion's place in the Championship promotion playoffs. Koren started all three playoff games as Albion beat Wolves in the two-legged semi-final but lost 1–0 to Derby County in the Wembley final.

In July 2007 Koren suffered a freak accident in training when a ball hit him in the eye, causing internal bleeding and temporary loss of vision. Although he made a full recovery, he later admitted that he had feared for his sight. [cite news
title=Koren to miss big kick-off
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1082715,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2007-08-02
accessdate=2007-10-06] [cite news
title=Koren: "I was scared"
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1117155,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2007-09-22
accessdate=2007-10-06] The injury meant that he missed the start of the 2007–08 season, but he returned to the side at the end of August as a substitute in a League Cup game against Peterborough. In mid-September he signed a new two-year contract at Albion, with a further year's option in the club's favour. [cite news
title=Koren pens new contract
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1112331,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2007-09-14
accessdate=2007-10-06] He has been described by West Brom manager Tony Mowbray as a "model pro". [cite news
title=Mowbray: Koren's a model pro
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1112879,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2007-09-15
accessdate=2007-10-06] Koren's two goals in Albion's 3–2 defeat away at Southampton in October 2007 earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week. [cite news
title=Koren makes select XI
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1130663,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2007-10-08
accessdate=2007-10-09]

Koren has been capped 32 times for Slovenia, scoring one goal, and played 12 matches for their under-21 team. He was named as his country's captain prior to their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. [cite news
title=Boss hoping to see benefits of Koren honour
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1391128,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2008-09-14
accessdate=2008-10-07]

Personal life

Koren is married and has a son named Nal, who was born in 2005 or 2006.cite news
title=WELCOME TO MY WORLD: Robert Koren
url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WelcometomyWorldDetail/0,,10366~1415028,00.html
publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.
date=2007-10-07
accessdate=2007-10-07] Koren's interests include playing tennis.

Honours

Club

*Norwegian Cup Runners-up: 2005
*Royal League Runners-up: 2006
*UEFA Intertoto Cup Runners-up: 2006
*Football League Championship: 2008

Individual

*Kniksen award: midfielder of the year in 2006

References

External links

* [http://www.ofsajd.com/cgi-bin/Ofsajd?content=dokumenti&id=364&frame=content National team stats]
* [http://www.ofsajd.com/cgi-bin/Ofsajd?content=nogopedija&id=Robert_Koren BIO on www.ofsajd.com]
* [http://www.wba.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10366~38118,00.html Player profile] - West Bromwich Albion
* [http://www.football.si/index.php?pgi=16&show_portret=20838&l=2 Player profile] - NZS
*soccerbase|id=25134|name=Robert Koren