Branko Smiljanić

Branko Smiljanić (born 27 September 1957),[1] is a Serbian football manager and former footballer.

Branko Smiljanić
Branko Smiljanić with Saham in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1957-09-27) 27 September 1957
Place of birth Belgrade, FPR Yugoslavia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1978 OFK Beograd
1978–1979 Mercator
1979–1981 OFK Beograd
1981–1983 Sloboda Užice
1983–1985 Kalmar AIK
1985–1988 Mönsterås
1988–1993 Obilić
National team
1974–1975 Yugoslavia U20
Teams managed
1993–1995 Obilić U20
1995–1996 Obilić (assistant)
1996–1997 Mladi Radnik
1997–1998 Sloga Kraljevo
1998–1999 Borac Čačak
1999–2000 Milicionar
2000–2002 Jordan (technical director)
2002–2003 Sutjeska Nikšić
2003–2004 Al-Faisaly
2004–2005 Vojvodina
2005 Sutjeska Nikšić
2005–2006 Al-Faisaly
2006–2008 Ittihad
2008–2009 Libya U20
2009–2010 Libya
2012–2013 Al-Wehdat
2013 Smederevo
2013–2014 Ittihad
2014 Napredak Kruševac
2014–2015 Saham
2016 BEC Tero Sasana
2016–2017 Al-Faisaly
2017 Mladost Podgorica
2017–2018 Ahli
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Club

Branko began his professional footballing career in 1970 with his parent club, OFK Beograd, based in his hometown Belgrade, and played there for the next 8 years. He was also part of the squad which reached the Quarter-finals of the 1972–73 UEFA Cup. In 1978, he signed a one-year contract with Mercator. He moved back on a one-year contract to Belgrade and his former club, OFK Beograd. In 1981, he moved to Užice where he signed a long-term contract with FK Sloboda Užice.

He first moved out of Serbia in 1983 to Sweden and more accurately to Kalmar where he signed a long-term contract with Kalmar AIK FK. After a two-year spell with the Kalmar-based club, he moved to the city of Mönsterås where he signed a long term contract with FC Mönsterås.

In 1988, he moved back to Serbia and more accurately to Vračar where he signed a long term contract with FK Obilić and played there for the next 5 years.

Managerial career

Branko holds the UEFA Pro Licence, the highest football coaching qualification. He received the UEFA Pro Licence in 2007 from the Football Association of Serbia. He also holds the UEFA A License (from the Football Association of Serbia and Montenegro since 2005), UEFA B License (from the Swedish Football Association since 1988) and also the UEFA C License (from the Swedish Football Association since 1987). He has also obtained a graduate degree in Physical Education in 1996 from the University of Novi Sad.[1]

He began his professional managerial career with the U-20 team of FK Obilić in 1993. In 1995, he was appointed as the assistant coach of the first team of the club. In his one-year spell with the club, he helped them achieve the runners-up position in the 1994–95 FR Yugoslavia Cup.

In 1996, he was appointed as the head coach of FK Mladi Radnik.

In 1997, he was appointed as the head coach of FK Sloga Kraljevo.

In 1998, he was appointed as the head coach of FK Borac Čačak. He helped the club win the 1998–99 Second League of FR Yugoslavia (West) with 47 points from 14 wins and 5 draws.

In 1999, he was appointed as the head coach of FK Milicionar.

He first moved out of Serbia to the Middle East and more accurately to Jordan in 2000 where he was appointed as the technical director of the Jordan Football Association.

In 2002, he moved back to Europe and more accurately to Montenegro where he was appointed as the head coach of Nikšić-based club, FK Sutjeska Nikšić.

In 2003, he moved back to Jordan and to the capital city, Amman where he was appointed as the head coach of Jordan League club, Al-Faisaly SC. In his one-year spell with the Amman-based club, he helped them secure the second position in the 2003–04 Jordan League, win the 2004 Jordan FA Cup and the 2004 Jordan Super Cup.

In 2005, he moved back to Serbia and more accurately to Novi Sad where he was appointed as the head coach of FK Vojvodina.

In 2005, he moved back to Jordan and his former club, Al-Faisaly SC. He again helped them secure the second position in the 2005–06 Jordan League and win the 2005 Jordan FA Cup.

In 2006, he moved to the North Africa and more accurately to Libya where he was appointed as the head coach of Libyan Premier League club, Al-Ittihad Club. In his two-year spell with the Tripoli-based club, he helped them win the 2006–07 Libyan Premier League, 2006 Libyan Super Cup, 2007 Libyan Al-Fatih Cup, 2007–08 Libyan Premier League and the 2007 Libyan Super Cup. He also helped the club to reach the Semi-finals of the 2007 CAF Champions League which is till-date the best performance of the club in the competition.

In 2008, he was appointed as the head coach of Libya national under-20 football team. During his one-year spell with the U-20 national team, he helped them achieve the bronze medal in the 2009 Mediterranean Games. His team first topped the Group C with two draws against Montenegro U-20 and with the help of a 4–2 penalty shootout win over the Europeans in the second match. In the Semi-finals, they were defeated 1–0 by Italy U-20 and in the Third Place match they won 8–7 on penalties against France U-20 after the match had ended 0–0 at normal time.

After a successful stint with the U-20 national team of Libya, he was appointed as the head coach of the Libya national football team on a three-year contract.

In October 2011, he was one of a number of managers the candidates for the vacant Rwanda national football team manager role.[2]

In 2012, he moved back to Jordan where he was appointed as the head coach of Al-Wehdat SC, fierce rivals of his former club, Al-Faisaly SC. He helped the Amman New Camp-based club reach the Quarter-finals of the 2012 AFC Cup. On 31 August 2012, he was sacked by the club after a 2–0 defeat against Al-Arabi (Irbid), the club's second defeat in the past three matches.[3]

In 2013, he moved back to Libya and to his former club, Al-Ittihad on a one-year contract.

In 2014, he returned to Serbia and more accurately to Kruševac where he was appointed as the head coach of Serbian SuperLiga club, FK Napredak Kruševac.

Branko Smiljanić – 2014–15 Oman Professional League

On 20 November 2014, he arrived in Muscat, Oman and then moved to Saham where on 22 November 2014, he signed a six-month contract to be appointed as the head coach of Saham SC of Oman Professional League.[4]

In February 2016, he was appointed manager of Thai League 1 club, BEC Tero Sasana.

On 27 November 2016, he moved back to his former club, Al-Faisaly SC.[5]

In 2017, he moved back to Montenegro where he was appointed as the head coach of Mladost Podgorica.[6]

On 9 November 2018, Branko was named the head coach of Al Ahli SC (Tripoli).[7] On 23 March 2018, he left the club by mutual consent.[8]

Honors

Borac Čačak

Al-Faisaly (Amman)

Al-Ittihad (Tripoli)

Libya U-20

Individual

  • Best Coach Award 2006, 2007, 2008

Personal life

His son, Milan Smiljanić is a professional footballer who has played for top European clubs like FK Partizan, RCD Espanyol, Sporting de Gijón, Gençlerbirliği S.K., Maccabi Netanya and is currently playing for FK Partizan. Branko is fluent in English, Serbian and Swedish.[4]

References
  1. "Branko Smiljanić" (PDF).
  2. "Rwanda name five-man shortlist to be new coach". BBC. 26 October 2011.
  3. "Jordan's Al Wehdat sack head coach Branko Smiljanic". BOXSCORE.
  4. صحم يتعاقد مع المدرب برانكو سميليانيتش. lo3btna.com (in Arabic). 21 November 2014.
  5. http://www.almadenahnews.com/article/534233
  6. http://sportklub.rs/Fudbal/Crna-Gora/a215331-Branko-Smiljanic-preuzeo-Mladost.html
  7. "Serbian coach Branko due to lead Ahli Tripoli".
  8. http://www.kooora.com/?n=686061&o=n3014127
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