2006–2007 Polet Busevec 2005 Polet Busevec | 2003–2004 NK Zagreb Years Team Name Damir Petravic | |
Date of birth (1963-07-17) 17 July 1963 (age 52) | ||
Place of birth Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
Damir petravi uzeo trofej sa algirisom
Damir Petravić (born 17 July 1963 in Zagreb) is a Croatian football manager and a former player. He graduated on the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Zagreb. There he received the professional title of advanced football (soccer) coach. He also graduated from the Academy of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) and has a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Professional License.
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Club career
He started playing football as a 10 year old boy at the NK Zagreb in Zagreb. As a professional player, he signed his first contract with NK Zagreb, later continuing his professional career with such football teams as Inter Zaprešić, Šibenik, Istra Pula, Melbourne Knights FC, Bonner SC and FC Eibiswald.
Coaching career
He coached all youth categories of NK Zagreb, before taking over the first team. He also coached Hrvatski Dragovoljac, Vinogradar, Segesta, Gorica, Karlovac, FK Žalgiris, HNK Cibalia Vinkovci and HNK Šibenik.
In 2002 Petravić became the senior team assistant coach, assisting Nikola Jurčević, the main coach of Zagreb 2nd team. Working together with Vatroslav Mihačić (at that time member of Croatian national team professional staff) he was in charge of senior team physical preparation. In 2003 Zlatko Kranjčar replaced Nikola Jurčević, Petravić continued as assistant coach, getting additional duties in the technical and tactical preparation of midfield and attacking team positions. After NK Zagreb sacked Zlatko Kranjčar in September 2003, his assistant Petravić took over the first team for the next match. On 1 October 2003, he was appointed as full-time manager until the end of season.
After his spell at NK Zagreb ended in March 2004 when he was replaced by Milivoj Bračun, Petravić joined fourth-tier club Polet Buševec in the role of technical advisor before being appointed joint manager with Nino Matković in the second part of the season. In September 2005, he resigned as manager. However, he returned to Polet again in January 2006 and the following season club achieved promotion to Treća HNL. In June 2007, Petravić received an offer from Vinogradar and after consultation with the club terminated his contract by mutual consent. In January 2008 Petravić returned for the third time to Polet. After a successful period at Polet, Petravić accepted an offer from Hrvatski Dragovoljac in June 2008.
In October 2008, Petravić was appointed as manager of Segesta after Srećko Bogdan left the club by mutual consent. After three successive defeats, Petravić openly criticized the board due to their lack of support. Club finished the season in 4ᵗʰ place of the 14ᵗʰ. He was sacked as manager in April 2009.
Petravić then took over the helm of Gorica in Treća HNL and managed to secure two successive promotions for the club. Gorica victories were especially impressive: as a newcomer to the second division, Gorica not only won championship, but did it with impressive statistics, scoring by far more goals than other teams, at the same time having a great defensive record.
During the 2010/2011 season Petravić was voted as one of the three best coaches in Croatia. Petravić and Igor Pamić are the only two coaches in Croatian football history who managed to bring a team from third to first division in two years. However, Gorica didn't get a license for competing in the top division.
In September 2011, it was announced that Petravić was appointed as manager of Karlovac. In his 3rd game the team played a draw against HNK Hajduk. On the last day of 2011, Petravić announced his resignation citing dissatisfaction with the current situation at the club and unpaid wages. Several days later, Petravić took over the helm of Lithuanian club Žalgiris Vilnius.
In May 2012, Žalgiris won the 2011–12 Lithuanian Football Cup after defeating Ekranas in the final 3–1 in a penalty shoot-out after a scoreless draw in regular time. Žalgiris won their first trophy in 9 years. In the second qualifying round of 2012–13 UEFA Europa League, Žalgiris were eliminated with an aggregate score 6–2 by the Austrian side Admira. In August 2012, Petravić resigned from his position after a 2–2 draw with Sūduva (eight round before the end championship), leaving the team at the second position eight points behind Ekranas.
In April 2013, Petravić took over as a manager of Šibenik, Croatian team playing in Druga HNL. Šibenik finished fourth but were denied a license for competing in Druga HNL for the following season and were demoted to the third level. In August 2013, Petravić left Šibenik and joined Cibalia. In March 2014, Petravić was sacked after a 1–0 home defeat against Lučko which saw them losing the first place. In September 2014, Petravić returned to Šibenik.