Ranko Zirojević (Serbian Cyrillic: Ранко Зиројевић; born 1 September 1967) is a Montenegrin former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Ranko Zirojević
Personal information
Full name Ranko Zirojević
Date of birth (1967-09-01) 1 September 1967 (age 57)
Place of birth Nikšić, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Sutjeska Nikšić
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1992 Sutjeska Nikšić 140 (20)
1992–1993 Mogren 32 (6)
1993–1994 Ethnikos Piraeus 8+ (2+)
1995 Sutjeska Nikšić 16 (5)
1995–1996 Maribor 27 (1)
1998 Vrbas 28 (9)
Total 251+ (43+)
International career
1987 Yugoslavia U20 4 (1)
Medal record
Gold medal – first place FIFA World Youth Championship 1987
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Zirojević made his senior debut with Sutjeska Nikšić in the 1985–86 Yugoslav First League. He spent seven seasons with the club, including three in the Yugoslav Second League, amassing a total of 140 league appearances and scoring 20 goals. In 1992, Zirojević joined newly promoted First League of FR Yugoslavia side Mogren.

In 1993, Zirojević moved abroad to Greece to play for Beta Ethniki club Ethnikos Piraeus. He helped them win promotion to the top flight in his debut season. In the first half of the 1994–95 Alpha Ethniki, Zirojević appeared in eight games and scored two goals,[1] before returning to Sutjeska Nikšić.

In 1995, Zirojević moved to Slovenian side Maribor, scoring once in 27 appearances during the 1995–96 Slovenian PrvaLiga.[2] He later played for Vrbas in the second half of the 1997–98 season, helping them win promotion to the Second League of FR Yugoslavia, as well as in the first half of the 1998–99 season.[3]

International career

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Zirojević represented Yugoslavia at the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship. He made four appearances in the tournament and scored one goal, helping the nation win the gold medal.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Greece 1994/95". rsssf.org. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Ranko Zirojević" (in Slovenian). nzs.si. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Statistika odigranih prvenstvenih utakmica i datih golova za FK Vrbas 1969-2007" (in Serbian). fkvrbas.weebly.com. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Ranko Zirojević – Čileanac koji je pokorio planetu, ali nije ispunio sve snove" (in Montenegrin). cdm.me. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
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