{{Short description|Serbian footballer (born 1979)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ivica Iliev<br>Ивица Илиев | image = Ivica Iliev.jpg | image_size = 225px | caption = Iliev with Wisła Kraków in 2011 | full_name = Ivica Iliev | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|10|27|df=y}} | birth_place = Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia | height = 1.82 m | position = Forward | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Rad | youthyears2 = 1996–1997 | youthclubs2 = Partizan | years1 = 1997–2004 | clubs1 = Partizan | caps1 = 150 | goals1 = 41 | years2 = 2004–2007 | clubs2 = Messina | caps2 = 58 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2006 | clubs3 = → Genoa (loan) | caps3 = 17 | goals3 = 3 | years4 = 2007–2008 | clubs4 = PAOK | caps4 = 17 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2008–2009 | clubs5 = Energie Cottbus | caps5 = 27 | goals5 = 3 | years6 = 2009–2010 | clubs6 = Maccabi Tel Aviv | caps6 = 17 | goals6 = 3 | years7 = 2010–2011 | clubs7 = Partizan | caps7 = 27 | goals7 = 13 | years8 = 2011–2013 | clubs8 = Wisła Kraków | caps8 = 48 | goals8 = 4 | totalcaps = 361 | totalgoals = 69 | nationalyears1 = 1996 | nationalteam1 = FR Yugoslavia U16{{Efn|name=UEFA|Official UEFA matches only}} | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 1997 | nationalteam2 = FR Yugoslavia U18{{Efn|name=UEFA}} | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 2 | nationalyears3 = 1998–2001 | nationalteam3 = FR Yugoslavia U21{{Efn|name=UEFA}} | nationalcaps3 = 6 | nationalgoals3 = 1 | nationalyears4 = 2003 | nationalteam4 = Serbia and Montenegro | nationalcaps4 = 2 | nationalgoals4 = 1 }} '''Ivica Iliev''' ({{Lang-sr-Cyrl|Ивица Илиев}}, {{IPA|sh|ǐvitsa ilǐev|pron}}; born 27 October 1979) is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
==Club career==
===Partizan=== After starting out as a youngster at Rad, Iliev joined the youth system of Partizan in January 1996.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.partizanopedia.rs/ivicailiev.html | title=Ivica Iliev | language=sr | publisher=partizanopedia.rs | access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref> He made his first-team debut under manager Ljubiša Tumbaković during the 1997–98 season, recording four league appearances in the process. In the 1998–99 season, Iliev scored his first goals for Partizan, including a header in a 3–2 home loss to Lazio in the return leg of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup second round.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/199811/06/36421dd002498/ | title=Lazio nei quarti | language=it | publisher=raisport.rai.it | date=6 November 1998 | access-date=20 November 2016 | archive-date=21 November 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121171255/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/rubriche/coppe978/199811/06/36421dd002498/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> He later started playing more regularly, scoring eight league goals in the 1999–2000 season. After the departure of Mateja Kežman that summer, Iliev went on to form a strike partnership with Andrija Delibašić.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2000/07/14/srpski/S00071304.shtm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214105751/http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/2000/07/14/srpski/S00071304.shtm | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 December 2009 | title=Iliev i Delibašić u glavnim ulogama | language=sr | publisher=glas-javnosti.rs | date=13 July 2000 | access-date=20 November 2016 }}</ref> They became a formidable duo in the following period, as the team won back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003. In the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, Iliev scored the only goal in a 1–0 return leg win against Newcastle United at St James' Park, resulting in a 1–1 draw on aggregate.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0194-0e6a6e0b04ab-4fa51275e9ff-1000--newcastle-pay-partizan-penalty/ | title=Newcastle pay Partizan penalty | publisher=UEFA | date=27 August 2003 | access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> Partizan would go on to win the match 4–3 on penalties, reaching the competition's group stage for the first time in club history.
===Messina=== In July 2004, Iliev moved abroad and joined Italian side Messina on a free transfer.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/019f-0ea6dccad461-1573dae5bf38-1000--iliev-makes-messina-move/ | title=Iliev makes Messina move | publisher=UEFA | date=12 July 2004 | access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> He appeared 29 times and scored once in his debut season in Serie A, helping the club to a highest-ever seventh-place finish. In January 2006, after receiving limited playing time, Iliev was loaned to Serie C1 side Genoa until the end of the season, as the club would manage to earn promotion to Serie B via the play-offs. He subsequently returned to Messina, but failed to help the team avoid relegation from the top flight in the 2006–07 campaign, finishing bottom of the table.
===Greece, Germany, and Israel=== After three years in Italy, Iliev moved to Greece and signed with PAOK. He scored only one goal in the 2007–08 season, as the club failed to secure a spot in UEFA competitions. In August 2008, Iliev joined German side Energie Cottbus.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/2008-08-06-neuss-serbe-iliev-wechselt-abloesefrei-nach-cottbus/1296266.html | title=Serbe Iliev wechselt ablösefrei nach Cottbus | language=de | publisher=tagesspiegel.de | date=6 August 2008 | access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> He managed to score three Bundesliga goals in 27 games during the 2008–09 season.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.fussballdaten.de/person/ivica-iliev/ | title=Ivica Iliev | language=de | publisher=fussballdaten.de | access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref> They were eventually relegated from the top flight after losing in the play-offs. In August 2009, Iliev signed with Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv on a one-year deal. He quickly became an important part of the team, but suffered an injury in January 2010, causing him to miss the remainder of the 2009–10 season.
===Return to Partizan=== On 21 July 2010, Iliev returned to his parent club Partizan on a one-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://staraarhiva.partizan.rs/vest.php?Jezik=sr&IDV=530&akcija=show&prikaz1=2010&prikaz2=7&sec=2 | title=Iliev se vratio u Partizan | language=sr | publisher=partizan.rs | date=21 July 2010 | access-date=20 November 2016 | archive-date=5 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305002910/http://staraarhiva.partizan.rs/vest.php?Jezik=sr&IDV=530&akcija=show&prikaz1=2010&prikaz2=7&sec=2 | url-status=dead }}</ref> He scored one goal in the Champions League preliminary phase,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e7-0e74face3e28-8e5479e566c2-1000--partizan-leave-hjk-on-the-brink/ | title=Partizan leave HJK on the brink | publisher=UEFA | date=28 July 2010 | access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> helping the side reach the competition's group stage after seven years. With 13 goals, Iliev was the league's joint top scorer, being named in the competition's Team of the Season, while also collecting the double.
===Wisła Kraków=== In June 2011, Iliev moved to Poland and signed a two-year contract with Wisła Kraków.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://archiwum.wisla.krakow.pl/en/news/ivica_iliev_joins_wisla_krakow/ | title=Ivica Iliev joins Wisła Kraków | publisher=wisla.krakow.pl | date=13 June 2011 | access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> He made a career-high 45 appearances across all competitions during his debut season, netting three times. In the 2012–13 campaign, Iliev scored four goals in 24 games, before being released by the Polish side.
==International career== Iliev was capped twice for Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. He made his international debut on 30 April, coming on as a substitute for Goran Trobok in a 1–0 away friendly loss to Germany. On 16 November, in his second and final appearance, Iliev replaced Savo Milošević and scored a late goal in a 4–3 away friendly loss against Poland.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.reprezentacija.rs/iliev-ivica/ | title=Iliev Ivica | date=15 December 2009 | language=sr | publisher=reprezentacija.rs | access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>
==Post-playing career== On 27 October 2015, his 36th birthday, Iliev was appointed as sporting director of his parent club Partizan.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sr.partizan.rs/125620-ivica-iliev-sportski-direktor-partizana/ | title=Ivica Iliev sportski direktor Partizana | language=sr | publisher=partizan.rs | date=27 October 2015 | access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> Some of his most notable signings early on would include Everton Luiz, Leonardo, Léandre Tawamba, and Seydouba Soumah. In March 2019, it was announced that Iliev resigned from his position.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.b92.net/o/sport/fudbal/vesti?yyyy=2019&mm=03&dd=11&nav_id=1515837 | title=Ivica Iliev podneo ostavku! | language=sr | publisher=b92.net | date=11 March 2019 | access-date=26 April 2020}}</ref> He, however, remained in charge for another three years, before resigning for a second time in July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.rts.rs/lat/sport/fudbal/4902327/ivica-iliev-podneo-ostavku-u-partizanu.html | title=Ivica Iliev podneo ostavku u Partizanu | language=sr | publisher=rts.rs | date=27 July 2022 | access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref>
In September 2024, Iliev returned to Partizan to replace Ivica Kralj as sporting director.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/632811/Ilica-Iliev-zvanicno-novi-sportski-direktor-Partizana | title=Ilica Iliev zvanično novi sportski direktor Partizana | language=sr | publisher=politika.rs | date=16 September 2024 | access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref> Only one month later, Iliev was dismissed from the position by Partizan's newly assembled temporary governing body.<ref name="iliev-out-october-2024">{{cite news |title=PRVA VELIKA ODLUKA U PARTIZANU: Otpušten Ivica Iliev |url=https://www.novosti.rs/sport/fudbal/1422462/partizan-ivica-ilijev-predrag-mijatovic-otkaz-privremeni-organ-partizanu-najnovije-vesti |access-date=25 October 2024 |work=novosti.rs |date=25 October 2024 |language=Serbian}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="8"|Partizan |1997–98 |First League of FR Yugoslavia |4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||4||0 |- |1998–99 |First League of FR Yugoslavia |15||4||5||1||colspan="2"|—||2||1||colspan="2"|—||22||6 |- |1999–2000 |First League of FR Yugoslavia |29||8||2||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0||colspan="2"|—||37||8 |- |2000–01 |First League of FR Yugoslavia |33||10||5||6||colspan="2"|—||4||0||colspan="2"|—||42||16 |- |2001–02 |First League of FR Yugoslavia |22||3||2||2||colspan="2"|—||3||1||colspan="2"|—||27||6 |- |2002–03 |First League of Serbia and Montenegro |27||13||2||0||colspan="2"|—||8||2||colspan="2"|—||37||15 |- |2003–04 |First League of Serbia and Montenegro |20||3||1||0||colspan="2"|—||10||1||colspan="2"|—||31||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !150!!41!!17!!9!!colspan="2"|—!!33!!5!!colspan="2"|—!!200!!55 |- |rowspan="4"|Messina |2004–05 |Serie A |29||1||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||33||1 |- |2005–06 |Serie A |8||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- |2006–07 |Serie A |21||0||5||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !58!!1!!9!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!67!!2 |- |Genoa (loan) |2005–06 |Serie C1 |17||3||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||1||21||4 |- |PAOK |2007–08 |Super League Greece |17||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||18||1 |- |Energie Cottbus |2008–09 |Bundesliga |27||3||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0||30||3 |- |Maccabi Tel Aviv |2009–10 |Israeli Premier League |17||3||0||0||3||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||20||5 |- |Partizan |2010–11 |Serbian SuperLiga |27||13||4||1||colspan="2"|—||8||1||colspan="2"|—||39||15 |- |rowspan="3"|Wisła Kraków |2011–12 |Ekstraklasa |28||1||5||1||colspan="2"|—||12||1||colspan="2"|—||45||3 |- |2012–13 |Ekstraklasa |20||3||4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !48!!4!!9!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!12!!1!!colspan="2"|—!!69!!7 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !361!!69!!42!!13!!3!!2!!53!!7!!5!!1!!464!!92 |}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |Serbia and Montenegro |2003||2||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!2!!1 |}
==Honours== '''Partizan''' * First League of FR Yugoslavia: 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03 * FR Yugoslavia Cup: 1997–98, 2000–01 * Serbian SuperLiga: 2010–11 * Serbian Cup: 2010–11 '''Individual''' * Serbian SuperLiga top scorer: 2010–11 * Serbian SuperLiga Team of the Season: 2010–11
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{90minut|5314}} * {{UEFA player|31202}} * {{NFT player|5837}}
{{Serbian SuperLiga top scorers}} {{2010–11 SuperLiga Team of the Season}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iliev, Ivica}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Belgrade Category:Serbian people of Macedonian descent Category:Serbia and Montenegro men's footballers Category:Serbian men's footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Serbia and Montenegro men's under-21 international footballers Category:Serbia and Montenegro men's international footballers Category:FK Partizan players Category:ACR Messina players Category:Genoa CFC players Category:PAOK FC players Category:FC Energie Cottbus players Category:Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. players Category:Wisła Kraków players Category:First League of Serbia and Montenegro players Category:Serie A players Category:Serie C players Category:Super League Greece players Category:Bundesliga players Category:Israeli Premier League players Category:Serbian SuperLiga players Category:Ekstraklasa players Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate men's footballers Category:Serbian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Israel Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Greece Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Israel Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Poland Category:FK Partizan non-playing staff Category:Serbian sports executives and administrators Category:Association football executives