{{Short description|Serbian footballer (born 1949)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Radojko Avramović | image = Raddysingapore.jpg | upright = 1.1 | caption = Avramović with Singapore | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|11|29|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Sjenica]], [[PR Serbia]], [[Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] | height = | position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1968–1974 | clubs1 = [[FK Borac Čačak|Borac Čačak]] | caps1 = 205 | goals1 = 5 | years2 = 1975–1979 | clubs2 = [[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]] | caps2 = 119 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1979–1983 | clubs3 = [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] | caps3 = 149 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 1983 | clubs4 = [[FC Inter-Montréal|Inter-Montréal]] | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 1983–1984 | clubs5 = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] | caps5 = 18 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 1984–1985 | clubs6 = [[OFK Beograd]] | caps6 = 25 | goals6 = 0 | totalcaps = 516 | totalgoals = 5 | nationalyears1 = 1978 | nationalteam1 = [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] | nationalcaps1 = 1<ref name=snft/> | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 1993–1998 | managerclubs1 = [[Oman national under-23 football team|Oman U23]]<ref name=omanyouth>{{cite web|title=Oman hold no surprises for Raddy|url=http://www.fas.org.sg/news/oman-hold-no-surprises-raddy|publisher=[[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]]|access-date=27 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429044138/http://www.fas.org.sg/news/oman-hold-no-surprises-raddy|archive-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> | manageryears2 = 1998 | managerclubs2 = [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] (assistant) | manageryears3 = 1999–2002 | managerclubs3 = [[Kuwait national under-23 football team|Kuwait U23]] | manageryears4 = 2002 | managerclubs4 = [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] | manageryears5 = 2003 | managerclubs5 = [[Muscat Club]] | manageryears6 = 2003–2012 | managerclubs6 = [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]] | manageryears7 = 2014–2015 | managerclubs7 = [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]] | manageryears8 = 2017 | managerclubs8 = [[Al Tadhmon SC]] | manageryears9 = 2018 | managerclubs9 = [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] (interim) | manageryears10 = 2019 | managerclubs10 = [[Home United]] | medaltemplates = {{medalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}} {{Medal|Country|{{fb|SIN}}}} <small>(as manager)</small> {{MedalComp|[[AFF Championship]]}} {{Medal|W|[[2004 AFF Championship|2004]]|}} {{Medal|W|[[2007 AFF Championship|2007]]|}} {{Medal|W|[[2012 AFF Championship|2012]]|}} }}
'''Radojko "Raddy" Avramović''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Радојко Аврамовић}}; born 29 November 1949) is a Serbian former [[association football|football]] [[manager (association football)|coach]] and player. A [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]], Avramović most notably played for Croatian club [[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]] and English club [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] as well as internationally for [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]]. During his managerial career, Avramović was most notably a long-term manager of [[Singapore national football team|Singapore national team]], being widely regarded as the most successful coach leading [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]]. He also briefly managed [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]] and [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] national teams.
Avramović discontinued his law studies two years into university to become a footballer. He began his playing career with [[FK Borac Čačak|Borac Čačak]] in the [[Yugoslav Second League]] in 1968. He signed for [[Yugoslav First League]] club [[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]] in 1975. As a 1977–78 [[Yugoslav Cup]] winner with Rijeka, he played in the [[1978–79 European Cup Winners' Cup|1978–79 Cup Winners' Cup]]. He won his only international cap with [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] in a [[Balkan Cup]] match against [[Greece national football team|Greece]] on 15 November 1978. He was scouted by [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] manager [[Jimmy Sirrel]], who signed him for a club record £200,000 in 1979 and would later regard Avramović as one of his best players. He contributed with 16 clean sheets as the club was promoted to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] in 1981 in their return to the top flight after 54 years. He made a total of 167 appearances for Notts County before moving to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] for the [[1983–84 Football League#First Division|1983–84 season]]. In 1984, he returned to Yugoslavia with [[OFK Belgrade]] where he played his final season, helping them to the Second League East Division title before retiring as a player at the age of 35.
Avramović was placed in charge of [[Oman national football team|Oman]]'s age group teams from 1993 to 1998. In August 1998, he was appointed as assistant coach to [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]], and as coach of their Olympic squad a year later. He guided the [[Kuwait national under-23 football team|under-23 team]] through the [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's Asian Qualifiers|Asian qualifiers]] to the [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2000 Summer Olympics]]. Following the departure of [[Berti Vogts]] in February 2002, Avramović took over as national coach of Kuwait. He led the senior team to their first [[West Asian Games]] title in April, and the under-23 team to the quarter-finals of the [[Football at the 2002 Asian Games|2002 Asian Games]] in October, which they lost 1–0 to eventual silver medalists [[Iran national under-23 football team|Iran]]. His contract was however terminated in December after a poor performance at the [[2002 Arab Nations Cup]]. He led Oman outfit [[Muscat Club]] to the [[Oman Professional League|2002-03 Omani League]] title during a six-month stint from February 2003. In July 2003, Avramović was unveiled as coach of the [[Singapore national football team|Singapore national team]]. He led them to their first international title in the [[2004 ASEAN Football Championship]], completing a hat-trick of tournament wins with further triumphs in 2007 and 2012. After a decade in Singapore, Avramović stood down as national coach in December 2012. In February 2014, he was appointed as coach of the [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar national team]]; he stepped down from the position in 2015. He returned to [[Kuwait]] for brief spells with [[Al-Tadamon SC (Kuwait)|Al Tadhmon SC]] and the Kuwait national team in 2017 and 2018, respectively, until returning to Singapore in 2019 to manage [[Lion City Sailors FC|Home United]]. He was forced to retire early into his term due to a serious illness.
== Club career == Avramović began his playing career with [[Yugoslav Second League]] club [[FK Borac Čačak|Borac Čačak]] in 1968 after discontinuing his law studies two years into university.<ref name=otherside/> As he disliked heading the ball, Avramović switched from playing in central defence to the [[goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] position.<ref name=tamer>{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Meng Meng|title=Lion tamer|url=http://singaporesportsfan2.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=35|date=25 January 2009}}</ref> He won the 1972–73 Second League East Division title with the club. In 1975, he signed for [[Yugoslav First League|First League]] club [[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]] where he made 119 league appearances and won the [[1977–78 Yugoslav Cup]]. As Cup winners, Rijeka qualified for the [[1978–79 European Cup Winners' Cup|1978–79 Cup Winners' Cup]]. In the first round, Rijeka defeated Welsh club [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]] 3–2 over two legs to advance to the next round.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rijeka 3 - 0 Wrexham|url=http://www.sharkscores.com/Match/Default.aspx?id=822123|website=sharkscores.com|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317214627/http://www.sharkscores.com/Match/Default.aspx?id=822123|archive-date=17 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Wrexham 2 - 0 Rijeka|url=http://www.sharkscores.com/Match/Default.aspx?id=822124|website=sharkscores.com|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317212352/http://www.sharkscores.com/Match/Default.aspx?id=822124|archive-date=17 March 2014}}</ref> Rijeka were drawn against Belgian outfit [[K.S.K. Beveren]] in the second round. After a goalless draw in the home leg, Rijeka conceded two goals in the return leg to exit the competition 2–0 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rijeka 0 - 0 Beveren|url=http://www.sharkscores.com/Match/Default.aspx?id=822141|website=sharkscores.com|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317214502/http://www.sharkscores.com/Match/Default.aspx?id=822141|archive-date=17 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Beveren 2 - 0 Rijeka|url=http://www.sharkscores.com/Match/Default.aspx?id=822142|website=sharkscores.com|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317215439/http://www.sharkscores.com/Match/Default.aspx?id=822142|archive-date=17 March 2014}}</ref>
{{Quote box |quote = "In my opinion, the goalkeeper is the number one man in your team. You start with a point, and if he doesn't lose a goal, you get that. So if you score one, you've won." |source = – Notts County manager [[Jimmy Sirrel]] on Avramović.<ref name=sirrel>{{cite web|author1=Smith, Paul |author2=Stevenson, Mark |title=Jimmy Sirrel interview|url=http://www.leftlion.co.uk/articles.cfm/title/jimmy-sirrel-interview/id/1825|website=leftlion.co.uk|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> |width = 20% |align = right |bgcolor = #E5EAFE }}
In 1978, the [[The Football Association|Football Association]] lifted the restriction on foreign players in the [[Football League]]. Avramović was scouted by [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] manager [[Jimmy Sirrel]], who claimed he had found "a goalie who would keep them in the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]" and persuaded his chairman Jack Dunnet to pay a club record £200,000 for his transfer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Joe|title=Notts Alumni - Raddy Avramovic|url=http://www.prideofnottingham.co.uk/home/media/notts-alumni-raddy-avramovic-r63|website=Pride of Nottingham|access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Happy Days at Meadow Lane|url=http://www.ncfpa.co.uk/happy_days.php|publisher=Notts County Former Players' Association|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> Sirrel took Avramović under his personal care, and would later regard him as one of his best players.<ref name=sirrel/> At the beginning of the Avramović's career at Notts County, there was a social function at which he went around and bought all his new teammates a drink as a friendly gesture. A local reporter saw this and wrote a newspaper article about Avramović being a "boozer" and a "big-time-Charlie". The next time that same reporter went to [[Meadow Lane]], Sirrel physically caught hold of him and had him thrown off the premises and banned from the ground. The [[Nottingham Post|Evening Post]] had to give the reporter the [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] job whilst the [[City Ground]] reporter switched over to Notts County. On 4 August 1979, Avramović played his first competitive game for the club against [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]] in an [[Anglo-Scottish Cup]] qualifier. He made his league debut against [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] on 18 August, with his side running out 4–1 winners. The [[Notts County F.C.|Magpies]] finished 17th in the league in that season but gained promotion to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] by claiming the runners-up spot in the 1980–81 season, with Avramović contributing with 16 clean sheets. In the first season of the club's return to the top flight after 54 years, Avramović played in all 42 league games as they defeated [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] 2–1 in October and beat defending champions [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] 1–0. Avramović made a total of 167 appearances in four seasons for the club.
In 1983, Avramović left for Canada to play for [[FC Inter-Montréal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://viaupark.ca/2019/12/16/laventure-de-linter-la-plus-courte-mais-la-plus-belle/|trans-title=Inter's adventure: the shortest but the most beautiful|first=Marc|last=Tougas|date=16 December 2019|work=Viau Park|language=fr|title=L'aventure de l'Inter : la plus courte mais la plus belle}}</ref> Afterwards, [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] manager [[Bobby Gould]] convinced him to join them in the [[1983–84 Football League#First Division|1983–84 First Division]]. He made his debut in a 2–1 win at [[Highfield Road]] over [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]. He was dropped from the starting line-up after a number of goalkeeping errors. He let a clearance from [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] custodian [[Steve Sherwood]] bounce over his head into an empty net and punched a cross into his own net in a 2–3 home defeat to [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] a few weeks later. Gould then declared he would not pick Avramović again in the post-match interview. He returned to Yugoslavia with [[OFK Belgrade]] in 1984, winning the Yugoslav Second League East Division title in his only season with the club before retiring at the age of 35.
== International career == Avramović earned his only cap with the [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia national team]] on 15 November 1978.<ref name=snft>{{cite web|title=Avramovic Radojko|url=http://www.reprezentacija.rs/index.php/statistika/reprezentativci/880-avramovic-radojko|publisher=Serbia National Football Team|language=sr|access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref> He played the full match as Yugoslavia defeated [[Greece national football team|Greece]] 4–1 in the [[Balkan Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Yugoslavia National Team List of Results 1970-1979|website=[[RSSSF]]|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesj/joeg-intres70.html|access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref>
== Coaching career ==
=== Early years === Avramović moved to Asia in 1991. He was placed in charge of [[Oman national football team|Oman]]'s age group teams from 1993 to 1998. In August 1998, he was appointed as assistant coach to [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]], and as coach of their Olympic squad a year later. He guided the [[Kuwait national under-23 football team|Olympic squad]] through the [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's Asian Qualifiers|Asian qualifiers]] to the [[Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2000 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Chua|first=Alvin|title=Raddy's Olympic joy and despair|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article.aspx?articleid=today20040819-1.2.91|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=50|date=19 August 2004}}</ref> Following the departure of [[Berti Vogts]] in February 2002, Avramović took over as national coach of Kuwait. He led the senior team to their first [[West Asian Games]] title in April, and the under-23 team to the quarter-finals of the [[Football at the 2002 Asian Games|2002 Asian Games]] in October, which they lost 1–0 to eventual silver medalists [[Iran national under-23 football team|Iran]]. His contract was however terminated when in December when hosts Kuwait failed to reach the semi-finals of the [[2002 Arab Nations Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Saudis grab golden victory|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/world_football/2638711.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 January 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ho|first=Stanley|title=FAS sets Lions' boss Avramovic three targets as he starts two-year stint|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20030702-2.2.41.10.4|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]] (afternoon ed.)|page=35|date=2 July 2003}}</ref> From February to July 2003, he coached Omani outfit [[Muscat Club]] to the [[Oman Professional League|2002-03 Omani League]] title.
=== Singapore === In December 2002, [[Singapore national football team|Singapore]] failed to achieve their target of reaching the [[2002 AFF Championship]] final. The results included a 4–0 loss to traditional rivals [[Malaysia national football team|Malaysia]] at the former [[Former National Stadium, Singapore|National Stadium]] and Singapore exited the competition on an inferior goal difference at the group stage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Looking back - 2002|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/looking-back-2002|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429185300/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/looking-back-2002|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> Coach [[Jan B. Poulsen]] was sacked in the aftermath and after a six-month search, Avramović was appointed as coach of Singapore's senior and [[Singapore national under-23 football team|under-23]] teams on a two-and-a-half-year contract in July 2003.<ref name=hot/> The [[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]] tasked him with the targets of qualifying for the [[2004 AFC Asian Cup]], as well as reaching the finals of the [[2004 AFF Championship]] and [[2005 Southeast Asian Games]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Ho|first=Stanley|title=New coach, new mantra|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=35|date=2 July 2003}}</ref> He took charge of his first game with a 4–1 international friendly win over [[Hong Kong national football team|Hong Kong]] in August.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chia|first=Han Keong|title=Singapore win 4-1 but hey...|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=8|date=5 August 2003}}</ref> The [[Singapore national football team|Lions]] started their [[2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification|2004 AFC Asian Cup qualifying]] campaign with two defeats to Avramović's former team, Kuwait in September. They gained their first points with a win and a draw over [[Palestine national football team|Palestine]]. A 2–0 defeat to [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] in November dashed their hopes of reaching the finals.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ho|first=Stanley|title=Lions out of Asian Cup|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20031120-2.2.88.10.1|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]] (afternoon ed.)|page=68|date=20 November 2003}}</ref> In the post-mortem, Avramović stated his emphasis on developing more young players for the national squad.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ho|first=Stanley|title=Raddy to bank on youth|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20031121-1.2.85.5|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=71|date=21 November 2003}}</ref>
Singapore were drawn in the same group as [[Japan national football team|Japan]], [[India national football team|India]] and [[Oman national football team|Oman]] for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2006 FIFA World Cup qualification]] in 2004. They finished bottom of Group 3 with a win and five losses, including two narrow defeats to [[2000 AFC Asian Cup]] winners Japan and a 7–0 trashing by Oman in [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]] on 9 June.<ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=Lions humiliated|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20040610-1.2.66.4|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=57|date=10 June 2004}}</ref> The 2004 AFF Championship draw pitted Singapore against [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]], [[Cambodia national football team|Cambodia]], [[Laos national football team|Laos]] and co-hosts [[Vietnam national football team|Vietnam]] in Group A.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Marc|title=Lions, Malaysia separated in Tiger Cup|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=6|date=8 July 2004}}</ref> Despite a record of four wins in eighteen matches, the FAS gave their assurance that Avramović would not be sacked even if he failed to meet the target of reaching the tournament final.<ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=No axe for Raddy|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20041127-1.2.76.10|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=70|date=27 November 2004}}</ref> Avramović 2004 AFF Championship squad included naturalised players [[Daniel Bennett (footballer)|Daniel Bennett]], [[Agu Casmir]] and [[Itimi Dickson]]. Singapore drew 1–1 with Vietnam in their opening match, following it up with a 2–2 stalemate against Indonesia. A 6–2 win over Laos and a 3–0 defeat of Cambodia ensured their passage to the semi-finals as group runners-up. Singapore faced [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]] in the semi-finals, registering a 4–3 win in the first leg in a game where first-choice striker [[Indra Sahdan]] was suspended and questions were raised over the eligibility of a Myanmar player.<ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=Myo issue clouds clash|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=35|date=29 December 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=Clarity sought on player bans|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20050106-1.2.74.5|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=61|date=6 January 2005}}</ref><ref group=nb>Myanmar's Myo Min Tun was dismissed for violent conduct in a LG Cup match against India in August 2004. The [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] had issued a six-month ban but Myo continued to play in the [[ASEAN Football Federation|AFF]]-organised Tiger Cup which was not a competition sanctioned by the AFC.</ref> A 4–2 extra-time win over 8-man Myanmar<ref group=nb>Myanmar striker Yan Paing was sent off for his second yellow card and Lynn Tun received a straight red for conceding a penalty. Moe Kyaw Thu was dismissed for kicking mud at the referee to reduce Myanmar to eight men.</ref> in the home leg put the Lions through to the finals where they faced Indonesia. Singapore achieved a 3–1 win at [[Gelora Bung Karno Stadium|Senayan]] in the first leg, followed by a 2–1 win at [[National Stadium, Singapore|Kallang]] on 16 January 2005. Singapore clinched the trophy on home soil and their second international title after their [[1998 Tiger Cup|1998 tournament]] triumph.<ref>{{cite web|title=Looking back – 2004|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/looking-back-2004|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=28 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429044820/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/looking-back-2004|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> The Lions were honoured for their Cup win with the Team of the Year award at the Singapore Sports Awards 2005.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Marc|title=Finally, Lions land the big one|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=20|date=22 April 2005}}</ref>
The FAS's offer of a new two-year contract in May 2005 amid interest in the service of the coach by other Middle Eastern and Asian teams was not taken up by Avramović, who lamented the lack of stronger competitive matches for the national team and little support for the players.<ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=Raddy to leave S'pore?|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20050525-1.2.2|newspaper=Today|page=1|date=25 May 2005}}</ref> In June, Avramović announced a shortlist of 40 players for the [[Southeast Asian Games]] in November.<ref>{{cite news|title=Raddy dangles SEA Games carrot before 40 players|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20050615-1.2.58.1.5|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=43|date=15 June 2005}}</ref> As part of their preparations, [[Singapore national under-23 football team|Singapore]] entered the inaugural [[2005 AFF U-23 Youth Championship|AFF U-23 Youth Championship]] held in September, finishing runners-up behind [[Thailand national under-23 football team|Thailand]]. Although the under-23 squad contained nine players that won the 2004 Tiger Cup, they failed to progress beyond the group stage of the [[Football at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games|2005 Southeast Asian Games]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=Some players have become too big for their shoes|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20051129-1.2.67.8.13|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=45|date=29 November 2005}}</ref> Despite earlier speculation of his departure, Avramović signed a two-year contract extension in December.<ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=Raddy stays on for two more years|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/today20051230-1.2.87.6.4|newspaper=Today|page=57|date=30 December 2005}}</ref>
In 2006, Singapore were placed in the same group as [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]], [[China national football team|China]] and [[Palestine national football team|Palestine]] for the [[2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification]]. They defeated Iraq 2–0 in February but lost the next game by a solitary goal to Palestine. Although Singapore lost only to an injury time goal to China and drew the return fixture at home, their 4–2 defeat to Iraq in October confirmed their absence at the 2007 Games. Following an appeal by the FAS, the [[Singapore National Olympic Council|SNOC]] gave the green light for Singapore's participation in the under-23 football competition at the [[Football at the 2006 Asian Games|2006 AFC Asian Games]] in November. This marked the first time in 16 years that the football team was sent to the Asian Games.<ref>{{cite news|last=Raymond|first=Jose|title=A necessary painful trek|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Page/today20061123-1.1.62|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|page=62|date=23 November 2006}}</ref> Although the Young Lions were boosted by the addition of naturalised players [[Shi Jiayi]] and Itimi Dickson, they failed to clear the first hurdle, ending up third in their group after draws with [[Syria national under-23 football team|Syria]] and [[Indonesia national under-23 football team|Indonesia]], and a loss to [[Iraq national under-23 football team|Iraq]].
Singapore co-hosted the [[2007 AFF Championship]]<ref name=aff group=nb>Previously known as Tiger Cup from 1996 to 2004. Reverted to ASEAN Football Championship in 2007 after Tiger Beer discontinued their sponsorship. Known as AFF Suzuki Cup from 2008 after Suzuki came in as new title sponsors.</ref> with Thailand. They began their title defence with a goalless draw against Vietnam on 13 January. Two days later, striker [[Noh Alam Shah]] scored seven goals in an 11–0 national team record win over Laos.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Marc|title=Lions record their biggest-ever win|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=29|date=16 January 2007}}</ref> Singapore advanced to the semi-finals after topping their group following a 2–2 draw with Indonesia. They met Malaysia in the semi-finals, progressing on a penalty shootout after extra time following 1–1 stalemates in both legs. Singapore took on Thailand, a team they had not defeated in a competitive fixture for 30 years, in the finals. They beat Thailand 2–1 in the first leg on 31 January, in which the Lions converted a controversial penalty on 83 minutes and the Thai players staged a walk-out as a protest before returning 15 minutes later.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thai's shameful walk-off sullies ASEAN final|url=http://www.espnfc.com/news/story?id=405887&cc=4716|website=espnfc.com|access-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> Thailand were leading 1–0 in Bangkok before a [[Khairul Amri]] scorcher won the tie 3–2 on aggregate and gave Singapore back-to-back tournament wins.<ref name=unbeaten17>{{cite web|last=Church|first=Michael|title=Singapore usurp Thailand on their way to the top|url=http://www.espnfc.com/news/story?id=406852&cc=4716|website=espnfc.com|access-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> With the final win, Singapore established an unbeaten run of 15 matches under Avramović dating back to the 2004 tournament and a tournament record of 17 matches without a loss going back to 2002.<ref name=unbeaten17/><ref name=aff07>{{cite web|title=Looking back - 2007|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/looking-back-2007|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429185413/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/looking-back-2007|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref>
Avramović scouted [[Hariss Harun]] and handed him his international debut in a friendly against [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]] on 24 June 2007.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://my.nyp.edu.sg/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/COM/Login_DocumentLibrary/latestnews/2010/hariss_harun/news_hariss_harun.htm| title=Passionate About the Beautiful Game| publisher=[[Nanyang Polytechnic]]| access-date=12 March 2014| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130031618/http://my.nyp.edu.sg/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/COM/Login_DocumentLibrary/latestnews/2010/hariss_harun/news_hariss_harun.htm| archive-date=30 January 2015| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=coty/> With this appearance, Hariss became the youngest ever player to play for Singapore at the age of 16 years and 217 days, breaking the previous record held by Singapore legend [[Fandi Ahmad]] who debuted at 17 years, 3 months and 23 days.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Leonard|title=Lions off to winning start in Invitational opener|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]| date=25 June 2007}}</ref> Avramović would later describe Hariss as an "exceptional player".<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=David|title=Avramovic cleared of making 'critical comments'|url=http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20120917-371988.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311211148/http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20120917-371988.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 March 2014|newspaper=[[The New Paper]]|date=18 September 2012}}</ref> Singapore were drawn against Palestine in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round|first round]] of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]]. The Lions won the first match 4–0<ref group=nb>Due to security reasons, Palestine played their home leg in Qatar.</ref> and were awarded a 3–0 walkover win in the home leg after Palestine failed to turn up for the fixture.<ref group=nb>Singapore were awarded a 3–0 win after Palestine failed to appear. The Palestine Football Federation appealed to have the match rescheduled on the grounds that its players did not receive permits to leave the Gaza Strip but FIFA dismissed the appeal.</ref> On 1 November, Avramović called up striker [[Aleksandar Đurić]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Meng Meng|title=Striker Duric gets call-up|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=58|date=2 November 2007}}</ref> who was not on the FAS's [[Foreign Sports Talent Scheme]]<ref>{{cite web|title=End in sight for Tampines' Rover|url=http://www.wsgworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/AFC-Quarterly-Issue-2-Apr-2013.pdf|publisher=AFC Quarterly (issue 2)|page=35|date=April 2013}}</ref> and had gained Singaporean citizenship in September for non-footballing reasons.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Meng Meng|title=New Singaporean Duric could line up for Lions|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=60|date=28 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with Aleksandar Duric (Part 1)|url=http://www.redsports.sg/2008/09/19/aleksandar-duric-football/|website=redsports.sg|access-date=26 March 2014|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924192057/https://www.redsports.sg/2008/09/19/aleksandar-duric-football/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Đurić made his international debut at the age of 37 years and 89 days against [[Tajikistan national football team|Tajikistan]] in the first leg of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|second round]] of the World Cup qualifiers on 9 November, contributing with an immediate impact by scoring both goals in a 2–0 victory.<ref>{{cite web|title=Road to South Africa: Duric bags brace to give Lions advantage|url=http://www.fas.org.sg/news/road-south-africa-duric-bags-brace-give-lions-advantage|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140406150135/http://www.fas.org.sg/news/road-south-africa-duric-bags-brace-give-lions-advantage|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2014|publisher=[[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]]|access-date=6 April 2014}}</ref> Hours prior to kick-off in the same match, national team captain [[Aide Iskandar]] announced his immediate retirement from international football.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Meng Meng|title=Aide quits the lions|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=80|date=10 November 2007}}</ref> Aide had been suspended from the national team and missed a friendly against [[UAE national football team|UAE]] and the World Cup qualifier against [[Palestine national football team|Palestine]] after he was banned for insulting a domestic league referee in August.{{refn|group=nb|Aide Iskandar was banned for reportedly insulting referee Sukhbir Singh with "How much did you bet on the game?" after his team, [[Geylang United]] controversially lost to [[Home United]] in a [[S.League]] match by conceding two goals in the final five minutes.<ref>Wang, Meng Meng (6 September 2007). "Banned". ''[[The Straits Times]]''. p. 39.</ref>}} Singapore defeated Tajikistan 3–1 on aggregate to reach the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round|third round]] for the first time. Avramović then led the Singapore under-23 team at the [[Football at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games|2007 Southeast Asian Games]] in December where they won the bronze medal. Their performances in 2007 won the Lions and Avramović the Team of the Year and the Coach of the Year awards at the Singapore Sports Awards respectively.<ref name=coty/><ref>{{cite news|title=Winners|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=42|date=15 May 2008}}</ref> Avramović was only the third football coach after [[Choo Seng Quee]] and Jita Singh to achieve the coaching honour.
The World Cup third qualifying round draw grouped Singapore with [[Uzbekistan national football team|Uzbekistan]], [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] and [[Lebanon national football team|Lebanon]], with fixtures starting in February 2008. Despite two wins over Lebanon, the gulf in quality was evident in a 7–3 home defeat to Uzbekistan. Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan also had 3–0 victories awarded in place of 2–0 and 1–0 wins respectively as a result of Singapore fielding an ineligible player. Defending champions Singapore started the [[2008 AFF Championship]]<ref name=aff group=nb/> with a perfect record in the group stage, registering wins over Cambodia, Myanmar and co-hosts Indonesia.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 Fixtures & Results|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/fixtures.html|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429184842/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/fixtures.html|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> The first leg of the semi-finals against Vietnam ended in a goalless draw. Singapore then conceded a late goal in the home leg to bow out of the competition to the eventual tournament winners.<ref>{{cite web|title=2008 AFF Suzuki Cup review|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/2008review.html|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429183744/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/2008review.html|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref>
Singapore were placed in Group E of the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification]] along with Thailand, [[2008 West Asian Football Federation Championship|2008 West Asian]] champions [[Iran national football team|Iran]] and runners-up [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]]. They were trounced 6–0 away to Iran in January 2009 but defeated Jordan 2–1 at home two weeks later. Singapore lost 3–1 to Thailand at [[National Stadium, Singapore|Kallang]] in November; the reverse fixture saw Singapore defeat Thailand 1–0. Further losses to Iran and Jordan in early 2010 condemned Singapore to the bottom of the group. Avramović considers Singapore's failure to qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup as his biggest regret as Singapore coach.<ref name=farewell>{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Meng Meng|title=Coach Raddy's farewell interview|url=http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20130114-395293.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429211133/http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20130114-395293.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=15 January 2013}}</ref> Their next assignment was the [[2010 AFF Championship]] in December. Singapore were held to a shock 1–1 draw with [[Philippines national football team|the Philippines]] in their Group B opener<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore 1 - 1 Philippines: Late Greatwich strike shocks Singapore|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-1-1-philippines-late-greatwich-strike-shocks-singapore|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502204931/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-1-1-philippines-late-greatwich-strike-shocks-singapore|archive-date=2 May 2012}}</ref> and needed an injury-time goal to defeat Myanmar 2–1 in the next match.<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore 2 Myanmar 1 - Duric, Casmir rescue Singapore|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-2-myanmar-1-duric-casmir-rescue-singapore|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809081114/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-2-myanmar-1-duric-casmir-rescue-singapore|archive-date=9 August 2012}}</ref> Co-hosts and defending champions Vietnam's solitary goal in the third match meant that Singapore failed to progress to the knockout stages since 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vietnam 1 Singapore 0 - Vietnam bounce back to seal semi spot|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/vietnam-1-singapore-0-vietnam-bounce-back-to-seal-semi-spot|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413144725/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/vietnam-1-singapore-0-vietnam-bounce-back-to-seal-semi-spot|archive-date=13 April 2014}}</ref>
Following the disappointing exit at the Suzuki Cup amid reports of ill-discipline in the players,<ref name=farewell/> the [[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]] decided to disband and revamp the national team, with FAS president Zainudin Nordin declaring that only four or five players would be retained in the new-look squad. Avramović, however, preached caution in the selection of players for the national team. In the 33-man provisional squad announced for the friendlies and the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, thirteen players received their first call-ups while eight players from the 2010 Suzuki Cup squad were dropped.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=David|title=Eight dropped as Raddy announces new Lions squad|url=http://www.tnp.sg/content/eight-dropped-raddy-announces-new-lions-squad|newspaper=[[The New Paper]]|date=25 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429195914/http://www.tnp.sg/content/eight-dropped-raddy-announces-new-lions-squad|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Football: Avramovic drops non-performers and brings in youth|url=http://www.redsports.sg/2011/05/27/provisional-33-man-singapore-football/|website=redsports.sg|access-date=29 April 2014|archive-date=20 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120213648/https://www.redsports.sg/2011/05/27/provisional-33-man-singapore-football/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The FAS specified their targets of reaching the third round of the World Cup qualifiers and a spot in the 2012 Suzuki Cup final.<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore set sight on final of AFF Suzuki Cup 2012|url=http://www.aseanfootball.org/v2/?p=8277|publisher=[[ASEAN Football Federation|AFF]]|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430060124/http://www.aseanfootball.org/v2/?p=8277|url-status=dead}}</ref> Singapore were drawn against traditional rivals Malaysia in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|second round]] of the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]. On 23 July 2011, Singapore defeated Malaysia 5–3 at the [[Jalan Besar Stadium]]. The Lions held Malaysia to a 1–1 draw in Kuala Lumpur five days later to progress 6–4 on aggregate to the next round. The [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round|third round]] draw assigned Singapore to the same group as [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]], [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] and [[China national football team|China]]. Singapore lost all their matches and ended bottom of the group, scoring two goals and conceding twenty. The 7–1 defeat to Iraq in February 2012 led to calls for Avramović to step down and had him consider rejecting a contract renewal.<ref name=farewell/><ref>{{cite news|last=Kasim|first=Ali|title=Fans want Raddy out|url=http://www.tnp.sg/content/fans-want-raddy-out|newspaper=[[The New Paper]]|date=2 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429195737/http://www.tnp.sg/content/fans-want-raddy-out|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> Despite receiving two coaching offers, Avramović decided to stay on as national coach.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=David|title=Avramovic only focused on Lions|url=http://www.tnp.sg/content/avramovic-only-focused-lions|newspaper=[[The New Paper]]|date=10 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429195901/http://www.tnp.sg/content/avramovic-only-focused-lions|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> On 11 April 2012, Singapore dropped to their lowest ever FIFA ranking of 158.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=David|title=S'pore sink to new low, but Raddy unfazed|url=http://www.tnp.sg/content/spore-sink-new-low-raddy-unfazed|newspaper=[[The New Paper]]|date=12 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430062336/http://www.tnp.sg/content/spore-sink-new-low-raddy-unfazed|archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> The poor run continued with friendly match defeats to Malaysia and the Philippines, a first in 40 years.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=David|title=No Duric, no bite|url=http://www.tnp.sg/content/no-duric-no-bite|newspaper=[[The New Paper]]|date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430054940/http://www.tnp.sg/content/no-duric-no-bite|archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref>
In October 2012, it was reported that Avramović and the FAS had come to a mutual agreement that his contract would not be extended, regardless of the team's performance at the [[2012 AFF Championship]].<ref>{{cite news|author1=Nair, Sanjay|author2=Chen, May|title=Raddy Avramovic set to leave after Suzuki Cup|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/raddy-avramovic-set-say-goodbye-20121010|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=10 October 2012|archive-date=25 March 2015|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325115434/http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/raddy-avramovic-set-say-goodbye-20121010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Singapore were drawn with co-hosts Malaysia, Indonesia and Laos in Group B. On 21 November, the FAS announced the 22-man final squad,<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore's final 22 for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012|url=http://www.fas.org.sg/news/singapore%E2%80%99s-final-22-aff-suzuki-cup-2012|publisher=[[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]]|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430073435/http://www.fas.org.sg/news/singapore%E2%80%99s-final-22-aff-suzuki-cup-2012|archive-date=30 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> with Avramović selecting only five defenders for the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=David|title=Raddy: Thin defence not a problem|url=http://www.tnp.sg/content/raddy-thin-defence-not-problem|newspaper=[[The New Paper]]|date=23 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430053849/http://www.tnp.sg/content/raddy-thin-defence-not-problem|archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> Singapore opened their campaign with a 3–0 win over defending champions Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Malaysia 0 Singapore 3|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/malaysia-0-singapore-3|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070124/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/malaysia-0-singapore-3|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite a 1–0 loss to Indonesia in the next match,<ref>{{cite web|title=Indonesia 1 Singapore 0|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/indonesia-1-singapore-0|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413144247/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/indonesia-1-singapore-0|archive-date=13 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Singapore managed to top the group with a narrow 4–3 win over Laos.<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore 4 Laos 3|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-4-laos-3|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074806/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-4-laos-3|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The semi-finals showdown pitted Singapore against the Philippines. The first leg in Manila ended in a stalemate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Philippines 0 Singapore 0|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/philippines-0-singapore-0|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413144723/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/philippines-0-singapore-0|archive-date=13 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the return leg, [[Khairul Amri]] scored the only goal of the game to send Singapore through to the finals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore 1 Philippines 0|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-1-philippines-0|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209103409/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-1-philippines-0|archive-date=9 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The finals set up Singapore against Thailand, both three-times winners of the tournament against each other. Singapore established a two-goal lead going into the second leg with a 3–1 home victory over Thailand on 19 December.<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore 3 Thailand 1|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-3-thailand-1|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430062015/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/singapore-3-thailand-1|archive-date=30 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Prior to the second leg, Avramović confirmed earlier reports that he would step down as coach of Singapore after the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Raddy Avramovic confirms Singapore departure after Suzuki Cup final|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/4424/2012-aff-suzuki-cup/2012/12/21/3619044/raddy-avramovic-confirms-singapore-departure-after-suzuki|website=goal.com|access-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> Although Thailand won by a goal in Bangkok three days later, the 3–2 aggregate win confirmed Singapore as the record 4-times winners of the Cup and a third tournament win for Avramović.<ref>{{cite web|title=Singapore coach Avramovic hails his AFF Suzuki Cup heroes|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/Singapore-coach-Avramovic-hail-his-AFF-Suzuki-Cup-heroes|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=30 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209111128/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/news/Singapore-coach-Avramovic-hail-his-AFF-Suzuki-Cup-heroes|archive-date=9 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the end of the 2012 AFF Championship, the FAS announced Avramović's departure as national coach.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football Association of Singapore confirm Radojko Avramovic's departure|url=http://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/4424/2012-aff-suzuki-cup/2012/12/28/3632992/football-association-of-singapore-confirm-radojko-avramovics?ICID=AR|website=goal.com|access-date=30 April 2014}}</ref>
=== Myanmar === In February 2014, Avramović was appointed as [[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]]'s national coach on a one-and-a-half-year contract.<ref name=myaapp>{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Meng Meng|title=Football: Ex-Lions tamer Raddy Avramovic appointed Myanmar national coach|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/sports/story/football-ex-lions-tamer-raddy-avramovic-appointed-myanmar-national-coach-|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=5 February 2014|archive-date=22 November 2014|access-date=7 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122050014/http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/sports/story/football-ex-lions-tamer-raddy-avramovic-appointed-myanmar-national-coach-|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 17 October the [[Myanmar Football Federation]] announced that they were parting ways with Avramović, and that he was being replaced by [[Gerd Zeise]] who had led Myanmar to the [[2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Roebuck |first=Matt | url=http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/sports/17071-raddy-out-gerd-in.html | title=Raddy out, Gerd in | date=19 October 2015 | work=Myanmar Times | access-date=24 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://the-mff.org/?p=409 | title=မြန်မာ့ လက်ရွေးစင် အသင်းနည်းပြချုပ် အဖြစ် ဂျာမန်နည်းပြ ဂတ်ဆီဇီကို ပြောင်းလဲခန့်အပ် |trans-title=MFF promoted Gerd Zeise as a full national team coach | work=Myanmar Football Federation | date=17 October 2015 | language=Burmese}}</ref>
=== Home United === In July 2019, he was revealed as the head coach of Home United.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=David|date=2 July 2019|title=Football: Home United appoint former Lions ringmaster Raddy Avramovic as new head coach|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-home-united-appoint-former-lions-ringmaster-raddy-avramovic-as-new-head|access-date=17 November 2020|website=The Straits Times}}</ref> However, his stint was abruptly cut short a month later in August after his diagnosis with [[lung cancer]] became public.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=David|date=18 August 2019|title=Football: Raddy Avramovic steps down as Home United coach after cancer diagnosis, will return to Serbia for treatment|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-raddy-avramovic-steps-down-as-home-united-coach-after-cancer-diagnosis-will|access-date=17 November 2020|website=The Straits Times}}</ref>
== Personal life == Avramović met his wife Bratislava in the summer of 1973 and they married two years later. She gave up a career in psychology to follow him to England when he signed for Notts County.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Marc|title=The Raddy Avramovic that I have come to know|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=11|date=18 January 2005}}</ref> They have a son and two grandsons.<ref name=otherside>{{cite news|author=G. Sivakkumaran|title=The other side of coach Raddy|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=9|date=4 August 2003}}</ref>
He suffered lung cancer in 2019 which ended his managerial career. He relocated to his native [[Serbia]] for treatment.<ref name=":0" />
== Career statistics ==
=== Club === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web|title=NK Rijeka|url=http://www.nk-rijeka.hr/hnk-rijeka/|publisher=nk-rijeka.hr|access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref> |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Yugoslav Cup]], [[FA Cup]].}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Football League Cup]].}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="9"|[[FK Borac Čačak|Borac Čačak]] |[[1967–68 Yugoslav Second League|1967–68]] |[[Yugoslav Second League|Second League]] |1||0||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |[[1968–69 Yugoslav Second League|1968–69]] |Second League |29||0||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||0 |- |1969–70 |Second League |29||0||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||0 |- |1970–71 |Second League |28||0||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||28||0 |- |1971–72 |Second League |34||0||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||0 |- |1972–73 |Second League |34||1||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||1 |- |1973–74 |Second League |34||2||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||2 |- |1974–75 |Second League |16||2||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !205!!5!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!205!!5 |- |rowspan="7"|[[HNK Rijeka|Rijeka]] |[[1974–75 Yugoslav First League|1974–75]] |[[Yugoslav First League|First League]] |5||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- |[[1975–76 Yugoslav First League|1975–76]] |First League |16||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||17||0 |- |[[1976–77 Yugoslav First League|1976–77]] |First League |34||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||0 |- |[[1977–78 Yugoslav First League|1977–78]] |First League |31||0||5||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||0 |- |[[1978–79 Yugoslav First League|1978–79]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Raddy Avramović - Club matches - Cup Winners Cup|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe76051/raddy-avramovic/club-matches/|website=worldfootball.net|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> |First League |32||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|Appearances in [[Cup Winners' Cup]].|name=statsCWC}}||0||42||0 |- |[[1979–80 Yugoslav First League|1979–80]] |First League |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !119!!0!!14!!0!!0!!0!!4!!0!!137!!0 |- |rowspan="5"|[[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] |[[1979–80 Football League#Second Division|1979–80]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Notts County FC 1979/80 - Match Line-Up's & Details|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/ncfc/1979-80.html|website=ntlworld.com|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320174618/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/ncfc/1979-80.html|archive-date=20 March 2014}}</ref> |[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] |33||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||35||0 |- |[[1980–81 Football League#Second Division|1980–81]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Notts County FC 1980/81 - Match Line-Up's & Details|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/ncfc/1980-81.html|website=ntlworld.com|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427010850/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/ncfc/1980-81.html|archive-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> |Second Division |38||0||1||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||45||0 |- |[[1981–82 Football League#First Division 2|1981–82]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Notts County FC 1981/82 - Match Line-Up's & Details|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/ncfc/1981-82.html|website=ntlworld.com|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427011004/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/ncfc/1981-82.html|archive-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> |[[Football League First Division|First Division]] |42||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||42||0 |- |[[1982–83 Football League#First Division|1982–83]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Notts County FC 1982/83 - Match Line-Up's & Details|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/ncfc/1982-83.html|website=ntlworld.com|access-date=26 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427010731/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/carousel/ncfc/1982-83.html|archive-date=27 April 2014}}</ref> |First Division |36||0||2||0||5||0||colspan="2"|—||41||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !149!!0!!3!!0!!15!!0!!0!!0!!167!!0 |- |[[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] |[[1983–84 Football League#First Division|1983–84]]<ref>{{cite web|title=All Coventry City football club players: 1984|url=http://www.11v11.com/teams/coventry-city/tab/players/season/1984|website=11v11.com|access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> |First Division |18||0||4||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||24||0 |- |[[OFK Belgrade]] |[[1984–85 Yugoslav Second League|1984–85]] |Second League |25||0||||||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !516!!5!!21!!0!!17!!0!!4!!0!!558!!5 |}
{{notelist}}
=== International === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{cite web|title=Radojko Avramović|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/21912/Radojko_Avramovic.html|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref> |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |[[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] |1978||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!1!!0 |}
== Managerial statistics ==
=== Performance by national team === {| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan=2! width=100|National team !rowspan=2! width=120|From !rowspan=2! width=120|To !colspan=5|Record |- !width=40|G !width=40|W !width=40|D !width=40|L !width=50|Win % |- |align=left|[[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] |align=left|February 2002 |align=left|December 2002 {{WDL|12|6|4|2}} |- |align=left|[[Singapore national football team|Singapore]]<ref name=raddyend>{{cite web|title=Football: Raddy Avramovic steps down as Singapore head coach|url=http://www.redsports.sg/2012/12/23/raddy-avramovic-retirement-record/|website=redsports.sg|access-date=25 April 2014|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924023824/https://www.redsports.sg/2012/12/23/raddy-avramovic-retirement-record/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |align=left|July 2003<ref name=hot>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Marc|title=Raddy to assume soccer's hot seat|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|page=8|date=2 July 2003}}</ref> |align=left|December 2012<ref name=raddyend/> {{WDL|64|24|13|27}} |- |align=left|[[Myanmar national football team|Myanmar]] |align=left|February 2014<ref name=myaapp/> |align=left|October 2015 {{WDL|22|7|4|11}} |- !align="center" colspan="3"|Total {{WDLtot|98|37|21|40}} |}
Only competitive matches included. Updated as of 13 October 2015.
== Honours ==
=== Player === '''Borac Čačak''' *[[Yugoslav Second League]] East Division: 1972–73
'''Rijeka''' *[[Yugoslav Cup]]: [[1977–78 Yugoslav Cup|1978]], [[1978–79 Yugoslav Cup|1979]] *[[Balkans Cup]]: [[1977–78 Balkans Cup|1978]]
'''Notts County''' *[[Football League|Second Division Promotion]]: [[1980–81 Football League|1980–81]]
'''OFK Belgrade''' *[[Yugoslav Second League|Yugoslav Second League East Division]]: [[1984–85 Yugoslav Second League|1984–85]]
=== Individual === *[[Notts County F.C.#Players of the season|Notts County Player of the Season]]: 1983
=== Manager === '''Kuwait''' *[[West Asian Games]]: 2002
'''Muscat Club''' *[[Oman Professional League|Omani League]]: 2002–03 <ref>{{cite web|author=Mohammed Qayed|title=Oman 2002/03|website=[[RSSSF]]|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/oman03.html|access-date=27 April 2014}}</ref>
'''Singapore''' *[[AFF Championship]]: [[2004 AFF Championship|2004]], [[2007 AFF Championship|2007]], [[2012 AFF Championship|2012]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Roll of honour|url=http://www.affsuzukicup.com/rollofhonour.html|website=affsuzukicup.com|access-date=29 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429185931/http://www.affsuzukicup.com/rollofhonour.html|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref> *[[Southeast Asian Games]] (U-23): Bronze – 2007
'''Myanmar''' *[[Philippine Peace Cup]]: 2014
=== Individual === *[[ASEAN Football Federation]] Coach of the Year: 2013 <ref>{{cite news|last=Wang|first=Meng Meng|title=Football: S'pore sweep inaugural AFF awards, with Lions, Shahril & Raddy leading the way|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/sports/story/football-spore-sweep-inaugural-aff-awards-lions-shahril-raddy-leading-the|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=3 April 2013}}</ref> *[[Singapore Sports Council]] Coach of the Year: 2007 <ref name=coty>{{cite web|title=Coach 2007 Radojko Avramovic|url=http://www.sportsmuseum.com.sg/heroes/roll_of_honour/coach/radojko_avramovic.html|publisher=SSC Sports Museum|access-date=25 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311212228/http://www.sportsmuseum.com.sg/heroes/roll_of_honour/coach/radojko_avramovic.html|archive-date=11 March 2014}}</ref>
== Notes == {{Reflist|group=nb}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}}
{{Notts County F.C. Player of the Year}} {{Kuwait Squad 2000 Summer Olympics}} {{Navboxes |title= Radojko Avramović managerial positions |list1= {{Kuwait national football team managers}} {{Singapore national football team managers}} {{Myanmar national football team managers}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avramovic, Radojko}} [[Category:1949 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Sjenica]] [[Category:Footballers from Zlatibor District]] [[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]] [[Category:Yugoslav men's footballers]] [[Category:Yugoslavia men's international footballers]] [[Category:FK Borac Čačak players]] [[Category:HNK Rijeka players]] [[Category:Notts County F.C. players]] [[Category:FC Inter-Montréal players]] [[Category:Coventry City F.C. players]] [[Category:OFK Beograd players]] [[Category:Yugoslav First League players]] [[Category:English Football League players]] [[Category:Canadian Professional Soccer League (original) players]] [[Category:Yugoslav expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]] [[Category:Yugoslav expatriate sportspeople in England]] [[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada]] [[Category:Yugoslav expatriate sportspeople in Canada]] [[Category:Serbia and Montenegro football managers]] [[Category:Serbian football managers]] [[Category:Kuwait national football team managers]] [[Category:Singapore national football team managers]] [[Category:Myanmar national football team managers]] [[Category:Al-Tadamon SC (Kuwait) managers]] [[Category:Oman Professional League managers]] [[Category:Kuwait Premier League managers]] [[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate football managers]] [[Category:Expatriate football managers in Oman]] [[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Oman]] [[Category:Expatriate football managers in Kuwait]] [[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Kuwait]] [[Category:Expatriate football managers in Singapore]] [[Category:Serbia and Montenegro expatriate sportspeople in Singapore]] [[Category:Serbian expatriate football managers]] [[Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Singapore]] [[Category:Expatriate football managers in Myanmar]] [[Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Myanmar]] [[Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Kuwait]]