Dražen Vuković
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Vuković in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 December 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Slavonski Brod, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Hajduk Split | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2007 | Zadar | 8 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | Slavonac CO | 13 | (4) |
| 2008–2009 | Junak Sinj | 18 | (5) |
| 2009–2010 | Solin | 10 | (2) |
| 2010 | Brantford Galaxy | ||
| 2010–2011 | Junak Sinj | 8 | (2) |
| 2011–2012 | Solin | 10 | (2) |
| 2012 | Hrvace | 3 | (0) |
| 2012–2015 | SC Waterloo Region | ||
| 2013 | Junak Sinj | 7 | (0) |
| 2016 | Hamilton City | ||
| 2017 | SC Waterloo Region | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Dražen Vuković (born December 14, 1981) is a Croatian former footballer who played as a forward.
Croatia
Vuković played at the youth level with Hajduk Split where he appeared in 11 friendly matches.[1] In 2006, he played in the Croatian Second Football League with NK Zadar and departed from the club the following season.[2] He would make 8 appearances and recorded 1 goal in his professional debut season.[3] He remained in the second tier by signing with NK Slavonac CO in 2008 in his native region of Slavonia.[4] After a season in Slavonia, he signed with Junak Sinj and received the Dite Maligana award in his debut season.[4][5] He continued his journeyman career in the second division by signing with NK Solin for the 2009-10 season.[6]
Brantford
In 2010, he played abroad in the Canadian Soccer League with the expansion side Brantford Galaxy.[7] He made his debut for the club on May 16, 2010, against Portugal FC where he recorded a goal.[8] Vuković also assisted the club in achieving their first victory against Toronto Croatia.[9] After an impressive start with Brantford, he was invited along with teammate Miodrag Anđelković to train with Toronto FC of the Major League Soccer.[10] His trial run with TFC resulted in an appearance in a friendly match against Bolton Wanderers F.C.[11][12][13] Unfortunately, his season was cut short as he received an injury around August 2010.[14] Brantford would go on to claim the CSL Championship after defeating Hamilton Croatia.[15]
Return to Croatia
After a short stint in North America, he returned to Croatia in late 2010 to rejoin his former club Junak Sinj.[16] In 2011, he competed once more in the second trier with his former club NK Solin.[17] In his second tenure with Solin, he appeared in 10 matches and recorded 2 goals.[18] Following a two-year stint in the Croatian second division, he played in the Croatian Third Football League in 2012 with NK Hrvace.[3]
He would appear on the Croatian football scene one final time in the winter of 2013 after the conclusion of the 2012 CSL season to sign with former club Junak Sinj.[19] In his final season in the second tier, he appeared in 7 matches.[20]
Waterloo
He returned to Canada in 2012 to sign with SC Waterloo Region in the CSL's First Division.[21] Vuković recorded his first pair of goals for Waterloo on May 30, 2012, against London City.[22] In his debut season, he finished as the league's top goal scorer with 20 goals.[23] Though Waterloo would fail to secure the final playoff berth by two points.[24]
After spending the winter months in Europe he re-signed with Waterloo for the 2013 season.[25] He finished the season with 15 goals in 25 matches.[26] He helped Waterloo secure a postseason berth and recorded a goal in the opening round of the playoffs against Brampton United which advanced the club to the next round.[27] In the semifinals, he recorded the tying goal against Toronto Croatia where Waterloo won the match in a penalty shootout.[28] He started in the championship final match against Kingston FC where Waterloo successfully secured the title.[29]
He returned for his third season in 2014.[30] The club successfully qualified for the playoffs but was eliminated in the opening round to Toronto Croatia.[31] For the 2015 season, he was named the team captain for Waterloo.[32] The team reached the championship final but was defeated by Toronto Croatia.[33] In 2016, Waterloo was relegated to the Second Division which resulted in Vuković signing with league rivals Hamilton City.[34][35] Hamilton reached the championship final but was defeated by the Serbian White Eagles.[36] In 2017, he returned for his final season with Waterloo when the club was promoted back to the first division.[37]