Pompey Eastern European Eleven

Sasa Ilic

The Australian-born Serbian international goalkeeper started his career with the Sydney-based Bonnyrigg White Eagles but became most well-known for his heroics between the sticks for Charlton Athletic in the late 90s. Graham Rix brought him in as loan cover for the injured Dave Beasant in 2001.

Boris Zivkovic

The Croatian international defender joined from Bayer Leverkusen on a free in 2003. He’d started in the Champions League Final the season before and was regarded as a quality signing. However, just 18 appearances later Boris tore up his contract after a public fall-out with Harry Redknapp.

Dejan Stefanovic

Signed from Vitesse Arnhem at the start of Pompey’s first ever season in the Premier League the reliable Stefanovic quickly paid back the £1.85m splashed out on him, winning the fans’ Player of the Season award. He played 20 times at international level for Yugoslavia and, subsequently, Serbia and Montenegro.

Lubor Michalik

The Slovakian man mountain, all 6ft 5” of him, was certainly a physical presence at the back and a threat in the air at the other end on set pieces. But as with many ‘physical presences’ he wasn’t the quickest. Lubo played eight times for his country and is currently putting it about in the Slovak Superleague.

Ivan Golac

Capped once for Yugoslavia, attacking full-back Golac was in the first wave of overseas players to break into the English game when the restrictions were lifted. He joined on loan from Southampton during the 1984-85 season making 8 appearances. Went on to run a chocolate factory in Belgrade.

Niko Krancjar

The sublimely skilled, alice-band wearing Croatian international joined Pompey from Hajduk Split in 2006 for £3.5m. Niko was part of Pompey’s FA Cup winning side of 2008 and scored nine times in 83 appearances. He won 81 caps for his country, the first was awarded by his dad, Zlatko, who was the Croatian national manager at the time. Currently being kicked lumps out of in the SPL.

Robert Prosinecki

One of the few footballers in the history of the game that can boast to have not only Real Madrid and Barcelona but also Pompey on his CV, Prosinecki was a genius of a football player. His one season with the Blues was a wonder to behold, and his hat-trick against Barnsley lives long in legend. All this on 20 fags a day - imagine what he’d have been like on Menthol Lights

Predrag Radosavljevic

Preki was born in Serbia and played his first football for Red Star Belgrade. However, he made his name initially in the US indoor soccer league for the Tacoma Stars under former Pompey caretaker manager Bob McNab. After a couple of seasons with Everton Preki brought his considerable skills to Pompey for the 1994-95 season, playing well in a struggling side. 

Zvonimir Vukic

The Serbian-born attacking midfielder was signed on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2005 by Alain Perrin. He made nine appearances, scoring one goal, before being sent swiftly back to his parent club by the incoming Harry Redknapp. Vukic earned 26 caps for Serbia and Montenegro.

Ivica Mornar

Many Eastern European footballers are known for their flawless technique, vision and seemingly unlimited time on the ball, Ivica Mornar wasn’t one of them. After signing from Anderlecht in 2004, the chrome-domed Croatian barely came close to first team action, limiting his Fratton Park career to one goal in 10 frantic appearances.

Svetoslav Todorov 

The Bulgarian-born striker was a goal-machine during Pompey’s 2002/2003 promotion season and, fittingly, it was his clinical 73^rd minute strike against Burnley that clinched the deal. Toddy got 26 in all that campaign, and was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2016.