Zoran Rajović (Serbian Cyrillic: Зоран Рајовић; born 28 October 1979) is a Serbian retired professional footballer and coach.
![]() Rajović in 2012 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Zoran Rajović | ||
Date of birth | (1979-10-28) 28 October 1979 (age 43) | ||
Place of birth | Vinkovci, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
Vojvodina | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1997–1999 | Vojvodina | 1 | (0) |
1998 | → Vrbas (loan) | 15 | (4) |
1999 | → Vrbas (loan) | 4 | (1) |
1999–2000 | Beroe Stara Zagora | 19 | (4) |
2001 | Dalian Shide | ||
2002 | Vojvodina | 2 | (0) |
2002–2004 | Glasinac Sokolac | 52 | (27) |
2004–2005 | Zrinjski Mostar | 30 | (17) |
2005 | Ashdod | ||
2005–2006 | Hapoel Kfar Saba | ||
2006 | Ethnikos Piraeus | 8 | (0) |
2007–2008 | Zrinjski Mostar | 31 | (13) |
2008–2009 | Hajduk Kula | 27 | (6) |
2009 | Olimpik Sarajevo | 8 | (2) |
2010 | Diagoras | 3 | (0) |
2010 | Leotar | 8 | (2) |
2011 | Rudar Prijedor | 7 | (0) |
2011 | BEC Tero Sasana | ||
2012 | Serbian White Eagles | 22 | (18) |
2013 | Yadanarbon | ||
2013–2014 | Modriča | ||
2014–2015 | Orašje | 22 | (8) |
2015 | Mladost Antin | 4 | (0) |
2016 | Orašje | 7 | (2) |
2018–2020 | Scarborough SC | 22 | (8) |
2021 | Serbian White Eagles | ||
National team | |||
1997 | FR Yugoslavia U18 | 1 | (0) |
Teams managed | |||
2018–2020 | Scarborough SC (player-coach) | ||
2021–2022 | Serbian White Eagles | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Born in Vinkovci, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia, Rajović moved to Vojvodina at an early age. He was later sent on loan to Vrbas on two separate occasions.[1] In the summer of 1999, Rajović moved to Bulgaria and joined Beroe Stara Zagora. He scored four league goals in 19 appearances, as the club avoid relegation from the top flight.[2] In 2001, he played in Asia with Dalian Shide F.C. in the Chinese Super League.[3] After a season in East Asia, he played in the First League of FR Yugoslavia with FK Vojvodina. In 2002, he played in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina and became best remembered for his time with Glasinac Sokolac and Zrinjski Mostar (two spells), becoming the Premier League top scorer in the 2004–05 season with 17 goals.[4][5][6]
In 2005, he played in the Israeli Premier League with F.C. Ashdod and Hapoel Kfar Saba F.C.[7] In 2006, he returned to Europe to play in the Football League with Ethnikos Piraeus F.C. and returned to Zrinjski Mostar in 2007.[8] During his second tenure with Zrinjski, he featured in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup against FK Partizan, and FK Rabotnički.[9] He spent time in the Serbian SuperLiga in 2008 with Hajduk Kula, and with Olimpik Sarajevo in 2009.[10][11] He later had stints with Diagoras F.C., FK Leotar, and FK Rudar Prijedor.[12][13]
In 2011, he returned to Asia to play with BEC Tero Sasana F.C.in the Thai Premier League, and in the Myanmar National League with Yadanarbon F.C.[14][15][16] In 2012, Rajović played in Canadian Soccer League with Serbian White Eagles, scoring 18 goals from 22 appearances.[17][18] Before retiring from the game, Rajović played for Modriča, Orašje (twice), and Mladost Antin.[19] In 2018, he returned to the Canadian Soccer League to become a player-coach for Scarborough SC.[20][21]
At the international level, Rajović was capped for FR Yugoslavia at under-18 level.[22] He also featured in two unofficial matches for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 2018, he was appointed as a player-coach for Scarborough SC in the Canadian Soccer League.[23] In his debut season as a manager, he led Scarborough to the CSL Championship final but were defeated by FC Vorkuta in a penalty shootout.[24] The following season the club finished as runners-up in the First Division and secured a postseason berth. In the playoffs, Rajović led the eastern Toronto team to the championship finals for the second consecutive season where they defeated FC Ukraine United.[25] In 2020, he secured the First Division title, and reached the championship final against FC Vorkuta, but were defeated by a score of 2-1.[26]
In 2021, Rajović became the assistant coach for the Serbian White Eagles, and shortly after was promoted to head coach.[27] He held this position until April 2022.[28]
He holds Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian-Herzegovinian passports. His father is former Dinamo Vinkovci player Milorad Rajović. Rajović is the agent of footballer Stefan Mitrović.[29]
Zrinjski Mostar
Performance
Scarborough SC
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Bosnian Premier League top goalscorers | |
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