Aleksandar Kolarov facts for kids
Kolarov with Serbia in 2018
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aleksandar Kolarov | ||
| Date of birth | 10 November 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left back | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Inter Milan (assistant) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Red Star Belgrade | |||
| Obilić | |||
| Čukarički | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2006 | Čukarički | 44 | (2) |
| 2006–2007 | OFK Beograd | 38 | (5) |
| 2007–2010 | Lazio | 82 | (6) |
| 2010–2017 | Manchester City | 165 | (11) |
| 2017–2020 | Roma | 100 | (17) |
| 2020–2022 | Inter Milan | 10 | (0) |
| Total | 439 | (41) | |
| International career | |||
| 2006–2007 | Serbia U21 | 11 | (1) |
| 2008–2020 | Serbia | 94 | (11) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024–2025 | Serbia U21 | ||
| 2025– | Inter Milan (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Aleksandar Kolarov, born on November 10, 1985, is a famous Serbian former football player. He played as a left back and was known for his powerful shots. After retiring from playing, he became an assistant coach for the Serie A club Inter Milan.
Kolarov started his football journey at Red Star Belgrade. He then moved to Čukarički in 2004. Two years later, he joined OFK Beograd. His first move abroad was to Lazio in Italy's Serie A, where he won the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana in 2009. In 2010, he joined Manchester City in England. There, he helped the team win two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and the League Cup. He returned to Serie A in 2017, playing for Roma and then Inter Milan before ending his playing career.
Kolarov also played for the Serbian national team. He made his first appearance in 2008 and played in 94 matches. He was part of Serbia's teams for the 2008 Olympics, 2010 FIFA World Cup, and 2018 FIFA World Cup. In 2011, he was named the Serbian Player of the Year.
Contents
Early Life and Youth Football
Aleksandar Kolarov was born in Zemun, a part of Belgrade, Serbia. He grew up in a village called Vojka.
He joined the youth team of Red Star Belgrade in 1997. After four years, he left because he wanted more playing time. He then spent some time at FK Obilić's youth system.
Starting at Čukarički
In 2004, when he was 18, Kolarov joined Čukarički in Belgrade. This team played in Serbia's top league at the time. He signed a three-year contract and quickly joined the first team. He played in 27 league games in his first season. Even though he played well, his team was relegated to a lower league.
In the 2005–06 season, Kolarov started playing for Čukarički in the second-tier league. However, he soon moved to OFK Beograd, another top-tier club.
Playing for OFK Beograd
Kolarov joined OFK Beograd in February 2006. He finished that season with them and scored his first goal in the league.
Professional Career in Italy and England
Joining Lazio in Italy
In the summer of 2007, Kolarov moved to Italy. He joined Lazio, a big club in Serie A, for about €925,000.
He scored his first goal for Lazio on September 30, 2007. It was a powerful shot from far away that helped his team get a draw. Kolarov also played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time that year.
In his second season, Kolarov became Lazio's main left back. He scored an amazing goal against Lecce. He also scored a memorable goal in the Derby della Capitale against city rivals Roma. He ran almost the entire length of the field with the ball before scoring. On May 13, 2009, Kolarov played in the 2009 Coppa Italia Final against Sampdoria. Lazio won the trophy after a penalty shootout, and Kolarov scored one of the penalties.
In August 2009, Lazio played Inter Milan in the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana in Beijing. Lazio won 2–1, and Kolarov earned his second winner's medal. As the 2009–10 season ended, many big clubs like Manchester City and Real Madrid were interested in him.
Time at Manchester City
On July 24, 2010, Kolarov signed with Manchester City for a reported £16 million. He made his Premier League debut on August 14 in a 0–0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
He scored his first goal for Manchester City in the FA Cup on January 18, 2011. On February 2, 2011, he scored his first Premier League goal from a free kick. Kolarov played the full game when City won the 2011 FA Cup Final.
In the 2011–12 season, Kolarov scored an important goal in the Champions League against Napoli. He also scored a long-range goal against Sunderland. Manchester City won the 2011–12 Premier League title on the last day of the season, and Kolarov received a medal for his 12 league appearances.
He continued to score impressive free kicks in the following seasons, including one against Real Madrid in the Champions League. On December 10, 2013, Kolarov scored a penalty against Bayern Munich in the Champions League group stage. This win helped City reach the knockout stages for the first time. He won his second Premier League trophy with Manchester City in May 2014. In June 2014, he signed a new contract to stay with the club until 2017.
Moving to Roma
On July 22, 2017, Kolarov joined Roma on a three-year deal for €5 million. He scored the winning goal in his debut match against Atalanta on August 20. In the UEFA Champions League, he scored in a 3–3 draw with Chelsea.
In the 2018–19 season, Kolarov scored against his former club and city rivals Lazio in a 3–1 win. He became only the second player to score for both clubs in the Rome derby.
Playing for Inter Milan
On September 8, 2020, Kolarov joined Inter Milan. He signed a one-year deal with an option to extend.
On June 19, 2022, Aleksandar Kolarov announced that he was retiring from professional football.
International Career for Serbia
.jpg)
Kolarov was part of the Serbia under-21 team that reached the final of the 2007 U-21 Championships. He was a key player and was named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.
In June 2010, he was chosen for Serbia's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played in group stage matches against Ghana and Germany.
Kolarov played a big role in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers. His excellent performance in 2011 earned him the Serbian Footballer of the Year award.
On September 11, 2012, Kolarov scored his first goal for Serbia in a 6–1 win against Wales during a 2014 World Cup qualifier. He scored another free kick against Belgium in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 7, 2013.
On September 7, 2014, he scored the equalizer in a 1–1 draw with France.
Kolarov helped Serbia qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which was their first major international tournament in eight years. He was included in the 23-man squad for the competition. Kolarov scored the only goal in their opening match against Costa Rica from a free kick. He was the captain for all three of Serbia's group stage matches.
Playing Style
Aleksandar Kolarov mainly played as a left-back. He could also play as a centre-back or anywhere on the left side of the field. Even though he wasn't the fastest player, he was known for his attacking runs down the wing. He was also famous for his accurate passing, crossing, and very powerful shots with his left foot. His free kicks were especially accurate and strong.
Post-Playing Career
On June 3, 2023, Kolarov was announced as the new sporting director for the Italian Serie B club Pisa. However, he left the club just a month later, on July 10, 2023.
Kolarov is also involved in business. He is an owner and investor in the Bor Retail Park in Bor, Serbia.
Personal Life
Kolarov grew up in Vojka, a village in the region of Vojvodina in Serbia. He has three children. His older brother, Nikola, was also a professional football player.
Honours and Awards
Lazio
- Coppa Italia: 2008–09
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2009
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2011–12, 2013–14
- FA Cup: 2010–11
- Football League Cup: 2013–14, 2015–16
- FA Community Shield: 2012
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2020–21
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2021
Serbia U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2007
Individual Awards
- Serbian Player of the Year: 2011
- Serie A Team of the Year: 2018–19
- A.S. Roma Team of the Decade: 2010–2020
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandar Kolarov para niños
