Branislav Ivanović facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Branislav Ivanović

Ivanović with Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth	(1984-02-22) 22 February 1984 (age 41)
Place of birth	Sremska Mitrovica, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.85 m
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
	Srem
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2004	Srem	19	(2)
2004–2006	OFK Beograd	55	(5)
2006–2008	Lokomotiv Moscow	54	(5)
2008–2017	Chelsea	261	(22)
2017–2020	Zenit Saint Petersburg	90	(8)
2020–2021	West Bromwich Albion	13	(0)
Total		492	(42)
National team
2003–2007	Serbia U21	38	(4)
2005–2018	Serbia	105	(13)
Honours Men's football UEFA European Under-21 Championship Representing  Serbia and Montenegro 2004 Germany Representing  Serbia 2007 Netherlands
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Branislav Ivanović (born 22 February 1984) is a Serbian former professional footballer. He was a very flexible defender. Ivanović could play as a right back or a centre back.

Ivanović started his career with his hometown club, FK Srem. In 2004, he joined top division team OFK Beograd. Two years later, he moved to Russia to play for Lokomotiv Moscow. There, he won his first trophy, the 2007 Russian Cup.

In January 2008, Ivanović joined English Premier League club Chelsea. He won nine major trophies with Chelsea. These included three Premier League titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the UEFA Europa League. He played 377 games and scored 34 goals for Chelsea. He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year twice. In February 2017, he returned to Russia to play for Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Ivanović first played for Serbia in June 2005. He became the country's most capped player, with over 100 games and 13 goals. He played for Serbia in their first international tournament as an independent country, the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He became the captain of the national team in 2012. He also played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Early Life and First Steps in Football

Branislav Ivanović grew up in a family that loved sports. His father, Rade, was also a defender for their local team, FK Srem. Branislav played youth football in his hometown of Sremska Mitrovica. Until he was 15, he played as a striker, which is an attacking position. Then, he changed to playing in defence, where he became famous.

Starting His Professional Career

Ivanović began his professional football journey with FK Srem in 2002. His strong performances quickly caught the eye of bigger clubs in Serbia.

Playing for OFK Beograd

In December 2003, Ivanović joined OFK Beograd. He was 19 years old at the time. At first, he found it a bit tough. But his amazing physical strength helped him become the team's main right back.

During his time with OFK Beograd, his team did very well. They even reached the semi-finals of the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup. After two years, clubs from all over Europe started to show interest in him.

Moving to Lokomotiv Moscow

Ivanović in 2007

In January 2006, Ivanović moved to Russia. He signed with Russian Premier League club Lokomotiv Moscow.

First Season in Russia (2006)

Ivanović quickly became a key player for Lokomotiv Moscow. He played in 28 league matches and scored two goals. He helped Lokomotiv challenge for the league title that season.

Winning the Russian Cup (2007)

In his second season, Ivanović was a very important part of the team. He played in 26 league games and scored three goals. Lokomotiv Moscow won the Russian Cup in 2007. They beat FC Moscow 1–0 in the final match.

Joining Chelsea Football Club

Ivanović in action against Newcastle United in 2010.

On 15 January 2008, Chelsea announced they had agreed to sign Ivanović. Many big clubs like Milan and Juventus also wanted him. The transfer fee was about £9 million. Ivanović signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea. He was given the number 2 shirt.

First Six Months at Chelsea

Even though he was expensive, Ivanović did not play for Chelsea's first team in his first six months. The club said he needed to get fitter. Ivanović later said this was the hardest time in his career.

Breaking into the Team (2008–09)

Ivanović was close to leaving Chelsea before the 2008–09 season. But his teammate Andriy Shevchenko encouraged him to stay. Eight months after joining, Ivanović finally played his first game for Chelsea. It was a League Cup match against Portsmouth.

He soon made his Premier League debut against Aston Villa. He also played his first Champions League game. He scored his first goals for Chelsea against Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final. He scored two goals with headers from corners. These goals helped Chelsea win the game. This made him a fan favorite, and they called him "Branislav 'two goal' Ivanović."

Becoming a Regular Starter (2009–10)

Ivanović in action for Chelsea in 2010

Under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, Ivanović started the 2009–10 season. He played in the Community Shield against Manchester United. He scored his first Premier League goal against Bolton Wanderers. After a teammate got injured, Ivanović became a regular choice in Chelsea's defence. He was even named in the 2009–10 PFA Team of the Year.

Continued Success (2010–11)

Ivanović with Salomon Kalou in action against Spartak Moscow in 2010.

Ivanović often played as a centre back due to injuries to other players. He scored his first goal of the season against Blackburn Rovers. He also scored two goals in a Champions League match against Spartak Moscow. In February 2011, he signed a new long-term contract with Chelsea. He was also nominated for Chelsea Player of the Year.

Winning the Champions League (2011–12)

Ivanović scored a crucial goal in the Champions League against Napoli. This goal helped Chelsea win the game and move forward in the competition. He also helped Chelsea beat Benfica and Barcelona. However, he missed the final against Bayern Munich because of a suspension. Chelsea won the Champions League that year. He was again nominated for Chelsea Player of the Year.

Europa League Hero (2012–13)

Ivanović played in all of Chelsea's pre-season games. He scored early goals in the Premier League against Wigan and Reading. He scored his first ever League Cup goal against Leeds United.

In the Europa League final on 15 May 2013, Ivanović scored the winning goal. It was a header in the last minutes of the game. This gave Chelsea a 2–1 victory over Benfica. This goal secured Chelsea's second European title in a row. Ivanović was named the Man of the Match for his amazing performance.

More Premier League Action (2013–14)

Ivanović became a very important player for new manager José Mourinho. He played in almost every game. He scored his first goal of the season against Aston Villa. He also scored the only goal in Chelsea's away win against Manchester City.

Double Title Win (2014–15)

Ivanović in 2015

Ivanović scored Chelsea's third goal in their first game of the season against Burnley. He scored the winning goal against Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final. He also scored against Aston Villa and Paris Saint-Germain. On 1 March, he played the full game in the League Cup final, which Chelsea won 2–0. He was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year. A week later, Chelsea won the Premier League title.

Vice-Captain and Milestones (2015–16)

Ivanović in 2016

Ivanović was named Chelsea's new vice-captain. He scored his first goal of the season against Sunderland. In February 2016, he signed a new contract with Chelsea. He scored a winning header against Southampton. Ivanović played his 350th game for Chelsea in March, becoming one of only four overseas players to do so. He often served as team captain when John Terry was injured.

Final Chelsea Season (2016–17)

Ivanović continued to play as a right-back at the start of the season. However, he was later replaced by Victor Moses. Ivanović scored his last goal for Chelsea in an FA Cup match against Brentford.

Moving to Zenit Saint Petersburg

Ivanović in 2017

On 1 February 2017, Ivanović joined Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. He made his Zenit debut in a Europa League match against Anderlecht.

During his time at Zenit, Ivanović played 125 games and scored 12 goals. He was a strong defender and captained the team. He led Zenit to win two league championships in a row (2018–19 and 2019–20). He also won the Russian Super Cup.

Short Spell at West Bromwich Albion

On 15 September 2020, West Bromwich Albion signed Ivanović for one year. He played 13 times for the club in the Premier League. West Bromwich Albion was relegated to the EFL Championship that season. Ivanović left the club in May 2021 when his contract ended.

International Career for Serbia

Playing for the Under-21 Team

Ivanović first played for Serbia and Montenegro's under-21 team in December 2003. He scored his first goal just two days later. He played in the 2006 U-21 Championships. He was also the captain of the independent Serbia under-21 team. They reached the final of the 2007 U-21 Championships. In total, he played 38 games for the under-21 team.

Representing the Senior National Team

Ivanović playing for Serbia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Ivanović earned his first cap for the senior team on 8 June 2005. This was in a friendly match against Italy. He scored his first international goal on 12 September 2007 against Portugal. This goal helped Serbia get a 1–1 draw.

He was a regular starter for Serbia during the 2010 World Cup qualification. He scored three goals and helped Serbia reach the finals in South Africa. In June 2010, he was part of Serbia's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played every minute of their group stage matches.

On 28 February 2012, Ivanović scored in his first game as captain. This was a friendly win against Armenia. In 2012 and 2013, he was named Serbian Footballer of the Year. He is the only Serbian player to win this award two years in a row. In June 2018, he was in the final squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He played two matches there. He became the player with the most appearances for the Serbian national team, with 105 games.

How Branislav Ivanović Played

Ivanović was known for his amazing physical strength. He was tall, brave, and very strong. This helped him score many important goals with his head. He was also good at finishing shots, which is unusual for a defender. Former Chelsea manager José Mourinho even used him as a striker sometimes when the team needed a goal.

His strong defending made him a tough opponent. He was a very flexible defender and could play anywhere across the back line. He was often used as a centre-back, as well as his usual role as a right-back. He was also known for his strong tackles and being very consistent. Even though he wasn't the fastest player, he was a great leader. His former manager Mourinho called him a "fantastic character."

Personal Life

Branislav Ivanović's nickname is "Bane." He is married to Nataša, who was his neighbor in Sremska Mitrovica. They have four children together. He is a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church in London. His uncle, Đorđe Milovanović, was also a footballer. His cousin, Dejan Milovanović, is also a professional footballer.

He is friends with famous Serbian tennis players like Novak Djokovic, Jelena Janković, and Ana Ivanovic.

Career Statistics

Club

International

International Goals

Serbia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ivanović goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 September 2007	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	5	Portugal	1–1	1–1	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
2	10 September 2008	Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France	14	France	1–2	1–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	11 October 2008	Marakana Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia	15	Lithuania	1–0	3–0
4	28 March 2009	Stadionul Farul, Constanța, Romania	20	Romania	3–1	3–2
5	7 October 2011	Marakana Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia	44	Italy	1–1	1–1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
6	28 February 2012	Tsirion Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus	48	Armenia	2–0	2–0	Friendly
7	11 September 2012	Karađorđe Stadium, Novi Sad, Serbia	54	Wales	5–1	6–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
8	31 May 2014	Toyota Park, Bridgeview, United States	70	Panama	1–0	1–1	Friendly
9	7 June 2015	NV Arena, Sankt Pölten, Austria	78	Azerbaijan	1–0	4–1
10					3–1
11	31 May 2016	Karađorđe Stadium, Novi Sad, Serbia	86	Israel	1–0	3–1
12	6 October 2016	Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova	89	Moldova	2–0	3–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
13	9 June 2018	Liebenauer Stadium, Graz, Austria	103	Bolivia	4–0	5–1	Friendly

Honours and Awards

Lokomotiv Moscow

• Russian Cup: 2006–07

Chelsea

• Premier League: 2009–10, 2014–15, 2016–17
• FA Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12
• Football League Cup: 2014–15
• FA Community Shield: 2009
• UEFA Champions League: 2011–12
• UEFA Europa League: 2012–13
• FIFA Club World Cup: runner-up: 2012

Zenit Saint Petersburg

• Russian Premier League: 2018–19, 2019–20
• Russian Cup: 2019–20

Serbia and Montenegro U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2004

Serbia U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2007

Individual

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2007
• PFA Team of the Year: 2009–10 Premier League, 2014–15 Premier League
• Serbian Player of the Year: 2012, 2013
• UEFA Europa League final Man of the Match: 2013
• FIFPro World XI 4th team: 2014
• FIFPro World XI 5th team: 2013, 2015
• ESM Team of the Year: 2014–15
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2014–15
• UEFA Euro Under-21 Dream Team
• Russian Premier League Centre-back of the Season: 2018–19

Images for kids

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  Ivanović playing for Chelsea against Arsenal in 2008

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  Ivanović warming up before a Chelsea match in 2009