Branislav Ivanović facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Branislav Ivanović

Ivanović with Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Branislav Ivanović
Date of birth	(1984-02-22) 22 February 1984 (age 41)
Place of birth	Sremska Mitrovica, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	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	270	(26)
2017–2020	Zenit Saint Petersburg	90	(8)
2020–2021	West Bromwich Albion	13	(1)
Total		492	(42)
International career
2003–2007	Serbia U21	38	(4)
2005–2018	Serbia	115	(18)
Medal record Men's football UEFA European Under-21 Championship Representing  Serbia and Montenegro 2004 Germany Representing  Serbia 2007 Netherlands
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

Ivanović started his football journey with his hometown club, FK Srem. In 2004, he moved to top division team OFK Beograd. Two years later, he went to Russia to play for Lokomotiv Moscow. There, he won his first trophy, the 2007 Russian Cup. In January 2008, Ivanović joined 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.

Ivanović first played for Serbia & Montenegro in June 2005. He later became Serbia's most capped player, playing over 100 games and scoring 13 goals. He played for Serbia at their first major tournament as an independent country, the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was made captain of the national team in 2012. He also played at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In that tournament, he became the player with the most appearances for the Serbian national team, with 105 matches. He retired from professional football in 2021.

Early Life and Football Start

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 for different teams in his hometown, Sremska Mitrovica. Until he was 15, he played as a striker, scoring goals. Then, he changed to playing in defence, where he became famous.

Club Football Journey

Starting in Serbia

Ivanović began his professional football career with FK Srem in 2002. His strong performances quickly caught the eye of bigger clubs in Serbia. In December 2003, Ivanović joined OFK Beograd. He was 19 years old and struggled a bit at first. But his amazing physical strength soon made him stand out. He became the main right-back for the team.

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 in Serbia's top league, clubs from all over Europe started to show interest in him.

Playing in Russia

Ivanović playing in 2007

In January 2006, Ivanović moved to Russia. He joined Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League. He quickly became a key player for the team. In his first season, he played 28 league games and scored two goals.

In his second season, Ivanović continued to be a very important player. Lokomotiv Moscow won the Russian Cup in 2007. They beat FC Moscow 1–0 in the final.

Time at Chelsea F.C.

Ivanović in action for Chelsea in 2010.

On 15 January 2008, Chelsea in England announced they had signed Ivanović. Many big clubs like Milan and Juventus also wanted him. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract and was given the number 2 shirt.

First Season at Chelsea

Even though he was a big signing, Ivanović did not play for Chelsea's first team in his first season. The club said he needed to get fitter because the Russian league season had ended earlier. He later said this was the hardest time in his career.

Breaking into the Team

Ivanović playing for Chelsea in 2008

Ivanović almost left 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. He started as a right-back against Portsmouth in the League Cup. He soon made his Premier League debut against Aston Villa.

He scored his first goals for Chelsea against Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-final. He scored two goals, both headers from corners. These goals were very important and helped Chelsea win the game. They also made him a fan favourite.

Winning the Double

Ivanović in action for Chelsea in 2010

In the 2009–10 season, Ivanović became a regular starter for Chelsea. He scored his first Premier League goal against Bolton Wanderers. After another defender, José Bosingwa, got injured, Ivanović became a key player in Chelsea's defence. He was even named in the PFA Team of the Year. Chelsea won both the Premier League title and the FA Cup that season.

More Goals and a New Contract

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

In the 2010–11 season, Ivanović often played as a centre-back due to injuries to other players. He scored important goals, including two against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League. In February 2011, he signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea. He was also nominated for Chelsea Player of the Year.

Champions League Glory

In the 2011–12 season, Ivanović scored a crucial winning goal against Napoli in the Champions League. This helped Chelsea turn around the game and win. He also helped Chelsea beat Barcelona in the semi-finals. However, he missed the final against Bayern Munich due to a suspension. Chelsea went on to win the Champions League for the first time.

Europa League Hero

Ivanović in 2015

In the 2012–13 season, Ivanović continued to score important goals. 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 in the last minutes of the game. This gave Chelsea a 2–1 victory over Benfica and secured another European trophy. He was named the Man of the Match for his amazing performance.

Ivanović was involved in an incident with Liverpool striker Luis Suárez during a Premier League game. Suárez was later banned for ten matches by the FA.

Premier League Champion Again

Ivanović in 2016

In the 2014–15 season, Ivanović was a key player as Chelsea won the Premier League title again. He scored several important goals throughout the season. He also played the full 90 minutes in the League Cup final, which Chelsea won 2–0 against Tottenham Hotspur. He was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the second time.

For the 2015–16 season, Ivanović was named Chelsea's new vice-captain. He scored a winning header against Southampton in February 2016. He made his 350th appearance for Chelsea, becoming one of only four overseas players to do so. He often captained the team when John Terry was injured.

In his final season at Chelsea (2016–17), Ivanović scored his last goal for the club in an FA Cup match against Brentford. He left Chelsea in February 2017 after nine successful years.

Return to Russia

Ivanović in 2017

On 1 February 2017, Ivanović joined Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia. He quickly became a strong defender for the team. He played 125 games for Zenit, scoring 12 goals. He also captained the team to win back-to-back Russian Premier League championships in 2018–19 and 2019–20. He also won the Russian Super Cup.

Final Club: West Bromwich Albion

On 15 September 2020, West Bromwich Albion announced they had 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.

Playing for His Country

Under-21 Team

Ivanović first played for the Serbia and Montenegro 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 that reached the final of the 2007 U-21 Championships. In total, he played 38 games for the under-21 team.

Senior National Team

Ivanović playing for Serbia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Ivanović earned his first cap for Serbia and Montenegro on 8 June 2005. He scored his first international goal for Serbia on 12 September 2007 against Portugal. This goal helped Serbia get a 1–1 draw.

Even when he wasn't playing regularly for Chelsea, Ivanović was always a starter for Serbia. He helped them qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He played every minute of Serbia's games in the group stage of that tournament.

On 28 February 2012, Ivanović scored in his first game as captain for Serbia. He played as a centre-back and then returned to right-back. In 2012 and 2013, he was named Serbian Footballer of the Year. He scored two goals in an international game for the first time on 7 June 2015 against Azerbaijan.

In June 2018, he was part of Serbia's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He played in two matches there. In doing so, he became the player with the most appearances for the Serbian national football team in history, having played 105 matches.

How He Played Football

Branislav Ivanović was known for his amazing physical strength. He was tall, brave, and very strong. This helped him win many aerial battles and score important goals with his head. He was also very good at tackling.

Former Chelsea manager José Mourinho called him a "competitive animal with a big heart." Ivanović was also very good at attacking from his right-back position. He would make runs up the field and deliver crosses into the box. He could play anywhere across the defence, often playing as a centre-back. He was also known for his leadership skills. His former teammate John Terry called him a "legend" and an "unbelievable defender."

Personal Life

Ivanović's nickname is "Bane." He is married to Nataša, and they have four children. He is a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church in London. His uncle, Đorđe Milovanović, was also a footballer. His cousin, Dejan Milovanović, also played professional football.

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

Trophies 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 Awards

• 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

See also

In Spanish: Branislav Ivanović para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps