Miodrag Božović facts for kids
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Božović coaching Esteghlal in 2025
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 June 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Mojkovac, SR Montenegro, Yugoslavia |
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| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1992 | Budućnost Titograd | 107 | (6) |
| 1992–1994 | Red Star Belgrade | 52 | (1) |
| 1994–1996 | Pelita Jaya | 30 | (1) |
| 1996–1997 | APOP Kinyras | 20 | (1) |
| 1997–1998 | RKC Waalwijk | 19 | (1) |
| 1998 | Avispa Fukuoka | 8 | (0) |
| 2000 | RBC Roosendaal | 5 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1990 | Yugoslavia U21 | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Beograd | ||
| 2002 | Consadole Sapporo (assistant) | ||
| 2003–2004 | Borac Čačak | ||
| 2004 | Obilić | ||
| 2004 | Hajduk Beograd | ||
| 2005 | AEP Paphos | ||
| 2005–2006 | Borac Čačak | ||
| 2006–2007 | Budućnost Podgorica | ||
| 2007 | Grbalj | ||
| 2007 | Borac Čačak | ||
| 2008 | Amkar Perm | ||
| 2009 | FC Moscow | ||
| 2010–2011 | Dynamo Moscow | ||
| 2011–2012 | Amkar Perm | ||
| 2012–2014 | Rostov | ||
| 2014–2015 | Lokomotiv Moscow | ||
| 2015–2017 | Red Star Belgrade | ||
| 2017–2018 | Arsenal Tula | ||
| 2018–2020 | Krylia Sovetov | ||
| 2021–2022 | Arsenal Tula | ||
| 2023–2024 | Neftçi | ||
| 2024–2025 | Esteghlal Khuzestan | ||
| 2025 | Esteghlal | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Miodrag "Grof" Božović (born on June 22, 1968) is a football manager from Montenegro. He used to be a professional football player. People often call him "Grof," which means "The Count" in Serbian. This nickname comes from his neat and stylish look.
Contents
Playing Career: A Strong Defender
Miodrag Božović was a tall and strong central defender. He played for several football clubs during his career.
Club Teams and Achievements
Božović played for Budućnost Titograd in his home country. There, he played alongside famous Yugoslav players like Predrag Mijatović and Dejan Savićević. He also played for Red Star Belgrade, another well-known team in Yugoslavia.
After leaving Yugoslavia in 1994, he played in different countries. He joined teams in Indonesia, the Netherlands (like RKC Waalwijk and RBC Roosendaal), Cyprus, and Japan. During his time as a player, Božović won the Yugoslav Cup with Red Star Belgrade. This was a big achievement for him and his team.
Playing for His Country
Božović also represented his country at a younger age. He played one match for the Yugoslavia U21 national team.
Managerial Career: Leading Teams to Success
After his playing days, Miodrag Božović became a football manager. He has led many teams, mostly in Russia and Serbia, achieving great things.
Early Coaching Successes
Božović had a successful time coaching Budućnost in the 2006–07 season. His team was leading the league, but he left due to disagreements with the club's management. He also did well with Borac Čačak, turning them into a strong team.
Making History in Russia
Božović moved to Russia and made a big impact.
- In 2008, he led Amkar Perm to qualify for the UEFA Europa League for the first time ever. This was a historic moment for the club.
- The next year, his team FC Moscow was doing very well in the Russian Premier League. They were among the top teams for a long time.
- In 2010, he signed a contract with Dynamo Moscow. He later left Dynamo in 2011 after a cup loss.
- In June 2012, he became the manager of Rostov. The team went on to win the 2013–14 Russian Cup in the next season. This was another major trophy for Božović as a manager.
Leading Red Star Belgrade to a Championship
A Challenging Start
On May 29, 2015, Božović returned to manage his former club, Red Star Belgrade. His start was tough. Red Star was knocked out of the UEFA Europa League early. They also had a shaky start in the Serbian Superliga. Many people, including journalists, criticized him and the team.
After a disappointing draw, Božović even offered to resign. But the fans strongly supported him and wanted the club's board members to leave instead. Several board members did leave, and Božović continued his work.
Record-Breaking Wins
After these challenges, Božović led Red Star to an amazing run. They won 24 games in a row in the regular season, setting a new club record! They dominated the Serbian Superliga, finishing 32 points ahead of their rivals.
Božović guided Red Star to their 27th league title in history. This was his first league title as a manager, and he said he was happier than ever before.
Aiming for Champions League
Because of the fans' strong support, Božović signed a new two-year contract with Red Star. He wanted to lead the club to the Champions League. He said the fans' chants were one of the most important things that ever happened to him. He achieved his first European victory with Red Star against Valletta in the Champions League qualifiers.
Returning to Russia and Beyond
After his time at Red Star, Božović went back to Russia.
- He joined Arsenal Tula before the 2017–18 season. He led them to their best-ever finish in the 2017–18 Russian Premier League, placing 7th.
- In October 2018, he signed with Krylia Sovetov. He left the club in June 2020.
- He returned to Arsenal Tula in September 2021. The team was relegated at the end of the 2021–22 Russian Premier League season.
Recent Coaching Roles
- On December 24, 2023, Božović became the Head Coach of Azerbaijan Premier League club Neftçi. He left the club on May 26, 2024.
- He then managed Esteghlal Khuzestan from July 2024 to February 2025.
- Since February 2025, he has been coaching Esteghlal.
Honours and Achievements
Miodrag Božović has won important trophies both as a player and as a manager.
As a Player
- Red Star Belgrade
- FR Yugoslavia Cup: 1992–93
As a Manager
- Rostov
- Russian Cup: 2013–14
- Red Star Belgrade
- Serbian SuperLiga: 2015–16
See also
In Spanish: Miodrag Božović para niños
