Saša Raca
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Saša Raca | ||
Date of birth | 9 May 1975 | ||
Place of birth |
SFR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||
Position(s) |
Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1984–1992 | Kozara Gradiška | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1992–1996 | Kozara Gradiška | ||
1996–1997 | Mladost Apatin | ||
1997–2000 | Zemun | 51+ | (8) |
2001–2002 |
Shanghai Shenhua | ||
2002 | Zemun | 8 | (0) |
2003–2004 | Ethnikos Achna | ||
2004–2005 | APOEL | 3 | (0) |
2006–2008 | Kozara Gradiška | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 20, 2010 |
Saša Raca (born 9 May 1975) is a retired Bosnian Serb football midfielder who, after finishing his career, spent some time as sports director at the major football club at his hometown and later opened a football academy.
Playing career
Club
He loved to play football from an early age, and when he was nine years old, he was spotted by local regional legend Velimir Sombolac who brought him to FK Kozara Gradiška where he was incorporated into the youth team. Raca would successfully climb all age levels making his debut for the first team at the age of 17. His first highlight came in 1994 when coach Borče Sredojević under extremely harsh circumstances managed to create an ideal synergy of youth and experience and made Raca win his first major title, the 1993–94 Republika Srpska Cup. This drew attention from other major regional clubs towards these players.[1]
Two years later, Raca received a call from maximally ambitious
Chinese football was already rising at that time when Raca signed a one-year contract which was further extended one more year. Raca happily accepted since coincidentally the departure of coach Petrović in between seasons had brought another Serbian coach, also well known, Ilija Petković. What Raca found most impressive in China is that all games had between 30 and 70 thousand spectators.[1]
When the two-year contract expired. Raca returned to Serbia and rejoined FK Zemun.[2] However, after only a six months, he received a call from Svetozar Šapurić who was coaching Ethnikos Achna in Cyprus and wanted him in his team. After a good season, he received an offer from APOEL FC coached back then by Ivica Jovanović. However, after a good start, Raca suffered a serious knee-injury which demanded 3 surgeries and a year out of action. This was devastating for Raca which despite following strictly the medical recommendations to fully recover as soon as possible, once recovered he declined some offers he had as doctors were clear claiming any further injury could have a heavy impact on his life.[1]
Feeling homesick, Raca returns to Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and helps his original club, Kozara, which was going through some rough times. Without risking too much physically, it is his technique, experience, and leadership attitude that were useful to the club to impose some discipline in the squad. Raca still played actively for two full seasons with Kozara before deciding to retire for good.[1]
Post-playing career
Immediately after retiring he accepted to stay with the club and became sports director. However, different ideas and concepts between him and the club board made Raca resign after only 6 months, and he then started his own project, football school called FK Stars.[1]
In 2017 he seems to be a managing director at FK Laktaši.[3]