Damir Čakar (Serbian Cyrillic: Дамир Чакар; born 28 June 1973) is a Montenegrin former professional footballer who played as either an attacking midfielder or a striker. He is known for his powerful shots and set pieces.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 June 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Pljevlja, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Rudar Pljevlja | |||
| 1988–1991 | Budućnost Titograd | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1992 | Budućnost Titograd | 2 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | Rudar Pljevlja | 30 | (17) |
| 1993–1994 | Borac Čačak | 15 | (11) |
| 1995–1997 | Partizan | 73 | (43) |
| 1997–1999 | Châteauroux | 28 | (3) |
| 2000 | Sartid Smederevo | 7 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Sutjeska Nikšić | 23 | (19) |
| 2001–2005 | Partizan | 67 | (20) |
| 2005 | → Rudar Pljevlja (loan) | 16 | (6) |
| 2005–2007 | Rudar Pljevlja | 61 | (37) |
| 2007–2008 | Mogren | 14 | (0) |
| Total | 336 | (156) | |
| International career | |||
| 1995–2001 | FR Yugoslavia | 3 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022 | Novi Pazar | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editČakar started out at his local club Rudar Pljevlja, before joining Budućnost Titograd, aged 15. He made his senior debut for the side during the final 1991–92 edition of the Yugoslav First League. Afterwards, Čakar returned to Rudar Pljevlja for the 1992–93 Second League of FR Yugoslavia, helping them win promotion to the First League of FR Yugoslavia. He subsequently moved to Borac Čačak, spending the next year and a half at the club.
In the 1995 winter transfer window, Čakar was transferred to Partizan.[2] He was the team's top scorer in 1995–96 and 1996–97, helping them win back-to-back championships. In the summer of 1997, Čakar was sold to French side Châteauroux. He scored three league goals in his debut season at the club, as they suffered relegation from the top flight. In the following 1998–99 campaign, Čakar appeared in just four league games, before eventually leaving Châteauroux.
After two years abroad, Čakar returned to FR Yugoslavia and joined ambitious Sartid Smederevo in early 2000. He however failed to make an impact there due to an injury,[3] before terminating his contract by mutual agreement with the club's chairman. Subsequently, Čakar signed with Sutjeska Nikšić. He scored 19 league goals in 23 appearances in the 2000–01 First League of FR Yugoslavia, securing him a return to Partizan.[4] Over the next two seasons, Čakar added two more championship titles to his collection. He also helped Partizan reach the UEFA Champions League group stage in the 2003–04 campaign. In February 2005, Čakar was loaned to his parent club Rudar Pljevlja.[5]
In the summer of 2005, Čakar extended his contract with Rudar Pljevlja, helping the side win the Montenegrin Cup in its first edition. He subsequently moved to fellow Montenegrin First League club Mogren, winning his second national cup,[6] before eventually retiring from the game.
International career
editAt international level, Čakar earned three caps for FR Yugoslavia.[7] He made his national team debut on 31 March 1995, coming on as a substitute for Dejan Stefanović in a 1–0 friendly win over Uruguay. Six years later, Čakar received a call-up to the squad for the 2001 Kirin Cup.[8]
Post-playing career
editIn October 2015, Čakar was hired as a scout by Partizan under newly appointed sporting director Ivica Iliev.[9]
In October 2022, Čakar was appointed as manager of Serbian SuperLiga club Novi Pazar.[10]
Personal life
editBorn in Pljevlja, Čakar grew up in a footballing family. His father Rasim and uncle Safet both played for Rudar Pljevlja. They are considered among the greatest players in the club's history.[11][12]
Career statistics
editClub
edit| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Budućnost Podgorica | 1991–92 | Yugoslav First League | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Rudar Pljevlja | 1992–93 | Second League of FR Yugoslavia | 30 | 17 | 1 | 1 | — | 31 | 18 | |
| Borac Čačak | 1993–94 | Second League of FR Yugoslavia | — | |||||||
| 1994–95 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 15 | 11 | — | 15 | 11 | ||||
| Total | 15 | 11 | — | 15 | 11 | |||||
| Partizan | 1994–95 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 7 | |
| 1995–96 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 32 | 16 | 7 | 2 | — | 39 | 18 | ||
| 1996–97 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 29 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 20 | |
| Total | 73 | 43 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 85 | 45 | ||
| Châteauroux | 1997–98 | French Division 1 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 3 | |
| 1998–99 | French Division 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1999–2000 | French Division 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 29 | 3 | |||
| Sartid Smederevo | 1999–2000 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| Sutjeska Nikšić | 2000–01 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 23 | 19 | 1 | 0 | — | 24 | 19 | |
| Partizan | 2001–02 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 29 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 13 |
| 2002–03 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro | 26 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 34 | 11 | |
| 2003–04 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 4 | |
| 2004–05 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 67 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 90 | 28 | ||
| Career total | 245 | 113 | 17 | 5 | 21 | 6 | 283 | 124 | ||
International
edit| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR Yugoslavia | 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
Honours
editPartizan
Rudar Pljevlja
Mogren
Individual
- Montenegrin First League top scorer: 2006–07
References
edit- ^ "VREMEPLOV: Čovek sa dinamitom u nogama, skoro svaki gol mu je bio za TV špice (VIDEO)" (in Serbian). hotsport.rs. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ "Damir Čakar" (in Serbian). partizanopedia.rs. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Za Čakara sezona završena!" (in Serbian). glas-javnosti.rs. 31 March 2000. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Čakar opet u Partizanu!" (in Serbian). glas-javnosti.rs. 6 July 2001. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ^ "Damir Čakar u Rudaru iz Pljevalja" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ^ "Mogren osvojio Kup Crne Gore" (in Montenegrin). rtvbudva.me. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "Čakar Damir" (in Serbian). reprezentacija.rs. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Juriš na Čilaverta" (in Serbian). glas-javnosti.rs. 26 June 2001. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ^ "ZVANIČNO Iliev novi sportski direktor Partizana, Čakar i Pantić skauti" (in Serbian). blic.rs. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ "Novi trener predstavljen u Novom Pazaru" (in Serbian). radiostoplus.com. 16 October 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Pola vijeka od osvajanja prve titule prvaka Crne Gore" (in Montenegrin). pvportal.me. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ^ "Šest decenija sa imenom Rudara" (in Montenegrin). pvportal.me. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
External links
edit- Damir Čakar at WorldFootball.net
- Damir Čakar at National-Football-Teams.com