Bojan Krkić
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
| File:BojanKrkic.jpg | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bojan Krkić Pérez | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | FC Barcelona | ||
| Number | 27 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 September 2007 | |||
Bojan Krkić Pérez (IPA: [ˈbɔjan 'kr.kiʨ]) (Serbian Cyrillic: Бојан Кркић) (born August 28, 1990 in Lleida, Catalonia, Spain), is a 34-year-old Spanish footballer of Catalan-Serbian origin, who plays for FC Barcelona in Spain.
He is widely considered to be one of the most promising young talents of his time. His father, also named Bojan, is a Serb, and also a footballer, who played for Red Star Belgrade in the 1980s.[2] After moving to Spain his father married Maria Lluïsa Pérez, a Catalan nurse, [3] and became a scout for Barcelona in 1997. [4] He possess both a Spanish and Serbian passport, and so is allowed to choose for which country he plays for should he be called up by them.
Career
Early years
Bojan joined the Barcelona FC's cantera in 1999, and scored 960 goals in seven years, breaking all previous goal scoring records held at the clubs youth levels.[5] A quick striker, with quite notable dribbling skills, Bojan shot to prominence at the UEFA European Under 17 Championships in Luxembourg in May 2006 when he was joint top-scorer. He achieved this despite being a year younger than most of the other players in the tournament and only playing 45 minutes in four out of five of Spain Under-17s matches. He scored a hat-trick against Luxembourg before inspiring his side to a 3-0 victory over the eventual champions Russia, with all of the goals being scored with him on the pitch as a second half sub. In the third match of the tournament, he scored a penalty after once again being introduced at half time. He started the semi-final against the Czech Republic but after his team mate Roberto García was sent off, Spain struggled and lost 2-0 in a shock result. In the third-place play-off Bojan was once again a second half sub and scored the opener on 53 minutes. When the match went to penalties, he scored and his side won 5-4 to finish third. In the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, Bojan led Spain to victory scoring the only goal against England in the final. He also scored in the semi-final against Belgium.
Bojan was playing the 2006/2007 season with the FC Barcelona B team and signed a professional contract when he turned 17. He now plays for Barcelona A team.
Bojan played his first match with Barcelona on April 24, 2007 scoring a goal in a friendly match against Al-Ahly. The match ended with a 4-0 for FC Barcelona.[6] Bojan also featured in Barcelona's 2007 pre-season trip to Scotland, where he earned many plaudits as a result of his exciting second-half cameos against Dundee United and Heart of Midlothian F.C..
There was controversy surrounding Bojan's call up to the Spain U-17 squad for the U-17 2007 World Cup in Korea, because Barcelona wanted to keep him so that he could be part of their Asian Tour. The Spanish FA denied the grant, and more controversy happened when the Spanish FA denied one of Barcelona's medics, Ricard Pruna, to accompany Bojan to the tournament to monitor the player because of a problem with a tendon in his knee.[7]
During the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he scored 5 goals, finishing joint 3rd top scorer along with Germany and Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos. He was insperational into leading Spain to the final. However, in the semi-final against Ghana, Bojan was sent off for his 2nd yellow cards with only seconds left to play. He was suspended for the final and as a result Spain lost to Nigeria on penalties. Because of his fantastic performances, Bojan was given the adidas Bronze Ball, naming him the 3rd best player in the tournament, behind Macauley Chrisantus (Silver Ball) and Toni Kroos (Golden Ball).[8]
2007-2008 Season
La Liga debut
On September 16, he made his debut for FC Barcelona against Osasuna coming on at the 78th minute for Giovani Dos Santos. For the short 12 minutes or so he was on the pitch he managed to dazzle the crowd. With the match having just gone into extra time, Bojan did an unbelievable piece of skill where he was put through on goal by Andres Iniesta. The goalkeeper came out to claim the ball, but Bojan beat him to it, and proceeded to flick the ball over him by doing the rainbow. [9]
On 19 September 2007, Bojan made his Champions League debut against Lyon coming on at the 88th minute for Lionel Messi. He is now the youngest player ever to feature in a Champions League game at 17 years old and 22 days. He made his 2nd Champions League appearance on the 2 October 2007, coming on at the 81st minute for Ronaldinho against Stuttgart. He also scored for the Spanish Under 21's in their 2-0 win over Poland on the 12 October 2007.
First goal in Spanish League
On 20 October 2007, Bojan made his first league start for Barcelona away to Villarreal and scored in the 25th minute. It was his first goal for the club's first team and it made him the youngest ever goalscorer for Barcelona in a league match.[10]
Honours
International
- FIFA U-17 World Cup
- Runner-up: 2007
- UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
- Winner: 2007
Individual
- 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup Bronze Ball
Club career statistics
- (correct as of 1 November, 2007)
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Barcelona B | 2006-07 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 3 |
| 2007-08 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 15 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 10 | 3 | |
| Barcelona | 2007–08 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 20 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 11 | 3 | |
References
- ^ a b Bojan Krkic profile by FCBarcelona.cat
- ^ Barcelona shines even without an injured Ronaldinho by International Herald Tribune on September 30, 2007.
- ^ Bojan Krkić timeline and stats by FootballDatabase.com.
- ^ Bojan Krkic: Europe's most talented 16-year-old? by Guardian Unlimited on May 3, 2007.
- ^ Clonati Ronaldinho e Messi by Gazzetta dello Sport on January 17, 2007. Template:It icon
- ^ Rijkaard And Txiki Delighted With Krkic by goal.com on April 25, 2007.
- ^ Worried Barcelona Lose Second Krkic Battle by goal.com on March 8, 2007.
- ^ http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/newsid=619596.html#medalists+make+waves
- ^ Bojan Krkic Magic by YouTube.com
- ^ Real Madrid and Barcelona have first Spanish league defeats by International Herald Tribune on October 20, 2007.