Squad: SloveniaSquad Number: 22
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 25
Birth Date: Jul 14, 1984
Birth Place: Ljubljana
Height: 6' 5"
Weight: 194 lbs (88 kg)
Club: Udinese (Italy)
International Caps: 38
Club History
Rimini (ITA): 2006-2007
Lazio (ITA): 2006-2006
Treviso (ITA): 2005-2006
Udinese (ITA): 2004-2005
BST Domzale (SVN): 2003-2004
from Wikipedia
Samir Handanovic, (born 14 July 1984) is a Slovenian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Italian club Udinese and the Slovenian national team.
Handanovic started his career at Domžale. He was signed by Udinese in summer 2004. He was on loan to Treviso in summer 2005, but in January 2006, he was exchanged with Matteo Sereni to Lazio.
In July 2006, he was loaned to Rimini, joining Rimini's other loaned players, Digão of AC Milan and Ahmed Barusso of A.S. Roma. The club finished 5th in the Serie B and conceded the 4th least number of goals in the league. He returned to Udinese in summer 2007, where he replaced Morgan De Sanctis, and signed a new and improved contract which will last until 30 June 2012. He signed the contract along teammates Asamoah Gyan and Fabio Quagliarella.
His elder cousin, Jasmin Handanovic played for FC Koper before moving to A.C. Mantova in 2007. They both play as goalkeepers for the Slovenian national team.
from from ESPN SoccerNet
One of the better-known players in the Slovenia squad, Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic has attracted attention from some of Europe's biggest teams after some impressive displays for club and country.
Born in 1984, Handanovic began his career with Slovenian side NK Domzale but his talent was quickly recognised and he joined Udinese in 2004, spending time on loan at Treviso, Lazio and Rimini before establishing himself as first-choice with the Bianconeri.
For his country, he was a key part of the qualification campaign as Slovenia he conceded just four goals in their ten group games, and his performances in both legs of their play-off with Russia made all the difference in producing a major upset.
Strengths: Handanovic is very agile and has the ability to produce spectacular saves. He is also has experience of quality opposition from playing in Serie A and, at 6ft 5in, he's unlikely to be beaten for height. He's also considered a penalty-saving expert.
Weaknesses: He is not always convincing on crosses and has a tendency to punch.
Career high: He was excellent in restricting Russia to two goals in Slovenia's 2-1 defeat in the World Cup play-off first leg and then put in another superb showing late on in the second leg as his side held out for a 1-0 win to book their place in South Africa.
Career low: Handanovic struggled to make an impact in Italy on his arrival, making just a handful of appearances during loan spells at Treviso and Lazio, and was ready to move on before he eventually given his chance.
Style: Acrobatic, brave.
Trivia: His elder cousin Jasmin is Slovenia's back-up keeper.
Quotes: "The backbone of our team is made up of keeper Samir Handanovic, captain Robert Koren and myself." Milivoje Novakovic, November 2009.
from FIFA.com
Gianluigi Buffon has hailed him as “one of the best goalkeepers in Italy”, while Slovenian fans consider him to be among the finest in the world. For Samir Handanovic, South Africa 2010 offers the chance to show the rest of planet football just why he is considered one of his position’s rising stars.
Still just 25, the Udinese No1 will arrive at the FIFA World Cup with his role as Slovenia’s undisputed first-choice keeper all but assured. That status has been earned over several years, but most notably during a South Africa 2010 qualifying campaign that witnessed Handanovic marshal, arguably, the meanest defence in the entire European Zone. A figure of three goals conceded in eight group matches tells the story of the young keeper’s preliminary heroics, which culminated in an all-important clean sheet in that memorable and decisive victory over Russia on 18 November.
Though his family are of Bosnian descent, Handanovic himself was born in Ljubljana on 14 July 1984 and took his first steps towards a professional career with Slovenian minnows Slovan Mavrica and Zagorje between 2002 and 2003. His promise already evident, the 6ft 5ins keeper was picked up by top flight outfit Domzale, but made just seven appearances for the club before Udinese swooped in the summer of 2004.
Handanovic had just turned 20, but just a few months later, on 17 November 2004, he made his international debut, keeping a clean sheet in a friendly meeting with Slovakia. It was to be a sign of things to come, although the youngster’s Udinese bow – which came only three days later – proved somewhat less straightforward, with Handanovic conceding four goals and an earning a last-minute red card as I Zebrette edged Lecce in a nine-goal thriller.
This dramatic introduction didn’t prevent him from returning to the side a few months later, but Udinese decided that he would benefit from first team football elsewhere, and so began a two-season period out on loan with Treviso, Lazio and, most successfully, Rimini. By the end of Handanovic’s stint in Serie B, Udinese had seen enough. He returned in 2007 and has been the club’s first-choice keeper ever since, with his assured performances, aerial ability and penalty-saving prowess earning him the nickname Il Portiere (The Doorman).
Handanovic, whose elder cousin, Jasmin Handanovic, acts as his understudy with the national team, will now head to the FIFA World Cup as one of Slovenia’s most important and influential players. With several major clubs reported to be monitoring his progress, it promises to be a tournament to remember for the Zmajceki No1.
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