Slobodan Santrač

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Slobodan Santrač

| image = Slobodan Santrač crop.jpg

| caption = Santrač in 1972

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|07|01|df=y}}

| birth_place = Koceljeva, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|02|13|1946|07|01|df=y}}

| death_place = Belgrade, Serbia

| height = 1.71 m

| position = Striker

| youthyears1 = 1957–1958

| youthclubs1 = Takovo

| youthyears2 = 1958–1959

| youthclubs2 = Radnički Valjevo

| youthyears3 = 1959–1965

| youthclubs3 = Metalac Valjevo

| years1 = 1965–1974

| clubs1 = OFK Beograd

| caps1 = 244

| goals1 = 169

| years2 = 1974–1976

| clubs2 = Grasshoppers

| caps2 = 42

| goals2 = 29

| years3 = 1976–1977

| clubs3 = OFK Beograd

| caps3 = 40

| goals3 = 17

| years4 = 1978–1980

| clubs4 = Partizan

| caps4 = 63

| goals4 = 29

| years5 = 1980–1983

| clubs5 = Galenika Zemun

| caps5 = 56

| goals5 = 31

| totalcaps = 445

| totalgoals = 275

| nationalyears1 = 1966–1974

| nationalteam1 = Yugoslavia

| nationalcaps1 = 8

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| manageryears1 = 1994–1998

| managerclubs1 = FR Yugoslavia

| manageryears2 = 1999–2000

| managerclubs2 = Shandong Luneng

| manageryears3 = 2001

| managerclubs3 = Saudi Arabia

| manageryears4 = 2005

| managerclubs4 = FYR Macedonia

| manageryears5 = 2008

| managerclubs5 = Changsha Ginde

| manageryears6 = 2009

| managerclubs6 = Qingdao Jonoon

| manageryears7 = 2011

| managerclubs7 = Shaanxi Renhe

}}

Slobodan Santrač ({{Lang-sr-Cyrl|Слободан Сантрач}}, {{IPA|sh|slobǒdan sântraːtʃ|pron}}; 1 July 1946 – 13 February 2016) was a Serbian football manager and player.

He is the all-time top scorer of the Yugoslav First League with a total of 218 goals,{{Cite web | url=http://www.arhiva.srbija.gov.rs/vesti/2000-01/11/17370.html | title=Kraljevi strelaca | language=sr | publisher=srbija.gov.rs | access-date=11 June 2015}} as well as the top scorer in the history of OFK Beograd. According to the Brazilian outlet Almanaque dos Artilheiros, he is the fourth highest topscorer in history with 1301 goals{{Cite web|url=https://90soccer.com/the-soccer-players-who-scored-the-most-goals-in-the-history-of-the-sport-since-the-19th-century/|title=Who scored the most goals in history?|last=Salmon|first=Ken |date=31 October 2021|publisher=90soccer.com}} including all matches (youth and official friendlies). As a manager, Santrač reached the knockout stage at the 1998 FIFA World Cup with FR Yugoslavia.{{Cite web | url=http://www.arhiva.srbija.gov.rs/vesti/1999-06/12/13274.html | title=Deseto mesto u svetu - uspeh ili ne? | language=sr | publisher=srbija.gov.rs | access-date=11 June 2015}}

Club career

Born in Koceljeva, Santrač grew up in Gornji Milanovac, starting out at local club Takovo.{{Cite web | url=https://www.rts.rs/page/radio/sr/story/23/radio-beograd-1/848092/sportski-spomenar.html | title=Sportski spomenar | language=sr | publisher=rts.rs | date=27 February 2011 | access-date=13 November 2021}} He moved with his family to Valjevo in 1958 and soon joined Radnički, which merged into Metalac Valjevo in 1959. Due to his promising performances in the Serbian League, Santrač was transferred to Yugoslav First League club OFK Beograd in the summer of 1965.{{Cite web | url=https://www.mozzartsport.com/fudbal/vesti/intervju-nedeljom-slobodan-santrac-cica-je-rekao-da-fudbal-ne-sme-da-stane/170027 | title=INTERVJU NEDELJOM - Slobodan Santrač: Čiča je rekao da fudbal ne sme da stane! | language=sr | publisher=mozzartsport.com | date=30 November 2014 | access-date=11 June 2015}} He spent nine seasons with the Romantičari, totaling 244 league appearances and scoring 169 goals. During that time, Santrač was the Yugoslav First League top scorer on four occasions (1968, 1970, 1972, and 1973). He also won the Yugoslav Cup in 1966, scoring a brace in the final against Dinamo Zagreb.

In 1974, after completing his mandatory military service,{{Cite web | url=http://www.yugopapir.com/2013/07/zvezde-u-jna-vojnik-slobodan-santrac.html | title=Zvezde u JNA - Vojnik Slobodan Santrač raportira ocu Danetu (1973) | language=sr | publisher=yugopapir.com | access-date=11 June 2015}} Santrač moved abroad and joined Swiss club Grasshoppers. He was their best scorer in both seasons during his stay with them,{{Cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwittops.html | title=Switzerland - List of Topscorers | website=RSSSF | access-date=11 June 2015}} before returning to OFK Beograd near the end of the 1975–76 season. Santrač was transferred to Partizan in the winter of 1978, winning the league just a few months upon arriving at the club.{{Cite web | url=https://partizanopedia.rs/slobodansantrac.html | title=Slobodan Santrač | language=sr | publisher=partizanopedia.rs | access-date=13 November 2021}} He spent two more seasons with the Crno-beli, before switching to Yugoslav Second League side Galenika Zemun in the 1980–81 season as part of the deal for Dragan Mance. With 19 goals in 1981–82, Santrač helped the team win promotion to the top flight for the first time ever. He retired from playing in 1983.

International career

Despite being a prolific scorer during his entire club career, Santrač never established himself at international level, making just eight friendly appearances (only 110 minutes played) for Yugoslavia between 1966 and 1974.{{Cite web | url=http://www.reprezentacija.rs/santrac-slobodan/ | title=Santrač Slobodan | language=sr | publisher=reprezentacija.rs | access-date=13 November 2021}} His first cap for the national team came on 1 June 1966 in a 2–0 loss to Bulgaria and his only goal later that month against Sweden, in a game that ended in a 1–1 draw.{{Cite web | url=http://www.ofkbeograd.co.rs/index.php?tip=text&page=18 | title=Slobodan Santrač | language=sr | publisher=ofkbeograd.co.rs | access-date=11 June 2015}}

Managerial career

In December 1994, Santrač started his managerial career at the helm of the national team of FR Yugoslavia, while the country was still under UN sanctions. He served as their manager for almost four years, qualifying the team for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.{{Cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_80000/newsid_84200/84235.stm | title=The Yugoslavia Squad | publisher=bbc.co.uk | date=3 May 1998 | access-date=11 June 2015}} Later on, Santrač moved to China and took charge of Shandong Luneng, winning the double in 1999.{{Cite web | url=http://arhiva.glas-javnosti.rs/arhiva/1999/12/14/srpski/S99121305.shtm | title=Kineski car | language=sr | publisher=glas-javnosti.rs | date=13 December 1999 | access-date=11 June 2015}} He was also manager of Saudi Arabia (2001),{{Cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1513102.stm | title=Santrac loses Saudi job | publisher=bbc.co.uk | date=28 August 2001 | access-date=11 June 2015}} and Macedonia (2005).{{Cite web | url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=329031.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103154345/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=329031.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 November 2015 | title=Santrac quits as F.Y.R. Macedonia coach | publisher=UEFA | date=23 August 2005 | access-date=11 June 2015}}

Death

Santrač died of a heart attack on 13 February 2016 at the age of 69.{{Cite web | url=https://www.b92.net/sport/fudbal/vesti.php?yyyy=2016&mm=02&dd=13&nav_id=1096579 | title=Preminuo Slobodan Santrač | language=sr | publisher=b92.net | date=13 February 2016 | access-date=13 November 2021}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.rts.rs/page/sport/sr/story/36/fudbal/2209925/preminuo-slobodan-santrac.html | title=Preminuo Slobodan Santrač | language=sr | publisher=rts.rs | date=13 February 2016 | access-date=13 November 2021}}

Career statistics

=Club=

Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{Cite web \| url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/santrac-in-ec.html \| title=Slobodan Santrac - Matches in European Cups \| website=RSSSF \| access-date=13 November 2021}} !rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
rowspan="3"\|Metalac Valjevo \|1963–64 \|Serbian League South		\|colspan="2"\|—
1964–65 \|Serbian League South		\|colspan="2"\|—
colspan="2"\|Total		!colspan="2"\|—
rowspan="10"\|OFK Beograd \|1965–66 \|Yugoslav First League \|26	20	colspan="2"\|—	26	20
1966–67 \|Yugoslav First League \|28	12	2	0	30	12
1967–68 \|Yugoslav First League \|28	22	colspan="2"\|—	28	22
1968–69 \|Yugoslav First League \|34	16	6	9	40	25
1969–70 \|Yugoslav First League \|31	20	colspan="2"\|—	31	20
1970–71 \|Yugoslav First League \|32	19	colspan="2"\|—	32	19
1971–72 \|Yugoslav First League \|34	33	4	2	38	35
1972–73 \|Yugoslav First League \|28	25	8	5	36	30
1973–74 \|Yugoslav First League \|3	2	0	0	3	2
colspan="2"\|Total !244	169	20	16	264	185
rowspan="3"\|Grasshoppers \|1974–75 \|Nationalliga A \|24	17	4	2	28	19
1975–76 \|Nationalliga A \|18	12	2	2	20	14
colspan="2"\|Total !42	29	6	4	48	33
rowspan="4"\|OFK Beograd \|1975–76 \|Yugoslav First League \|6	5	colspan="2"\|—	6	5
1976–77 \|Yugoslav First League \|29	11	colspan="2"\|—	29	11
1977–78 \|Yugoslav First League \|5	1	colspan="2"\|—	5	1
colspan="2"\|Total !40	17	colspan="2"\|—	40	17
rowspan="4"\|Partizan \|1977–78 \|Yugoslav First League \|16	11	colspan="2"\|—	16	11
1978–79 \|Yugoslav First League \|29	14	1	0	30	14
1979–80 \|Yugoslav First League \|18	4	colspan="2"\|—	18	4
colspan="2"\|Total !63	29	1	0	64	29
rowspan="4"\|Galenika Zemun \|1980–81 \|Yugoslav Second League \|14	9	colspan="2"\|—	14	9
1981–82 \|Yugoslav Second League \|24	19	colspan="2"\|—	24	19
1982–83 \|Yugoslav First League \|18	3	colspan="2"\|—	18	3
colspan="2"\|Total !56	31	colspan="2"\|—	56	31
colspan="3"\|Career total !445	275	27	20	472	295

=International=

colspan="2"\|Total	8	1
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{Cite web \| url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=18468 \| title=Slobodan Santrač, international football player \| publisher=eu-football.info \| access-date=13 November 2021}} !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
rowspan="9"\|Yugoslavia \|1966	3	1
1967	0	0
1968	0	0
1969	0	0
1970	0	0
1971	0	0
1972	4	0
1973	0	0
1974	1	0

=Managerial=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure{{Cite web \| url=http://ksa-team.com/english/coaches.php?id=10 \| title=Saudi Team - Slobodan Santrac \| publisher=ksa-team.com \| access-date=13 November 2021}} !rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="5"\|Record
width="30"\|{{Abbr\|P\|Matches played}} !width="30"\|{{Abbr\|W\|Matches won}} !width="30"\|{{Abbr\|D\|Matches drawn}} !width="30"\|{{Abbr\|L\|Matches lost}} !width="40"\|{{Abbr\|Win %\|Win percentage}}
align="left"\|FR Yugoslavia \|align="left"\|1994 \|align="left"\|1998 {{WDL\|43\|26\|10\|7}}
align="left"\|Saudi Arabia \|align="left"\|2001 \|align="left"\|2001 {{WDL\|7\|3\|2\|2}}
colspan="3"\|Total {{WDLtot\|50\|29\|12\|9}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure{{Cite web | url=http://ksa-team.com/english/coaches.php?id=10 | title=Saudi Team - Slobodan Santrac | publisher=ksa-team.com | access-date=13 November 2021}}

!rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="5"|Record

width="30"|{{Abbr|P|Matches played}}

!width="30"|{{Abbr|W|Matches won}}

!width="30"|{{Abbr|D|Matches drawn}}

!width="30"|{{Abbr|L|Matches lost}}

!width="40"|{{Abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}

align="left"|FR Yugoslavia

|align="left"|1994

|align="left"|1998

align="left"|Saudi Arabia

|align="left"|2001

colspan="3"|Total

Honours

=Player=

OFK Beograd

Yugoslav Cup: 1965–66

Partizan

Yugoslav First League: 1977–78
Mitropa Cup: 1977–78

Galenika Zemun

Yugoslav Second League: 1981–82

Individual

Yugoslav First League Top Scorer: 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73
European Bronze Shoe: 1971–72{{Cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/gboot.html | title=Golden Boot ("Soulier d'Or") Awards | website=RSSSF | access-date=1 July 2022}}