Quick Facts
Biography
Jovica "Jovo" Simanić (Serbian Cyrillic: Joвицa "Joвo" Cимaнић; born 8 August 1965) is a Serbian retired footballer who played as a central defender.
Football career
Born in Zrenjanin, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Simanić started and ended his 11-year professional career with hometown club FK Proleter Zrenjanin, but also played abroad in Germany and Portugal: in January 1992 he joined VfB Stuttgart, appearing almost exclusively for the reserve team. On 30 September 1992, in his only appearance for the main squad, a UEFA Champions League playoff game against Leeds United, he was introduced in the last minutes of the 1–4 away loss by manager Christoph Daum, causing Stuttgart to play with one foreign player too many; the Germans would have won on the away goals rule but, after being punished with a 0–3 defeat instead, the two teams had to play a third match, which ended 2–1 for the English.
Simanić then represented S.L. Benfica (being called to the bench two times) and Boavista FC (six official games) in the Primeira Liga, after which he competed in the country's second (F.C. Famalicão) and third divisions (A.D. Ovarense). Aged 32 he returned to his country and Proleter, retiring from football three years later.