Sasa Ognenovski

Sasa Ognenovski (Macedonian: Саша Огненовски, romanized: Saša Ognenovski; born 3 April 1979) is an Australian retired soccer player who played as a central defender, who played for the Australia national team on 22 occasions, and who last played for Sydney FC in the A-League.^[2] He is currently work as director of football at Preston Lions.

Sasa Ognenovski

Ognenovski in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Sasa Ognenovski[1]
Date of birth	(1979-04-03) 3 April 1979 (age 45)[1]
Place of birth	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Height	1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Preston Lions (director of football)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2000	Preston Lions	88	(8)
2000–2002	Melbourne Knights	51	(0)
2002–2003	Panachaiki	2	(0)
2003–2004	Preston Lions	26	(5)
2005	Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues	16	(2)
2006–2008	Queensland Roar	38	(2)
2008–2009	Adelaide United	23	(3)
2009–2012	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	80	(9)
2012–2014	Umm-Salal	29	(1)
2014–2015	Sydney FC	16	(3)
2017–2018	Preston Lions	2	(0)
2022–2023	Preston Lions	6	(0)
International career‡
2010–2013	Australia	22	(1)
Managerial career
2019–2020	Dandenong City (assistant)
2020–2021	Dandenong City
2022–2023	Preston Lions (assistant) & (technical director)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Australia AFC Asian Cup Runner-up 2011 Qatar
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 August 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 December 2013

In 2010, he was named Asian Footballer of the Year,^[3] won a position in the K-League Best XI, and won the AFC Champions League with Seongnam. These achievements led to his inclusion in the Australian squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Alongside Robert Cornthwaite and Eli Babalj, Ognenovski, at 1.95 m, is the joint third tallest player to have played for the Australia national soccer team, behind Zeljko Kalac (2.02 m) and Harry Souttar (1.98 m).^[4]

Club career

He previously played with Macedonian side Preston Lions in the 1997–2000 and 2003–2004 seasons, then with Melbourne Knights in the 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 seasons, and in the 2002–2003 season with Greek side Panahaiki, and then with Queensland Roar until transferring to Adelaide United FC in February 2008 to play in the Asian Champions League, starting in March 2008.

Ognenovski played his 50th A-League match against Sydney FC^[5] on 22 November 2008 scoring the opening goal, his first for Adelaide, in the 2–0 win at Hindmarsh Stadium.^[6] He followed this up a week later scoring a dramatic equaliser in Adelaide's 1–1 draw with Newcastle Jets heading in from another set piece.^[7]

In January 2009 it was revealed that Ognenovski was a target for K-League club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma but the initial bid of A$285,000 was rejected^[8] with Adelaide asking for a transfer fee of $570,000. He was also a transfer target of another K-League side, FC Seoul, who sent officials to negotiate the fee with Adelaide.^[9]

The transfer saga was resolved on Tuesday 13 January 2009 when Adelaide United revealed Ognenovski would join Seongnam at the end of the A-League 2008-09 season on a two-year deal. The defender gave a glowing tribute to the club upon the announcement saying, "I’ve met some great people, the owners Nick and Dario are probably the best people I’ve met in football so it is a tough decision but obviously I have to secure my future and look after my family so that was the main reason that I took up the offer".^[10]

Ognenovski was voted the second best Macedonian footballer of 2008, behind Inter Milan's Goran Pandev.^[11] In 2010, in his second season with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Ognenovski captained the team to victory in the AFC Champions League. He scored the opening goal of the match as Seongnam defeated Zob Ahan 3–1 in the final. Ognenovski was named the Man of the Match and the tournament's Most Valuable Player.^[12][13]

On 7 July 2012, Ognenovski moved to Umm-Salal Sports Club in the Qatar Stars League after an outstanding three-year spell at Seongnam.^[14] Ognenovski made his debut for Umm-Salal Sports Club on 21 October 2012 in the 1–1 away draw to Al Kharitiyath.^[15][16]

On 4 February 2014, Ognenovski moved back to the A-League to sign with Sydney FC. He scored his first goal against Newcastle Jets assisted by Italian marquee Alessandro Del Piero.

On 8 October 2014, Ogenovski, along with Nikola Petković were appointed Sydney FC's vice-captains for 2014.^[2] His first goal for the 2014–15 A-league season came in Rd 2 against Western Sydney Wanderers won by Sydney 3–2. Ogenovski appeared to score a goal, but it was ruled an own goal by Romeo Castelen. However, Ogenovski was suspended following the match for striking Vítor Saba in the head.^[17]

Ognenovski was released by Sydney on 3 June 2015.^[18]

International career

Ognenovski was eligible to represent Australia, but after not being selected for 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification matches against Indonesia and Kuwait, he expressed his disappointment and put himself up for selection for the country of his heritage, Macedonia (now North Macedonia). Although not available to play (due to not having yet received FIFA clearance), Ognenovski was called by Srečko Katanec to play for Macedonia in the match against Moldova on 11 February 2009, although he did not feature due to issues with his eligibility.^[19][20]

After dashing his hopes for playing for the Socceroos under the late Pim Verbeek, new manager Holger Osieck called him up for a friendly against Egypt in Cairo, Egypt,^[21][22] and he was subsequently named in the 23-man 2011 AFC Asian Cup squad. Throughout the AFC Asian cup, he started every match and developed a solid defensive partnership with Lucas Neill, and scored the second goal in Australia's 6–0 defeat of Uzbekistan in the semi-finals.

Managers career

He is first coaching of the NPL Victoria team Dandenong City.^[23]

Honours

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma

• AFC Champions League: 2010
• Korean FA Cup: 2011

International

• AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2011

Individual

• AFC Asian Footballer of the Year: 2010
• AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player: 2010
• K-League Best XI: 2010

Career statistics

Club statistics

As of 21 March 2014

Club	Season	League1		Cup2		International3		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Preston Lions	1997–98	25	1					25	1
	1998–99	30	3					30	3
	1999–2000	34	4					34	4
	Total	88	8	-	-	-	-	88	8
Melbourne Knights	2000–01	23	0					23	0
	2001–02	28						28	0
	Total	51	0	-	-	-	-	51	0
Panachaiki	2002–03	2	0	2	0			4	0
	Total	2	0	2	0	-	-	4	0
Preston Lions	2003–04	26	5					26	5
	Total	26	5	-	-	-	-	26	5
Fawkner-Whittlesea Blues	2005	16	2					16	2
	Total	16	2	-	-	-	-	16	2
Queensland Roar	2006–07	17	0	5	0	0	0	22	0
	2007–08	21	2	5	1	0	0	26	3
	Total	38	2	10	1	-	-	48	3
Adelaide United	2008–09	23	3	1	0	11	0	35	3
	Total	23	3	1	0	11	0	35	3
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	2009	24	2	11	0	-	-	35	2
	2010	25	3	6	0	11	2	42	5
	2011	24	5	9	2	-	-	33	7
	2012	11	0	1	0	5	0	17	0
	Total	84	10	27	2	16	2	127	14
Umm Salal	2012–13	18	1	0	0	-	-	18	1
	Total	18	1	0	0	0	0	18	1
Sydney FC	2013–14	6	1	0	0	0	0	6	1
	2014–15	6	2	1	0	0	0	7	2
	Total	12	3	1	0	0	0	13	3
Total		358	33	41	3	27	2	416	38

¹ – includes A-League final series statistics; K-League playoff statistics
² – includes League Cup statistics
³ – includes FIFA Club World Cup statistics; AFC Champions League statistics are included in season commencing after group stages (i.e. 2008 ACL in 2008–09 A-League season etc.)

International statistics

Australia national team Year Apps Goals 2010 1 0 2011 9 1 Total 10 1

International appearances and goals # Date Venue Opponent Result Goals Competition 2010 1. 17 November 2010 Cairo, Egypt  Egypt 0–3 0 Friendly 2011 2. 5 January 2011 Al Ain, United Arab Emirates  United Arab Emirates 0–0 0 Friendly 3. 10 January 2011 Doha, Qatar  India 4–0 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup 4. 14 January 2011 Doha, Qatar  South Korea 1–1 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup 5. 18 January 2011 Doha, Qatar  Bahrain 1–0 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup 6. 22 January 2011 Doha, Qatar  Iraq 1–0 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup 7. 25 January 2011 Doha, Qatar  Uzbekistan 6–0 1 2011 AFC Asian Cup 8. 29 January 2011 Doha, Qatar  Japan 0–1 0 2011 AFC Asian Cup 9. 29 March 2011 Mönchengladbach, Germany  Germany 2–1 0 Friendly 10. 7 June 2011 Melbourne, Australia  Serbia 0–0 0 Friendly

Honours

Australia

• AFC Asian Cup: runner-up 2011^[24]

References

1. "FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008 Presented By TOYOTA — List Of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2008.
2. "Brosque to skipper Sydney". Australian FourFourTwo. 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
3. "Ognenovski crowned AFC player of the year". FIFA. 24 November 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
4. Smithies, Tom. "World Cup qualifiers: Harry Souttar poised to become second-tallest Socceroo in clash against Kuwait". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
5. "Ognenovski set to play 50 in Hyundai A-League". Adelaide United. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
6. Wilson, Marcus (22 November 2008). "Reds win well". A-League. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
7. "Adelaide snatches last minute equaliser against Jets". Adelaide United. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
8. Migliaccio, Val (2 January 2009). "Ognenovski livid as Reds block his transfer". AdelaideNow. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
9. Migliaccio, Val (3 January 2009). "Two K-League clubs battle for Sasa Ognenovski's signature". Fox Sport. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
10. "Ognenovski wants to make most of final season with Reds". Adelaide United. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
11. "Sasa's The Pride of Macedonia". Australian FourFourTwo. 2 January 2009. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
12. "Seongnam skipper Sasa scoops MVP award". Asian Football Confederation. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
13. "Ognenovski caps dream week". The World Game. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
14. "Umm Salal seal Ognenovski deal". official website. Qatar Stars League. 7 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
15. "S. Ognenovski". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
16. "Al Kharitiyath vs. Umm Salal - 20 October 2012". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
17. "A Leagues - KEEPUP".
18. Hassett, Sebastian (3 June 2015). "All change at Sydney FC as Graham Arnold dumps key players and lose Bernie Ibini". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
19. Football Federation of Macedonia (in Macedonian)
20. MacedonianFootball.com (in English)
21. Taylor, John (9 November 2010). "Socceroos coach Holger Osieck calls up Sasa Ognenovski". Herald Sun. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
22. Barton, Joe (9 November 2010). "'Scary' Sasa finally gets Australian call". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
23. Jacob Windon (17 September 2019). "Dandenong City appoint Ognenovski as head coach". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
24. "AFC Asian Cup 2011, Australian Squad". Retrieved 14 October 2024.

External links

• Adelaide United profile
• Oz Football profile
• Profile at MacedonianFootball.com
• Sasa Ognenovski – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean)
• soccerway.com
• Sasa Ognenovski at Soccerway
• worldfootball.net