Branislav Ivanović

Branislav Ivanović (born 22 February 1984) is a Serbian professional footballer, currently playing for Chelsea in the Premier League. He is a versatile defensive player, able to play across the defence and in defensive midfielder.

Early life

Born to father Rade and mother Slavica, both of whom have sporting backgrounds, young Branislav took to football early in the youth sections of hometown FK Srem, the club his father also turned out for professionally, playing the defensive positions of sweeper and centre-half.

Club career

Early career

Ivanović began his career in his home town with FK Srem, before transferring to OFK Beograd in December 2003, during the 2003-04 winter transfer window.

Lokomotiv Moscow

After three years of playing in the Serbian Superliga, the first division of football in Serbia and previously Montenegro, he was signed by FC Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2006. Coached by compatriot Slavoljub Muslin, 22-year-old Ivanović made an immediate impact, appearing in 28 league matches, scoring 2 goals, and picking up 5 bookings along the way. He was substituted only twice during the entire league season and contributed greatly to Lokomotiv's legitimate title challenge that ultimately ran out of steam near the end of the season. He sealed his place as a regular in the Serbian national team during his career in Russia.

In the following season, Ivanović, by now an established squad member, made 26 league appearances and scored 3 goals. During his time with Lokomotiv Moscow, the only major honour he won was the Russian Cup in 2007.

Chelsea

 On 15 January 2008, Chelsea confirmed that the club had agreed terms with Lokomotiv for Ivanović's £9 million transfer subject to the agreement of personal terms and the passing of a medical, having beaten competition from the likes of AC Milan, AFC Ajax, Juventus and Internazionale for his signature. Lokomotiv Moscow announced the transfer fee of Ivanović was €13 million (£9.7 million). According to the club, the transfer was the largest in Russian football history. Ivanović signed a three-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea the following day. He was given the number 2 shirt.

Despite the substantial price tag, Ivanović did not make a first team appearance for Chelsea during the 2007–08 season under manager Avram Grant. The reason given by the club was a lack of match fitness as a result of the Russian league season's conclusion several months before his signing. However, he did play twice for the Chelsea reserve side.

All throughout the summer 2008 off-season, Ivanović was linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge, most notably to Milan and Juventus. However, he got the vote of confidence from new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari who said Ivanović featured in his plans for the new season.

More than eight months after becoming a Chelsea player, Ivanović started his first senior game for the club against Portsmouth in the Carling Cup on 24 September 2008. He later went on to make his Premier League debut against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on 5 October, which Chelsea won 2–0. He has played a total of nine games in the 2008–09 season under Scolari's tenure.

In the January 2009 transfer window, Ivanović became a transfer target for another Serie A club, Fiorentina. On 27 January, his agent Vlado Borozan confirmed ongoing negotiations with the club, however on 1 February, Italian manager Ernesto Broseti said that Chelsea appeared unwilling to sell Ivanović and that he will likely remain in London, which is what happened in the end.

His first start under new manager Guus Hiddink came on 4 April away at Newcastle United. It was Ivanović's first league appearance in more than three months for the club and it happened only days after he scored the winning goal for the Serbian national team in a World Cup 2010 qualifier away at Romania.

He scored his first goal for Chelsea against Liverpool in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final at Anfield, he later went on to score another. These two goals proved to be decisive, as Chelsea left Anfield leading 1–3 on aggregate.

International career

Under-21

He took part in the 2006 U-21 Championships in Portugal, where he made four appearances and scored one goal for Serbia and Montenegro. Ivanović was given the captain's armband during this time and continues to captain the side. He is considered by many as one of Serbia's best young players. He was named in the 'UEFA Team of the tournament' for the 2007 U-21 Championships held in the Netherlands, where Serbia finished runners-up.

Senior

Branislav Ivanović received his first cap on 8 June 2005 in Toronto, Canada, when Serbia and Montenegro played a friendly against Italy. The game finished 1-1 and he came on as a 77th minute sub for his then club teammate Marko Baša. Ivanović scored his first international goal on 12 September 2007 against Portugal in Lisbon. The goal was of importance because Serbia were losing 1-0 up until the 88th minute when Ivanović scored from a Dejan Stanković freekick, sealing a 1-1 draw. This game was played for Euro 2008 qualifying.

Despite not having a regular spot at his club, Ivanović continued being the automatic starting choice for Serbia in World Cup 2010 qualifiers under new head coach Radomir Antić. As of 29 March 2009, Ivanović is joint top-scorer of UEFA Group 7 with three goals in Serbia's World Cup 2010 qualification campaign.

Personal

Ivanović and his girlfriend Nataša, his neighbour from Sremska Mitrovica, got married in January 2008 in their hometown. The couple's son Stefan was born in July 2008.

On his mother's side, Ivanović is related to late footballer Đorđe Milovanović, also known as Đoka Bomba, a former Red Star Belgrade player, as well as his son Dejan Milovanović, also a professional footballer, currently playing for RC Lens in France.