Andraž Kirm
Andraž Kirm ( born September 6, 1984 in Ljubljana) is a Slovenian football player. Since the season 2012/13, the midfielder is the Dutch first division club FC Groningen under contract.
Club career
Kirm began his career in the youth of the small NK Šmartno in his hometown of Ljubljana. At the age of 18 he signed his first contract with the then Slovenian third division side NK Slovan Ljubljana. After two seasons with sporadic periods of use, the next career move was followed by the second division side NK Svoboda Ljubljana.
In Svoboda he had in his debut season in a difficult position The team was over the entire season in a relegation battle, which they found very little use for the then strong play -back. At the end of the season the club managed with table in eighth place in the league, Kirm had completed only 8 league games. In the season 2004/ 05 then followed by his breakthrough. Kirm was brought forward from the outer defense in the right midfield, where he flourished normal. As leaders and thinkers in the game of Svoboda he led the team from relegation candidates to promotion aspirant who was missed by just under three table space. Kirm was the discovery of the season and was able to choose from several offers from various Slovenian first division.
He opted for an offer of freshly baked runner- NK Domžale, making it the first time was at a club outside of Ljubljana under contract. In Domžale he needed again again almost an entire season before he was able to establish itself as a regular player. He came in 29 games this season for use, but most of it was undertaken as an exchange player. The club had to again settle for the runner-up title with two points behind ND Gorica.
In the season 2006/ 07 he achieved a breakthrough in the Slovenska Nogometna league. With six goals and nine assists he pressed the play of Domžale similar to his mark, as in his last season in Slovan. In the attack-minded system of the club with three strikers, he convinced as an inspiration from the right side, the excellent harmonize especially with the play strong Sebastjan Cimirotic and Zlatan Ljubijankič. Together with Ljubijankič and Branko Ilič he formed a strong right axis, over which ran most of the attacking play. At the end of the season he celebrated with the club the first title in the club's history. Despite his strong performance but was initially ignored by national coach Branko Oblak.
The following season he lost after the departure of Ilič to Betis Sevilla its direct Hintermann, which team Internally compensated with the much more defensive Luka Elsner. This Kirm got more freedom which was reflected in his offensive performance. With nine goals and eleven assists he set a new Karrierebestmarke, Domžale defended the title in the SN- League and Kirm celebrated under the newly appointed national coach Matjaž Kek his debut for Slovenia.
For the season 2008/ 09 with left Ljubijankič and Dario Zahora two performers the club that you could not replace. The consistently inexperienced team presented itself often overburdened, which also Kirm despite some notable achievements could not compensate. At the end of the season they finished a disappointing fifth in overall place, after which he announced his retirement in front of the club. Long time indicated, in consequence, a change to Italy Chievo Verona, who did not come finally to pass.
Early July 2009, the then reigning at that time Polish champions Wisła Kraków, the player's commitment known. In Wisła him a central role in the midfield diamond of the team was meant for, in which he could place seamlessly. In his debut season in Poland, he came in all 30 regular season games for use, but could not play his offensive strength. With three goals and four assists fell short of expectations. The team missed three points behind Lech Poznan to defend the title. In the season 2010/11 he found, however, back to its former strength and had nine goals and seven assists instrumental in the championship won.
End of August 2012 changed Kirm for 300,000 euros to the Dutch first division club FC Groningen. He signed a two-year contract until June 2014 with the option of a further year.
National
Kirm debuted on 22 August 2007 in a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Montenegro for the Slovenian national football team.
In consequence he was under coach Matjaž Kek already in the remaining qualifying matches for the 2008 European football championships in Austria and Switzerland starting players in the team. Slovenia failed as a table sixth in Group G but clearly the goal finals.
In qualifying for the World Cup 2010, he was a cornerstone in the midfield system of Kek. He came in all the qualifying games for use and the 5-0 home win against San Marino scored a goal for intermediate 3-0.
On 1 June 2010 he was nominated by Kek of Slovenia in the final squad for the finals in South Africa. A failure to take account of the player would be a big surprise come the same since he had been called before the squad announcement of Kek as one of its key players.
Achievements
- 2x Slovenian Champion: 2007, 2008
- 1x Slovenian Super Cup: 2007
- 1x Polish Champion: 2011