Steve Ogrizovic
Steven "Steve" Ogrizovic ( born September 12, 1957 in Mansfield) is an English former football goalkeeper. He came first at Liverpool on the role of the substitute 's not excessive, but then evolved after two years in Shrewsbury to the record player at Coventry City. In a total of 16 years, he completed 601 appearances for Coventry. In this case, the profit of the FA Cup in 1987 was his greatest success.
Sports career
About Chesterfield and Liverpool to Shrewsbury (1977-1984)
The son of a Yugoslav immigrant was initially only in the regional football in Mansfield worked. Rather, he sought as a cadet on a career as a police officer before the end of July 1977 at third division FC Chesterfield - signed his first contract as a professional footballer - less than 20 miles from Mansfield removed. Ogrizovic was there on August 20, 1977 in a 3-1 win against Port Vale his league debut and the first 16 games he remained equal to six times without conceding a goal. He was quick as a goalkeeper with great potential and already in November 1977 signed him the then reigning English champions Liverpool FC. The " Reds " paid for the transfer of a transfer fee of 70,000 pounds and " Oggy " as he was often called by teammates, should act behind goalkeeper Ray Clemence primarily as a hedge and " number 2 ".
So Ogrizovic stood in the following four and a half years, but also good for the most part in Clemences shadows. To make matters worse, that its first test on March 8, 1978 against Derby County with 2:4 something went wrong and henceforth he got little opportunity to recommend. By the summer of 1982 he played just four championship games, plus in December 1978 against RSC Anderlecht (2-1) a game in the European Cup of Champions. Finally, the club managements of Liverpool FC and Shrewsbury Town agreed to an exchange transaction with Bob Wardle and so Ogrizovic hired in August 1982 to the second division.
Right away Ogrizovic was " set " at his new club as a goalkeeper. As strength is its high physical presence in the goalkeeping turned out. Grown in size and equipped with a good understanding of position, he was unsure of opposing flanks and this he was able to shift the game with powerful reductions well into the opposition half. With 84 league games in two years, he was immediately " permanent presence " in Shrewsbury and also thanks to its help, established the club, who had previously accomplished in the league only laboriously, on a digit place in the table. Target remained for him but the major league football and for the relatively low transfer fee of 72,000 pounds, he joined the end of June 1984, Coventry City. He had even found time to the Cricket Sport is - his second passion next to the football - to devote active ..
Record keeper in Coventry (1984-2000)
The " Sky Blue " from Coventry were just as two years to Shrewsbury Town in the first place a team that played against relegation, and in the first two years until the summer of 1986 the club reached the league goal with the new goalkeeper Ogrizovic extremely scarce. Very positive athletic situation then developed in the 1986/87 season, as Ogrizovic the team led not only to a comfortable mid-table, but this surprisingly won the FA Cup. He had been in the final against Tottenham Hotspur ( 3-2 ) between the posts. Another personal " highlight " for him before his goal on October 25, 1986 against Sheffield Wednesday (2-2 ) had been when he had defeated at a discount to the opposing goalkeeper Martin Hodge.
After a total of 209 league games without interruption made in September 1989, a violation of the game against FC Millwall for the end of a series that was previously not yet succeeded Coventry player. Although the successes after the Cup victory in 1987 and failed to Coventry City for the most part was one of the relegation again after decades of change, Ogrizovic long remained a constant in the team. This is followed first little changed, as the Premier League in the 1992/93 season was in her first year. A first long enforced break he had to make in 1995. He had already surpassed the mark of 400 league games for Coventry and only in March 1995 must expose for five games due to a foot infection. In a friendly against Northampton Town he broke his leg, which it turned out not only for the last four games of the 1994/95 season but also for much of the first half of the following season 1995/96 until November 1995. Although his "comeback" with twelve goals conceded in the first four games had a bumpy start, he made, with good performances between December 1995 and January 1996, and four games in series without conceding a goal at the end of the season for decisive advantages for the re- scarce (and only by a better goal beneficiary ) Class whereabouts. The following season, 1996/97 Ogrizovic George Curtis took over from as Coventry goalkeeper with most applications, and although now arrived in his age of 40, he astounded continue with good performance. Aroused special attention for his performances in Blackburn, as he held against the Rovers in the FA Cup on a penalty and in Liverpool, which laid the foundation for an away win at Anfield. However, the opposite was also a spectacular error against Arsenal when he was not holding a harmless ball and then Ian Wright fouled at the expense of a penalty kick.
With the commitment of the Swedish international goalkeeper Magnus Hedman in the season 1997/98 was Ogrizovic additional competition at the goalkeeper position. Up to a 0-3 defeat against Aston Villa in December 1997, he kept still his place before him ousted Hedman with the exception of some injury-related breaks. In his last two years of both professional and May 2000 he came only sporadically to the train; Instead, he played primarily games in the reserve team. Due to ongoing neck problems he had to in March 1999 to undergo an operation and as this was to the satisfaction, he returned to the game operation in October 1999. His 600th competitive game for Coventry, he completed against his former club Liverpool and after a recent appearance in the penultimate round against Sheffield Wednesday ( 4-1 ) finished Ogrizovic his active career. With 601 appearances for Coventry City, he had become a record player of the club.
After his playing career, he stayed true to Coventry City. He joined the coaching staff there and began working primarily as a goalkeeper coach. In addition to other duties in relation to the reserve team, he helped on two occasions also briefly into the first team. He took over in 2002, together with Trevor Peake as interim head coach function before Gary McAllister became the successor of Roland Nilsson. Two years later a second time was for him the role of " interim solution " until finally Peter Reid could be required.
Title / Awards
- English Cup ( 1): 1987