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Ljubinko DrulovicFormer Yugoslav footballer, midfielder.
Date of Birth: 11.04.1968
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Content:
Ljubinko Drulović: A Legendary Midfielder
Early Career and Club SuccessLjubinko Drulović, a former Yugoslav footballer, began his journey in the youth ranks of Zlatibor and Sloga Požega. He embarked on his professional career with Slobođa Užiće before making a move to Rad. In the summer of 1992, he secured a two-year contract with Portuguese side Gil Vicente.
Drulović made an impactful transfer to FC Porto in December 1993, cementing himself as an iconic figure in the club's history. Playing alongside illustrious stars like Zlatko Zahović, Mário Jardel, and Sérgio Conceição, he achieved numerous accolades. He was instrumental in Porto's Portuguese league title triumphs, as well as their triumphs in the Portuguese Cup and SuperCup. In the 1993/94 season, he reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where Porto bowed out to FC Barcelona.
In 2001, Drulović made a surprising switch to Porto's arch-rival Benfica. He obtained Portuguese citizenship in July 2001. After a stint with Benfica, he returned to his native country to play for Partizan Belgrade. He ultimately retired with Penafiel, alongside his former Porto teammate António Folha.
International Career
Drulović's international debut for Yugoslavia came late in his career, at the age of 28. His debut occurred in a friendly against Argentina (3-2) on December 28, 1996. He was a key member of the squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. At the 2000 UEFA European Championship, he was one of Yugoslavia's standout performers. He scored a goal against Slovenia (3-3) and registered four assists in the group stage. He played a total of 38 matches and scored three goals for the national team.
Coaching Career
After retiring from playing, Drulović embarked on his coaching journey with the modest Portuguese club Tourizense. He eventually obtained his coaching license and, in April 2008, took over the reins of Serbian club Banat. Despite replacing Žarko Soldo, he could not prevent the club from relegation. In the summer of 2008, he assumed the coaching role at Slovenian side Drava Ptuj.
