Luka_Lalic
Luka Lalić
Serbian football manager
Luka Lalić (Serbian Cyrillic: Лука Лалић) is a Serbian former footballer and football manager currently working as a Technical Director for Singapore Premier League club, Lion City Sailors.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luka Lalić | ||
| Date of birth | (1987-05-20) 20 May 1987 (age 37) | ||
| Place of birth | Belgrade, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lion City Sailors (Technical Director) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2006 | FK Vozdovac | 6 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2005 | Serbia U17 | 3 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008 | FK Partizan (volunteer) | ||
| 2008–2011 | AFC (individual coach) | ||
| 2011–2013 | Balestier Khalsa (fitness coach) | ||
| 2013–2014 | Woodlands Wellington (assistant coach) | ||
| 2011–2016 | Turf City (youth coach) | ||
| 2016–2020 | Feyenoord (youth coach) | ||
| 2020–2022 | Lion City Sailors (academy director) | ||
| 2022 | Lion City Sailors (interim) | ||
| 2023- | Lion City Sailors (Technical Director) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Just after breaking into the first team of FK Vozdovac at the age of seventeen, Luka had to end his career due to heart condition. Upon recovery he focused on individual coaching, creating several training programs focused on improving players' physical capabilities. He was also a short-term volunteer coach with Partizan Belgrade.
Asia
After a few short spells across the Asian continent, Luka eventually founded the first-ever professional academy in Singapore called Turf City. Simultaneously, he was also assisting with the first team at Balestier Khalsa, winning the Singapore League Cup with the team in 2013, followed by a short spell with Woodlands Wellington between 2014 and 2016 Turf City teams traveled for various tournaments and tours across Western Europe achieving formidable results along the way. Players from Luka's development program have been picked up by professional teams such as Manchester City, Feyenoord, Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United and many more.
Feyenoord
During a successful Netherlands tour with Turf City in October 2016, Luka was offered a coaching internship at Feyenoord Academy by Martin van Geel, Feyenoord's technical director at the time. Eventually, he agreed to the position of international development coach with the club. About a year later, he was awarded a permanent contract and a position as head of methodology. However, Luka ended his contract in May 2020 in order to return to Asia.[1]
Lion City Sailors
In June 2020, it was announced that Luka has joined Lion City Sailors as Academy Technical Director. On 12 August 2022, he was appointed as interim head coach of the first team after head coach Kim Do-hoon left the club due to controversy.[2] The next day on his first match as a coach, Luka guided the club to a massive 10–1 victory which was the club biggest ever win in their history. In the next 2 consecutive matches, he went on to win 7–0 against Tanjong Pagar United and 9-4 against Hougang United in a away win. Subsequently, he was appointed as club's technical director at the start of 2023 season.[3]
- Auto, Hermes (2020-06-10). "Football: Lion City Sailors commit $1 million into revamped youth academy | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
- Auto, Hermes (2022-08-12). "Football: Interim coach Lalic aims to steer Sailors on course; fraternity still in shock over Kim's exit | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 2022-11-23.
- Auto, Hermes (2023-01-17). "Football: No cakewalk, but committed and adaptable Sailors' Class of 2023 will be primed | Lion City Sailors FC Official Website". www.lioncitysailorsfc.sg. Retrieved 2023-01-17.