| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1972-05-26)26 May 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Sombor,SR Serbia,SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Date of death | 15 December 2020(2020-12-15) (aged 48) | ||
| Place of death | Sremska Kamenica, Serbia[1] | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Jedinstvo Svetozar Miletić | |||
| Radnički Sombor | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1992 | Hajduk Kula | 31 | (1) |
| 1992–1996 | Vojvodina | 114 | (2) |
| 1996–2000 | Partizan | 67 | (1) |
| 2000–2002 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 35 | (0) |
| 2002 | Avispa Fukuoka | 17 | (1) |
| 2003 | Zalaegerszeg | 12 | (2) |
| 2003–2004 | AEK Larnaca | 20 | (4) |
| 2004 | Mladost Apatin | 4 | (0) |
| 2005–2008 | Cement Beočin | 83 | (1) |
| Total | 383 | (12) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2007–2009 | Kecskemét (assistant) | ||
| 2009–2011 | Radnički Sombor | ||
| 2011–2012 | Hajduk Kula | ||
| 2012 | Vojvodina (assistant) | ||
| 2013–2014 | Litex Lovech (assistant) | ||
| 2014–2015 | Donji Srem (assistant) | ||
| 2015 | Vojvodina (assistant) | ||
| 2016 | Proleter Novi Sad | ||
| 2016 | Jagodina | ||
| 2016–2017 | Proleter Novi Sad | ||
| 2018–2020 | TSC | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Zoltan Sabo (Serbian Cyrillic:Золтан Сабо;Hungarian:Szabó Zoltán; 26 May 1972 – 15 December 2020) was a Serbian professionalfootball player andmanager. During his playing career, he was adefender. He also heldHungarian citizenship.[2]
In 1991, Sabo began his playing career atHajduk Kula, newly promoted to theYugoslav Second League. In his first senior career, he contributed to Hajduk's promotion to theFirst League of FR Yugoslavia.[3] Prior to the next season, he transferred to another First League clubVojvodina.
In 1996, Sabo moved toPartizan at the same league. While playing for Partizan for four years, he won two First League titles and oneFR Yugoslavia Cup title.[4]
In 2000, Sabo joinedK League clubSuwon Samsung Bluewings.[5] Suwon registered his name as "Zoli", hoping he would successfully replace their previous defenderCosmin Olăroiu, called "Oli".[6] He was named the Most Valuable Player at the2000–01 Asian Club Championship after helping the club win the tournament.[7] In 2002, he left forJ2 League clubAvispa Fukuoka.
During the 2003–04 season, Sabo played forCypriot First Division clubAEK Larnaca, winning theCypriot Cup.[8]
After a stint as assistant coach toTomislav Sivić atNemzeti Bajnokság II championsKecskemét, Sabo began his managerial career at the helm of his hometown clubRadnički Sombor in October 2009. He spent the next two years at the position before leaving the side in November 2011.[9] A month later, Sabo was appointed manager at Hajduk Kula.[3]
Between 2013 and 2015, Sabo worked as assistant coach toZlatomir Zagorčić atLitex Lovech of Bulgaria's top division,A Group, and twoSerbian SuperLiga clubs, namelyDonji Srem andVojvodina.[10] On 16 January 2016, he restarted his managerial career atSerbian First League clubProleter Novi Sad.[11]
After performing the role of a director at First League clubTSC for a while, Sabo was promoted to a manager on 21 August 2018.[12] In the2018–19 season, he won the First League title, leading the club to be promoted to the SuperLiga.The next season, his team finished fourth at the SuperLiga, qualifying for theUEFA Europa League.[13]
Sabo died of a heart attack on 15 December 2020, aged 48, after suffering fromCOVID-19.[4]
Partizan[4]
Suwon Samsung Bluewings[a]
AEK Larnaca
Individual
TSC
