Luka Lalić

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

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.

Coaching career

Just after breaking into the first team of FK Vozdovac at the age of seventeen, Luka had to end his career due to a heart condition.[1] 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 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 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

References

  1. ^ Mozzart Sport, Interview (22 June 2019). "Intervju - Luka Lalic : Fajenord mi je dao sansu | Mozzart Sport". www.mozzartsport.com (in rs). Retrieved 22 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. ^ Straits Times, Article (10 June 2020). "Football: Lion City Sailors commit $1 million into revamped youth academy | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  3. ^ Straits Times, Article (12 August 2022). "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 23 November 2022.
  4. ^ Lion City Sailors FC, Official Website (17 January 2023). "Football: No cakewalk, but committed and adaptable Sailors' Class of 2023 will be primed | Lion City Sailors FC Official Website". www.lioncitysailorsfc.sg. Retrieved 17 January 2023.