Božo Janković

Božidar "Božo" Janković (Serbian Cyrillic: Божидар "Божо" Јанковић; 22 May 1951 – 1 October 1993) was a Yugoslav professional footballer who played as a forward.

Not to be confused with Boško Janković.

Božo Janković
Божо Јанковић
Personal information
Full name Božidar Janković
Date of birth (1951-05-22)22 May 1951
Place of birth Sarajevo, FPR Yugoslavia
Date of death 1 October 1993(1993-10-01) (aged 42)
Place of death Kotor, FR Yugoslavia
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
0000–1968 Željezničar Sarajevo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1968–1979 Željezničar 256 (96)
1979–1981 Middlesbrough[1] 50 (16)
1981–1982 Metz 19 (3)
1982–1983 Željezničar 9 (1)
Total 334 (116)
International career
1972 Yugoslavia 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Sometimes also referred to by another nickname Boško, Janković grew up in Sarajevo where he began playing football in FK Željezničar youth system. He signed a professional contract at the age of 17 after passing through every age level at the club, making his First League debut during 1968–69 season. He was the Yugoslav First League joint topscorer in 1970–71 season alongside Hajduk's Petar Nadoveza. Particularly notable during this season was Janković's performance in an away league match versus Red Star Belgrade at Marakana when he scored 4 goals - the game ended 4–1 for Željezničar.

He spent 11 seasons with FK Željezničar (256 league matches, 96 goals) before leaving to join English side Middlesbrough FC in February 1979. He played 42 games in two and a half seasons spent there. He scored 16 goals and he was a club topscorer in 1980–81 season with 12 goals. At the end of the season, he surprised everyone as he decided to end his playing career and start a new one as a lawyer. However, he postponed that decision and signed a contract with FC Metz. This excellent finisher ended his career there, scoring 3 games in 21 matches in all competitions.[2]

International career

Janković made his debut for Yugoslavia in an April 1972 European Championship qualification match against the Soviet Union and earned two caps. His other international appearance was a month later, the reverse game against the Soviet Union in Moscow.[3]

Personal life

He had returned to Sarajevo where he eventually started his law practice. He was also a member of FK Željezničar board. He left the city after the start of War in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In October 1993 he died in Kotor of natural causes at the age of 42.[4]

Honours

Željezničar Sarajevo

Middlesbrough

Individual

References
  1. "MIDDLESBROUGH : 1946/47 - 2008/09". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  2. Profile - FC Metz
  3. "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  4. story at Serbian Federation site
  5. "Kirin Cup". Archived from the original on 21 August 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
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