Ljubinko Drulović (Serbian Cyrillic: Љубинко Друловић; born 11 September 1968) is a Serbian former professional footballer who played as a winger, and is a current manager.
He spent the most notable part of his playing career in Portugal, with stints at Porto and Benfica – a combined ten seasons between the two clubs, winning 14 major titles with the former. He also had brief spells at Partizan as player and manager.
Drulović was one of very few players to have contributed to each of Porto's five consecutive titles during the 90s. He was mostly remembered at the side for his pin-point assists and ability to cross the ball, mainly to the head of Mário Jardel.[3]
Drulović made his debut for FR Yugoslavia on 28 December 1996, in a friendly with Argentina played in Mar del Plata (3–2). He went on to play a further 37 times in the following five years,[7] appearing for the nation at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000 tournaments and contributing with one goal in the 3–3 group stage draw against Slovenia[8] and four assists in the latter as the country reached the quarter-finals.[9]
Coaching career
Drulović began his coaching career with modest Portuguese club G.D. Tourizense, in 2006–07.[10] At the season's closure, he obtained a professional licence.
In early April 2008, Drulović became manager of FK Banat Zrenjanin in the Serbian SuperLiga.[11] As the fifth manager of the season – he replaced Žarko Soldo – he took over a team under relegation threat (eighth place out of 12), with eleven matches to go.[12] Eventually, he could not help prevent them from dropping down a level after a 4–1 loss to FK Vojvodina on 17 May.[13]
Drulović was named in charge of neighbours North Macedonia on 23 April 2015.[18] In five games before leaving for Partizan in October, he avoided defeat in only his last – a goalless draw away to Belarus in UEFA Euro 2016qualification.[19] His spell back at the reigning Serbian champions lasted only until 22 December, when he was dismissed from the fourth-placed team who were 26 points behind rivals Red Star Belgrade.[20]
Career statistics
Appearances and goals by national team and year[21]
^Catarino, Luís (26 June 2015). "O fotogénico Monstro do Lago Ness" [The photogenic Loch Ness Monster] (in Portuguese). Primeiro Toque. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
