Dejan Stefanovià(Serbian Cyrillic: ÃÂõÃÂðý áÃÂõÃÂðýþòøÃÂ; born 28 October 1974) is a Serbian former professional footballer, who is the president of the Slovenian footballers and sportsmen union.
As a player he was a defender who notably played in the Premier League for Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Fulham. He also played for Red Star Belgrade, RadniÃÂki Belgrade and Vitesse. He finished his professional career in 2009 whilst with Norwich City, although he briefly signed for non-league club Havant & Waterlooville a year later.
Stefanovic was capped a combined 23 times by Yugoslavia and successor nation Serbia and Montenegro.
While growing up, StefanoviÃÂ supported Milan and idolized defender Franco Baresi, which inspired him to become a footballer.
StefanoviÃÂ began his career in his home town with Dinamo Vranje before being signed by Red Star Belgrade. Whilst at the club he made his international debut for FR Yugoslavia, aged 20, against Hong Kong in January 1995.
During the 1995âÂÂ96 season, English club Sheffield Wednesday signed Stefanoviàand his compatriot, striker Darko KovaÃÂeviÃÂ. Stefanoviàcost the English club ã2 million. However, Stefanoviàstruggled to break into the Wednesday side with Emerson Thome and Des Walker among those ahead of him in the pecking order.
In 1998âÂÂ99, after playing 72 games for the club, Stefanoviàwas released on a free transfer after he failed to make enough first-team appearances to qualify for a work permit extension.
In August 1999, StefanoviÃÂ moved to Dutch club Vitesse, joining three of his compatriots: goalkeeper Dragoslav JevriÃÂ, midfielder Nenad GrozdiÃÂ, and striker Dejan ÃÂuroviÃÂ. StefanoviÃÂ spent four years at the club, becoming captain during that time. At Vitesse he played 13 UEFA Cup matches.
At the start of the 2003âÂÂ04 season, Stefanoviàreturned to England with Premiership newcomers Portsmouth for ã1.85 million. He established himself as a first-choice defender during the club's first season in the top-flight, and was a regular in the 2004âÂÂ05 campaign, winning the fans' Player of the season award. He was made Portsmouth captain by Alain Perrin in the 2005âÂÂ06 season, although a dip in form and a habit of speaking out to the press earned him the ire of some supporters. Indeed, he confessed to "not giving 100%" under Perrin due to disliking the French coach, comments criticised as highly unprofessional by some fans.
StefanoviÃÂ's influence on chairman (and fellow Serbian) Milan MandariÃÂ is said to have been an important factor in the dismissal of Perrin and the re-appointment of Harry Redknapp, and he was an important member of the side that ensured Premiership survival at Wigan in the penultimate game of the season.
Stefanoviàwas converted to a left-back at the start of 2006âÂÂ07 and was a mainstay of the defence that performed so well for Portsmouth during the season. However, the arrivals of Hermann Hreiðarsson and Sylvain Distin during the summer of 2007 cast his position as a first team regular into doubt and he was replaced as captain by Sol Campbell for the 2007âÂÂ08 season.
In August 2007, Scottish club Rangers revealed an interest in signing StefanoviÃÂ but he signed for Fulham.
Having spent less than a year at Craven Cottage, StefanoviÃÂ dropped down a division to join Norwich City on 18 July 2008, agreeing a two-year deal.
After twelve starts for the Canaries, during which he picked up one red card, Stefanoviàruptured his cruciate knee ligaments and did not play again for Norwich City in the 2008âÂÂ09 season.
In August 2009, it was reported that StefanoviÃÂ was in negotiations to leave Norwich, with the player wishing to return to the south of England. On 1 September 2009, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
StefanoviÃÂ retired in late 2009 due to a knee injury. He remained living in the Portsmouth area and on one occasion admitted his dreams of managing Portsmouth one day.
On 7 October 2010 StefanoviÃÂ joined Havant & Waterlooville.
StefanoviÃÂ is a full Serbia and Montenegro international, earning his first call-up in 1995 (the country was then known as Yugoslavia, changing to Serbia and Montenegro in 2003). He has a total of 23 caps to his name. StefanoviÃÂ retired from international football in 2004.
In September 2006, StefanoviÃÂ caused controversy when he said that he will throw away his Serbian passport as soon as he gets his British passport as he does not feel like a Serb any longer.
He's now president of the Slovenian footballers and sportsmen union.