à ½eljko Brkià(Serbian Cyrillic: ÃÂõÃÂúþ ÃÂÃÂúøÃÂ, born 9 July 1986) is a Serbian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
BrkiÃÂ, playing in the goalkeeper position, started his career as a professional began at the club Indeks Novi Sad and Vojvodina, before playing professionally at Vojvodina. Brkiàloaned him to Proleter Novi Sad in 2005, where he stayed for the club about two years. At Proleter Novi Sad, Brkiàmade thirty-one appearances. After his return from loan, Brkiàmade his debut for the club, in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Napredak Kruà ¡evac on 2 September 2007. Since then, Brkiàsoon became a first-choice goalkeeper and soon became the club's captain. At the club, Brkiàmade a total of 117 appearances.
In the summer of 2011, Brkiàleft Serbia to join Italian side Udinese. Because Udinese ran out of non-EU registration quota for international signing (which Udinese had to buy one from other club) as well as the performance of Slovenian internationals Samir HandanoviÃÂ, Brkiàwas signed by Serie A club Siena in definitive deal from Vojvodina, which he would transfer back to Udine in a later time. (which just cost Siena for â¬20,000 as other fee.).
On 11 September 2011, Brkiàmade his debut in a 0âÂÂ0 draw against Catania, keeping his first clean sheet on his debut in Serie A. In October, following impressive performances with Siena, Brkiàwas linked with a move to English side Tottenham Hotspur. In response of a transfer speculation, however, Brkiàtold Serbian daily Sport that he is aware of the transfer rumour, but insists he is focusing at Siena. Brkiàalso says he is no rush of leaving the club and insists the move is not affecting his form. After a 2âÂÂ0 loss against Milan on 17 December 2011 in which Brkiàget a yellow card resulting a penalty, Brkiàsoon had an operation that kept him out for many months after fracturing his left fibula. A year on, Brkiàspoke about his injury and find it difficult to come back to recover. In January 2012, Brkiàwas transferred back to Udinese for free and returned to Siena on a temporary deal also for free. During his injury, Siena used Gianluca Pegolo as first choice. Brkiàplayed his first game since his injury on 22 April. In a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Bologna on 25 April 2012, Brkiàscored an own goal from an Alessandro Diamanti free kick, denying Siena a win.
After a season with Siena, Brkiàbecame the club's first-choice goalkeeper following Samir HandanoviÃÂ's departure to Inter Milan. Having established himself in the first team, Brkiàmade his debut for the club in the UEFA Champions League qualification round against Portuguese side Braga. Unfortunately, Udinese was eliminated in the Champions League and demoted to the UEFA Europa League after losing in the penalty shoot-out in the second leg, just three days before he made his league debut in a 2âÂÂ1 loss against Fiorentina. However, the next game was even went worse for Brkiàwhen he gave away the penalty in early minutes and received a red card in a 4âÂÂ1 loss against regaining champion Juventus. After the match, former referee Daniele Tombolini says BrkiÃÂ's sending-off was a mistake because Sebastian Giovinco, the opposition player in the match, did not have possession of the ball, though he maintained his views that the foul was a penalty. Brkiàthen miss one match against Siena and made his return when Udinese won 2âÂÂ1 against Milan the next game. On 4 October 2012, Brkiàwas in goal when Udinese beat Liverpool 3âÂÂ2, making good save from Luis Suárez twice and a header from Jonjo Shelvey. Unfortunately, Udinese would then be eliminated from the Europa League, following a strings of losses. In mid-January, Brkiàsoon suffered an injury after fracturing the second finger of his right hand and went to surgery that kept him out at least a month. A month later, Brkiàmade his return, playing in friendly match against Gemonese on 26 February 2013. After the match, Brkiàsays he was prepared to make a comeback. Brkiàmade his return on 3 March 2013 against Pescara, where the club won 1âÂÂ0. After the match, Brkiàreturned as a first-choice goalkeeper for the rest of the 2012âÂÂ13 season.
In the 2013âÂÂ14 season, Brkiàwas ruled out for the start of the season after injuring his shoulder while exercising in the gym, which ruled him out for four months. During his absence, he was replaced by Simone Scuffet in goal. After three months out of action, Brkiàmade his return in a 2âÂÂ1 win over Sassuolo. BrkiÃÂ's performance with Udinese were praised in the media, who noted that he "saved at least three goal-bound efforts while blocking several strong shots and commanded his area giving sustenance and substance to his whole defence". This earned him Serie A Team of Week 10. Juventus invited schoolchildren to watch their match against Udinese in December in place of banned Ultras, but they shouted abuse at Brkiàafter each goal kick, and Juventus were fined â¬5,000.
On 7 July 2016, Brkiàsigned a three-year deal with Super League Greece club PAOK. BrkiÃÂ, who had already agreed terms with PAOK's president/technical director ýuboà ¡ Micheþ, passed his medical at the Thessaloniki-based club and then signed his new contract, leaving Italy after five consecutive seasons. BrkiÃÂ, along with the experienced Greek internationals Panagiotis Glykos and Markos Vellidis, is expected to be part of a very strong in goalkeeper's position for PAOK ahead of 2016âÂÂ17 season.
BrkiÃÂ started participating in the national team, playing for Serbia U-21 and was even in the U21 squad for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship despite being age twenty-two. In the European U21 Football Championship, BrkiÃÂ played three match, all in group-stage. BrkiÃÂ also managed to keep two clean sheet in the tournament.
On 3 March 2010, Brkiàmade his senior debut for the national team, coming on for Vladimir Stojkoviàas a substitute in the 81st minute after Stojkoviàsuffered an injury during a match, in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Algeria. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Brkiàwas named for the national team squad ahead of the World Cup. Unfortunately, Brkiàwas dropped from the squad after manager Radomir Antiàtrimmed the squad from 24 to 23. Years on, Brkiàwas the national first choice goalkeeper, beating competition from Vladimir Stojkoviàin the World Cup qualifier. He earned a total of 11 caps and his final international was a June 2015 friendly match against Azerbaijan.