Slovakia: Zlatko Zahovic

Zlatko Zahovic is one of those reckless sorts, prone to genius, never more than a wind-up away from a wild lunge, and the very definite key to Slovenia’s World Cup ambitions.

The Slovenians secured qualification without him, due to injury, but they would never have reached a play-off against Romania without his earlier heroics.

His story is one tinged with a sense of lack of fulfilment.

Born in Maribor, Zahovic has never played professionally in Slovenia.

As a 17-year-old, he was wooed by Partizan Belgrade who handed him a first professional contract.

Vitoria Guimaraes spotted his potential and his love affair with Portuguese football began in 1993.

Porto made him theirs three years later, and his current club is Benfica.

In truth, Zahovic has not made the most of his ability.

Six goals in seven Champions League games for Porto in the 1998-99 season drew attention from rich Greek club Olympiakos and he made a €12.5million move there the following summer.

It was in Greece where his reputation as a trouble-maker began.

He quickly went absent without leave for two months, as rumours of a return to Porto abounded, and an unhealthy disciplinary record limited his league appearances that season to a mere 14.

Zahovic upset the club and fans by going missing, his team-mates by openly criticising Greek footballers, and few apologies followed.

Seven league goals came in his appearances there. The buy had proven a disaster for the Greeks, but Zahovic’s career highpoint was just around the corner.

At Euro 2000, he was quick to catch the eye.

Slovenia were sending a team to a major championships for the first time, having only assumed independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and Zahovic was their trump card playing in his preferred role off the front two.

His goals helped the Slovenians thunder 3-0 ahead in a stunning opener against Yugoslavia, of all teams, before their opponents pulled level while down to 10 men.

Another strike pulled the team he captained level with Spain in their second game, before they conceded almost straight from the re-start and lost 2-1.

A goalless draw with Norway ended their bid to reach the last eight, but Europe had woken up to the talent emanating from the tiny Balkan nation.

With a swagger to his running style, a wicked left foot and an instinct to pass crisply to feet,

Zahovic’s showings at Euro 2000 booked him a ticket to the big time with Valencia, the previous season’s beaten Champions League finalists.

It should have been a heaven-made tie-up, but it proved misjudged.

Valencia coach Hector Cuper, now of Inter Milan, never took to his new acquisition.

Just three goals came in 20 Primera Liga appearances, many of which were from the bench.

Yet his impressive showings continued to come at international level and Slovenia made a bright start to World Cup qualifying.

Valencia off-loaded him to Benfica last summer and he has shown promise at the Estadio Da Luz despite injury problems.

He ended 2001 with an international scoring record of 30 goals in 60 appearances though and his dedication in that arena is incontrovertible.

Under coach Srecko Katanec, Slovenia have taken great strides and they were terrific in the second leg against the Romanians in Ljubljana, winning 2-1.

The word ‘enigmatic’ was made for the likes of Zahovic, but too often that is used as a synonym for ‘underachieving’, and he goes to the Far East with everything to prove again.