After Breaker Out
Does a no-name goalie cause problems for the FCZ?
Because of the injury to regular goalie Yanick Brecher, tail light Zurich goes into the second half of the season with Zivko Kostadinovic. Can this go well? Kostadinovic’s ex-coach Ciriaco Sforza assesses the situation.
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Zurich’s goalie at the start of the second half of the season: Zivko Kostadinovic (left) replaces the injured Captain Yanick Brecher.
Matthew Dubachreporter sports
His regular place is the FCZ substitute bench – but now Zivko Kostadinovic (30) is suddenly in focus. The substitute keeper has to work at the start of the second half of the season because of Captain Yanick Brecher’s (29) inner ligament injury. And because the main goalie will be out for several weeks, Kostadinovic will remain in the box until further notice.
With the number 2 on the hunt to catch up in the relegation battle: is Zurich taking this sporting risk or is a new goalie now being sought? Sports director Marinko Jurendic to Blick: “We are not currently looking. We have confidence in Zivko that he will do his job well.”
Breaker return in three weeks?
However, this also has to do with the fact that, according to Blick information, Brecher has already given the all-clear. The captain could be back in three to four weeks. But if Brecher relapses in rehab, it cannot be ruled out that Zurich will still react before the transfer window closes on February 15. But at least against Lucerne, St. Gallen, Sion and possibly Winti, Zurich will compete with no-name Kostadinovic in goal.
The Vaudois with Serbian roots is a blank slate in the Super League. The 1.96 meter giant has been under contract with FCZ since 2020 as the clearly defined number 2, and has played three times in the league so far: Twice when the reserves also came into play after the championship title had been won. And once last October against Winterthur when Brecher was rested. There are also four cup games against lower-class opponents.
Kostadinovic played under Sforza at FC Wil
Kostadinovic spent most of his career in the Challenge League, where he made 149 appearances for Nyon, Schaffhausen, Le Mont and above all Wil.
Is this performance record enough for the Super League relegation battle? Ciriaco Sforza (52), Kostadinovic’s coach in Wil, says: Yes. “He is a very calm and stable goalie. He is strong on the line and also has his qualities with his foot.” Sforza does not consider the lack of match practice to be a factor on one condition: “He must feel the trust.”
The substitute keeper gets that at FCZ. However, only if Brecher is not down for too long.
Credit Suisse Super League
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