Introduction
Darije Kalezić (born 1 November 1969) is a Swiss football manager and former player.
Playing career
Kalezić was born in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. He started his career still in Yugoslavia, then Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he played for FK Velež Mostar, before moving to the Netherlands in 1994 and as player being member of FC Den Bosch, RKC Waalwijk, AGOVV Apeldoorn, De Graafschap. He retired in 2006.
Coaching career
De Graafschap
After retirement from football as a player, Kalezić accepted to stay at De Graafschap as a reserve/youth team coach from 2006 to 2008, and later on being promoted as assistant.
On 25 February 2009, he was appointed interim manager of De Graafschap after previous manager Henk van Stee was dismissed due to poor results. Even though the team relegated at the end of the season, Kalezić was confirmed as head coach for the new season, in which he led the promptly bounce back into the Eredivisie by claiming the 2009–10 Eerste Divisie title. He saved the team from relegation in 2010–11, leaving the club at the end of the season.
Zulte Waregem
In June 2011 he was announced as new head coach of Belgian Pro League club Zulte Waregem. On 27 December 2011, he was fired with Zulte Waregem in 14th place and two places above relegation.
Stockport County
On 24 January 2013, he was announced as manager of Stockport County. He held this position until 20 March 2013 at which point he left the club via mutual consent.
Jong PSV
Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Kalezić was appointed manager of Jong PSV, the reserve side of PSV Eindhoven, for their first season in the Eerste Divisie. Jong PSV finished the 2013–14 Eerste Divisie in 10th place.Kalezic guided theJong PSV to a 14th place finish in the 2014/15 Eerste Divisie.
Roda JC
On 11 June 2015, Kalezić was appointed manager of newly promotedRoda JC on a two year contract.Roda JC finished 14th, 5 points above relegation, on their return to the Eredivisie.
Kalezić was sacked on 10 May 2016 after making critical comments against the club’s Technical director, Ton Caanen.
Al-Taawoun
On 2 June 2016, he was appointed as manager of Saudi club Al-Taawoun. Kalezić was sacked on 15 October 2016 after just five league games in charge.
Wellington Phoenix
On 7 June 2017, he was announced as manager of A-League club Wellington Phoenix.
On 1 March 2018, Wellington Phoenix announced that Darije Kalezic would be departing the club at the end of the season after they were not able to come to an agreement on how the club proceeds forward for the next season. A further announcement on 8 March 2018 confirmed he was leaving the club, with a caretaker manager to see out the remainder of the season.
Personal life
Kalezić's father is from Montenegro and his mother is from Sanski Most, Bosnia and Herzegovina.His parents were guest workers in Switzerland when he was born, but they moved back to the Balkans, settling in Mostar when Darije was a child.
Managerial statistics
- As of 2 February 2019
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
| De Graafschap | 25 February 2009 | 30 June 2011 | 88 | 39 | 22 | 27 | 137 | 117 | +20 | 044.32 |
| Zulte Waregem | 30 June 2011 | 27 December 2011 | 21 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 26 | 30 | −4 | 014.29 |
| Stockport County | 24 January 2013 | 20 March 2013 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 025.00 |
| Jong PSV | 1 July 2013 | 11 June 2015 | 76 | 26 | 22 | 28 | 112 | 113 | −1 | 034.21 |
| Roda JC Kerkrade | 11 June 2015 | 10 May 2016 | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 47 | 63 | −16 | 028.95 |
| Al-Taawoun | 2 June 2016 | 15 October 2016 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 028.57 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 7 June 2017 | 8 March 2018 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 24 | 41 | −17 | 018.18 |
| PSM Makassar | 2 February 2019 | present | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | !— |
| Career total | 263 | 88 | 71 | 104 | 366 | 395 | −29 | 033.46 | ||
Honours
As a coach
De Graafschap
- Eerste Divisie: 2010
PSM Makassar
- Piala Indonesia: 2019