Aleksandar Đurić

2.1. Birth and Family

Đurić was born on August 12, 1970, in Lipac, a village on the outskirts of Doboj, which was then part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and is now located in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. An ethnic Serb, his father worked for the railways and also played semi-professional football. Đurić spent his formative years supporting Red Star Belgrade and playing as a goalkeeper and later a midfielder in the youth teams of his hometown club, FK Sloga Doboj.

The Bosnian War had a devastating impact on his family. His mother was tragically killed on August 9, 1993, just three days before his birthday, during an artillery attack by the Muslim army that directly hit their home. His father, who fought in the war, passed away from cancer in 2000 at the age of 62. Đurić also has an older brother named Milan, who fought in the war for nearly five years. Despite the immense personal loss and the brutality of the conflict, Đurić has stated, "So many people like me lost mothers and fathers in this bloody civil war but for me I hold no grudges. I don't look at race, I look at people by their hearts and here in Singapore I adopted a Muslim child."

2.2. Kayaking Career

At the age of 12, Đurić took up kayaking on the advice of a doctor who was treating his chest's growth disorder. His natural athletic ability quickly became apparent. By the age of 15, he had become the junior kayaking champion of Yugoslavia. His talent extended internationally, and by 17, he was ranked 8th in the world.

In 1992, with the newly formed Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina seeking athletes, Đurić received an invitation to represent his war-torn nation at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Despite not having trained for two years and the ongoing conflict between Serbs and Bosniaks, he accepted the invitation, prioritizing his identity as a sportsman. As the Bosnian Olympic Committee could not afford his travel, Đurić embarked on a challenging journey, hitchhiking over 0.9 K mile ^{(1.50 K km)} to Barcelona. With only a letter from the Olympic Committee and no valid passport, he faced initial disbelief from immigration officers at the Austrian border, who mistook him for a refugee seeking asylum. After a phone call to the Olympic Committee confirmed his credentials, border guards assisted him in finding a ride halfway to Slovenia, from where he managed to fly to Barcelona. After a two-day trek, he arrived at the Summer Olympics as one of Bosnia's ten debuting competitors. He had to borrow equipment from the Italian and Spanish teams to compete in the men's C-1 500m canoeing event, where he was eventually eliminated in the repechages.

2.3. Impact of War and Migration

The escalating Yugoslav Wars forced Đurić to leave his homeland. At 17, he was drafted into the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and became an officer. With the Bosnian War imminent, his father urged either him or his brother to leave the country to preserve the family line. As the younger and a sportsman, Đurić was instructed to depart his hometown. He left with only 300 DEM and went to Serbia, where he played football in the second division for one season. He then moved to Sweden, where he trained with AIK and was offered refugee status, which he declined.

The Breakup of Yugoslavia left him stranded in Hungary without a recognized passport. He wandered through cafes and restaurants in Szeged until a family offered him accommodation and a trial at a local club, Szeged LC, in the second tier of the Hungarian football league. This marked a pivotal moment in his life, as he resumed his football career and began to rebuild his life after the profound trauma of war and displacement.

3.1. Transition to Football

Following his participation in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Đurić returned to Hungary to resume his football career with Szeged LC. This marked his full commitment to football after his Olympic canoeing experience.

3.2. Career in Australia

In 1994, an associate helped Đurić arrange a trial in Australia with Frank Arok, a retired Serbian footballer of Hungarian descent and former Australia coach. Đurić joined South Melbourne Hellas in the National Soccer League (NSL), where he initially played as a defender. He also played for other Australian clubs, including Port Melbourne Sharks, Gippsland Falcons, Heidelberg United, and West Adelaide. He also had a brief stint with Chinese side Locomotive Shanshan in 1997. Throughout his time in Australia, he experienced various positions, including playing on the left flank as a winger or left-back, and later reverting to a left midfield position when he played for Marconi Stallions after obtaining Australian citizenship in the hope of representing the Socceroos. In 1999, his club West Adelaide went bankrupt, leading him to seek opportunities elsewhere.

3.3. Career in Singapore

After the bankruptcy of West Adelaide, Đurić received offers from clubs in Hong Kong and Singapore. He chose Singapore, beginning a highly successful chapter of his career in the S.League.

3.4. Return to Amateur Football

After retiring from professional football, Đurić returned to competitive play in 2017. He joined the Singapore Cricket Club and participated in the Cosmopolitan Football League, also known as CosmoLeague, which is Singapore's top amateur football league.

4.1. Singapore National Team Debut

Đurić made three personal attempts before successfully obtaining Singaporean citizenship on September 27, 2007. Notably, he was not part of the Football Association of Singapore's Foreign Sports Talent Scheme, which typically fast-tracks citizenship for athletes. Despite his citizenship not being granted for footballing reasons, then-coach Radojko Avramović called him up to the Singapore national team on November 1, 2007.

He made his international debut at the age of 37 years and 89 days on November 9, 2007, against Tajikistan in the first leg of the second round of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He made an immediate impact, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory. Đurić started the match due to injuries to attacking midfielder Shi Jiayi and striker Indra Shahdan Daud. The result, combined with a 1-1 draw in the second leg, allowed Singapore to progress to the third round of the Asian Qualifying Tournament for the first time. In the third round, drawn against Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Uzbekistan, Đurić continued his fine form, scoring against Lebanon and Uzbekistan. Singapore ultimately finished third in Group 4.

4.2. Captaincy

On May 28, 2008, Đurić was given the captain's armband for the first time in a friendly against Bahrain, in the absence of regular captain Indra Sahdan and vice-captain Lionel Lewis. This made him the first foreign-born player to start a match as captain for the Singapore national team.

4.3. AFF Suzuki Cup Campaigns

Đurić was selected for the 2008 AFF Championship squad, but his participation was cut short. He suffered a fibula injury in the opening match against Cambodia, ruling him out for the remainder of the tournament. Singapore subsequently lost to Vietnam in the semi-finals.

He was again called up for the 2010 AFF Championship. In the opening match, Singapore was held to a 1-1 draw by the Philippines, with Đurić scoring the equalizer. He also scored the equalizer in the next match against Myanmar, helping Singapore come back from a goal down to win 2-1. However, a 1-0 loss to co-host Vietnam led to Singapore's exit at the group stage.

For the 2012 AFF Championship, Đurić initially began as a second-choice forward. However, following an injury to midfielder Hariss Harun, he was recalled into the starting eleven on the left flank. In the first match against defending champions Malaysia, he scored Singapore's third goal in a decisive 3-0 victory. This goal also made him the oldest goalscorer in the history of the competition. Singapore lost 1-0 to Indonesia three days later but secured progression to the semi-finals on goal difference by defeating Laos 4-3 in the final group stage match. They then defeated the Philippines 1-0 on aggregate over two legs in the semi-finals to advance to the finals. Singapore went on to defeat Thailand in the finals, becoming champions of the tournament. Đurić retired from international football after this triumph in December 2012, concluding his national team career with a record of 24 goals in 53 international appearances.

5.1. Transition to Coaching

Even while still playing, Đurić expressed his intention to remain involved in Singaporean football in a coaching capacity. He actively pursued and neared completion of his 'A' coaching license by the end of his playing career. In 2013, he assumed duties as a full-time fitness coach at his club, Tampines Rovers, signaling his gradual shift to a backroom staff role as he prepared for retirement from playing.

5.2. Roles in Football Academies and Sports Organizations

Đurić has taken on significant leadership roles in Singaporean sports. In 2016, he was appointed as the principal for Sport Singapore and the ActiveSG Football Academy, a youth football training ground established by Sport Singapore, a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. This role allows him to contribute to developing young players and promoting football at the grassroots level.

Beyond direct coaching, Đurić has also served as an ambassador for various sports development initiatives. In December 2014, he was appointed as the first ambassador for the Delta League, a football competition jointly organized by the National Crime Prevention Council and the Singapore Police Force. This initiative aims to engage youth who are at risk of falling into delinquency, showcasing his commitment to using sports as a tool for social good.

6.1. Family

An ethnic Serb, Đurić's family endured significant hardship during the Bosnian War, including the tragic loss of his mother. He has an older brother named Milan. Đurić met his wife, Natasha, in Melbourne in 1998, and they married in January 2000. They have two biological children: a daughter, Isabella Nina (born 2002), and a son, Alessandro Hugo (born 2004), both of whom were born in Singapore. Demonstrating his profound personal values and integration into Singaporean society, Đurić also adopted a son named Massimo Luca Monty when he was just seven days old from a children's home.

6.2. Lifestyle and Fitness Management

Đurić is renowned for his rigorous fitness regime and disciplined approach to health, which significantly contributed to his remarkable longevity as an athlete. He maintains a strict routine, including running 9.3 mile ^{(15 km)} around his neighborhood every morning. He abstains from alcohol and smoking and avoids late nights. Furthermore, he is particular about his diet, avoiding chili and limiting his intake of greasy foods like roti prata and Hainanese chicken rice. He consistently adheres to his fitness regime even during the off-season. While sources indicate he lives in Holland Village, Singapore, other accounts suggest he resides in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, commuting for his commitments.

6.3. Charity and Community Involvement

Beyond his football career, Đurić has shown a strong dedication to social causes and giving back to the community. He has volunteered at a children's home for a decade, which is where he adopted his son. In 2011, he participated in the half-marathon race at the Standard Chartered Marathon in Singapore alongside radio deejay Rod Monteiro and kinesiologist Dr. Tan Swee Kheng, helping to raise 12.00 K SGD for Sanctuary House, an organization that provides foster care for children.

In 2012, Đurić drove a taxi for 12 days to raise 2.66 K SGD for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, which supports underprivileged students. In September 2013, he and his three children painted plastic doves that were sold to benefit the Dover Park Hospice. He also participated in the Universal Football Jam, an event for disabled individuals, alongside Japanese national team goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima. Đurić views his extensive charity work as part of his "obligation to give something back to Singapore." In December 2014, he was appointed as the first ambassador for the Delta League, a football competition designed to engage youth at risk of delinquency, jointly organized by the National Crime Prevention Council and the Singapore Police Force.

7.1. Club Statistics

The inaugural Singapore League Cup was held in 2007. Singapore Armed Forces withdrew from the 2007 Singapore League Cup due to prior pre-season commitments. The inaugural AFC Cup was held in 2004. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) withdrew their one allocated qualifying spot for the 2011 and 2012 AFC Champions League. Tampines Rovers entered the 2011 and 2012 AFC Cup instead.

7.2. International Statistics

Đurić represented Singapore in 53 international matches, scoring 24 goals.

Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Đurić goal.

8.1. Club Honors

• Singapore Cup: 2000 (with Home United), 2007, 2008 (with Singapore Armed Forces)
• S.League: 2001 (with Geylang United), 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 (with Singapore Armed Forces), 2011, 2012, 2013 (with Tampines Rovers)
• Singapore Charity Shield: 2008 (with Singapore Armed Forces), 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 (with Tampines Rovers)

8.2. International Honors

• AFF Championship: 2012 (with Singapore)

8.3. Individual Honors

• S.League People's Choice Award: 2007
• S.League Player of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2012
• S.League Top Scorer: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013
• IFFHS World's Best Goal Scorer of the Decade: 2001-2010