Dejan Antonić


Dejan Antonić is a football manager and former player.
His is the father of footballer Stefan Antonić, who is currently playing at Southern.

Early career

He started his professional football playing in local club Red Star Belgrade.
In 1987, Antonić was called in the Yugoslavia squad training section, and was able to win a cap. Yugoslavia won the first title that time on final against East Germany through penalty shootout. And they are remembered as a Yugoslav' "zlatna generacija". His well-known team mates were : Robert Jarni, Igor Štimac, Zvonimir Boban, Robert Prosinečki, Predrag Mijatović and Davor Šuker. Later Antonić joined Red Star Belgrade but made no league appearance for them. His debut will be in the 1989–90 Yugoslav First League with FK Spartak Subotica. Next he played with FK Napredak Kruševac in the Yugoslav Second League. In 1995, he left Europe and joined Persebaya FC in Indonesia.

Career in Hong Kong

As a player

Instant-Dict

In 1998–99, Antonić joined Hong Kong First Division club Instant-Dict FC and played more as a defender than a midfielder. His debut was the semi-final match against South China in Hong Kong FA Cup. He was included in Hong Kong XI to compete in 2003 Carlsberg Cup and was elected as a Hong Kong XI as well. Dejan scored a goal by penalty in the match against Denmark national team in Carlsberg Cup. Dejan played very well in the season and was awarded "The Most Fair Player" and being nominated in Hong Kong Footballer Awards several times.
In 2000–01, he assisted Instant-Dict FC to win Hong Kong FA Cup.

Sun Hei

In early 2000, he joined Sun Hei and won three championships, including Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield, Hong Kong FA Cup and Hong Kong League Cup.

As a coach

Antonić, a UEFA Pro License holder, was appointed by Kitchee as head coach in 2005 and successfully led the team to two trophies in the league on his first year of duty, winning the Hong Kong League Cup and Hong Kong Senior Shield Cup. He led the team to defend their Hong Kong League Cup in 2006, during his second year of duty. He managed Kitchee towards qualification for 2008 AFC Cup.

Achievements with Kitchee FC

- Shanghai Shenhua FC
- Hong Kong Selection vs Barcelona FC
He was elected as the 2006 Hong Kong Coach of The Year and also appointed to be a coach of Hong Kong League XI for the annual Carlsberg Cup.
After leaving Kitchee, expansion club TSW Pegasus appointed Antonić as their new Deputy Team Manager & Youth Development.
Antonić has been appointed to coach the Hong Kong National Team as preparation for the 2011 Asian Cup qualifiers. And with Hong Kong National Team, he won the 31st Guangdong Cup 2008. He has been nominated as a consultant of the Hong Kong Law Society Football Team.

Achievements with Hong Kong National Team

Antonić left his post as head coach of Tuen Mun in the middle of the 2011–12 Hong Kong First Division League season and joined Arema FC as their manager.
Coaching Arema FC for only 6 months and he was voted by the soccer news website, Goal.com, as "The Best Coach 2011–2012" of the Indonesian Premier League as he brought Arema FC to go through to the quarter final of AFC Cup 2012 and make the country proud.

Achievements with Arema Indonesia FC

After left Arema FC, Antonic was appointed to be head coach of Pro Duta FC and continued shining.

Achievements with Pro Duta FC

Finished his contract with Pro Duta FC, Antonic signed a two-year contract with Pelita Bandung Raya on 20 November 2013. On 9 September 2014, he got his contract extended until 2016.

Achievements with Pelita Bandung Raya FC

Antonic joined Persib Bandung FC after he finished his contract with Pelita Bandung Raya.

Achievements with Persib Bandung FC

Antonić returned to management on 31 October 2016, signing a 1.5 year contract at South China as manager. The club managed to finish 4th in the league and reached the finals of the :zh:2016–17年香港足總盃|2016-17 Hong Kong FA Cup. Following South China's decision to voluntarily relegate, the contracts of the entire coaching staff were terminated.
On 4 July 2017, Hong Kong Rangers Director :zh:李輝立|Philip Lee announced that Antonić would be the club's new manager.
On 28 March 2018, Borneo announced that Antonić would be the club's new head coach after sacked their previous head coach
After left Borneo FC, Antonic signed with Madura United FC.

Achievements with Madura United FC

Antonić married his Indonesian fiancee, Venna Tikoalu. Venna gave birth to their son Stefan Antonić on 6 February 2001 in Hong Kong.
Antonić has another older daughter who is living and studying in Serbia.

Games of Hong Kong team coached by Dejan Antonić and Goran Paulić

International games of Hong Kong

Non-international games of Hong Kong

Honours

Player

Sun Hei
Kitchee
Pro Duta