Robert Špehar

Monaco

Špehar was born in Osijek. He arrived in Principality of Monaco in summer 1997 with the status of Belgian First Division top scorer. The season before, 1996–97, he scored 26 goals playing for Club Brugge, a score that was outpaced by only three more players in next 20 seasons of league. The new season already started when he finally completed transfer move to AS Monaco and joined the company of a generation led by Fabien Barthez, Willy Sagnol, Ludovic Giuly, Victor Ikpeba, Henry and Trezeguet. After initial four games of the season, Monaco leadership and manager Jean Tigana estimated that the club will not be able to drag out complete season with two young strikers, Henry and Trezeguet, who were 19 years old and a few years older Victor Ikpeba, so they completed transfer of Belgian side Club Brugge top scorer Robert Špehar together with another striker from Division 1 club FC Nantes, Chadian Japhet N'Doram who came to Monaco as first division top scorer runner-up the season before. Špehar was very honored to be at the club, sharing a dressing room with such a class of teammates. A 1996–97 French Division 1 titleholder at the time, Monaco, went on with their successful spell and won the 1997 Trophée des Champions, played in the semi-finals of the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League with Špehar scoring a goal against Juventus, finishing third in 1997–98 Division 1 season qualifying so for 1998–99 UEFA Cup competition. Following the 1998–99 season, Špehar and Monaco…

Špehar made his debut for Croatia in a July 1992 friendly match away against Australia, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute for Goran Vučević, and earned a total of eight caps, scoring no goals. Most of them in friendlies. His final international was a December 1996 King Hassan II Tournament match against the Czech Republic.

NK Osijek – presidency

Inauguration

On 25 August 2010 in football club Osijek after a meeting involving the key members of club management and most important sponsors of the club decision was made for a new president of Osijek to be Rober Špehar. One of the best goalscorers in the history of the club and a football legend who retired five years ago once again returned to Gradski vrt venue. This time as a president of Osijek football club. The club assemblies confirmed decision a few days later. With Špehar as president, club confirmed Gordan Matković, a former mayor of city of Osijek from HSP party as the new general director. His last episode at club was successful as he was, for a second time, top goalscorer of Prva HNL, in 2003–04 season, six years ago. Since then, NK Osijek fell in financial and administrative problems followed by poor sports results in years to come. At the expense of his fearless will to help NK Osijek he left a comfortable life and a lucrative management job accepting the offered position of presidency from the club. From day one of his professional football career retirement, Špehar placed himself at the club's disposal and it was an opportunity given after five years of waiting. At first, his name was mentioned in the context of the sports director, but after the repeated refusal of presidency from local city businessmen and sponsors, this difficult assignment was eventually offered to Špehar. The job of sports director would be…

Belgian First Division: 1 1995–96 Belgian Cup: 1 1996 Cypriot Cup: 1 2005 Individual

Prva HNL top scorer: 2 1994–95, 2003–04 Belgian First Division top scorer: 1 1996–97 SN Yellow Shirt Award: 1 1995