Pletikosa opts for Spartak switch
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Article summary
FC Spartak Moskva have beaten the Russian transfer deadline to sign Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa from FC Shakhtar Donetsk on a three-year contract.
Article body
Ex-Shakhtar goalkeepers
The 28-year-old goalkeeper penned a three-year contract ahead of Spartak's first game of the new Premier-Liga season at FC Dinamo Moskva on Sunday. Pletikosa has been at Shakhtar since 2003, winning the 2004 Ukrainian Cup and the title the following year. He will join another former Shakhtar goalkeeper, Polish international Wojciech Kowalewski, at his new club.
Limited opportunities
Having started his career with HNK Hajduk Split, Pletikosa won Croatian Cups in 2000 and 2003 and a league title in 2001 before joining Shakhar. Restrictions on foreign players in Ukraine and competition from the in-form Bohdan Shust have seen the 56-times capped international used more sparingly recently. He spent last season on loan at Hajduk and has made just three league appearances this term.
