Metalurh move for Stolica
Tuesday, January 7, 2003
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FC Metalurh Donetsk have signed Yugoslavian international striker Ilia Stolica from FK Zemun.
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Undisclosed fee
The Ukrainian Premier League side have paid an undisclosed fee for the 23-year-old, who made his Yugoslavia debut in a friendly against the Czech Republic last year. Stolica was the leading scorer at Yugoslav First League club Zemun, where he began his career at 18 and where he had returned after spells with Spanish side UE Lleida and FK Partizan.
Spell in Spain
A product of Zemun's junior ranks, Stolica won 16 Yugoslavia Under-21 caps during his first stay at the club. In 2000, he left to spend a few months in Spain with Lleida before moving to Belgrade and Partizan. However, it was only after rejoining Zemun that he started to show the form that earned him a full international call-up.
Fifth in the table
Metalurh, who are fifth in the Premier League table, signed Stolica in the face of reported interest from Portuguese side SC Farense and Spain's Rayo Vallecano. The Ukrainian season resumes in early March after the winter break.
