Branislav Ivanović - Player of the Week

Ivanovic keeps Chelsea on top!

Serbian international, Branislav Ivanovic, scored the winning goal to give Chelsea a 2-1 win against Aston Villa. The Blues are now 7 points clear at the top of the Premier League table because Manchester City could only draw 1-1 at home against Hull City. Chelsea took the lead after 8 minutes, when Eden Hazard scored after a pass from Willian. Villa hadn't scored a Premier League goal for over 10 hours, but showed a lot of spirit in the second half and finally scored a goal, when Jores Okore headed home. The goal was celebrated by players and fans like they had won the league! Unfortunately for Villa, Ivanovic spoiled the party when he scored with a sensational first-time shot from just outside the penalty area to give Chelsea victory.

"Every striker in the world would be proud to score that magnificent goal."  Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho talking about Ivanovic's winning goal.

What can Chelsea win this season?

Chelsea, with a 7 point lead in the table, are favourites to win their fourth Premier League title, but there will be many twists and turns in the race. In December 1997, Manchester Utd were 13 points ahead of Arsenal but the Gunners won the title and the year before, Newcastle United were 12 points clear of Man Utd in January, but the Red Devils won the title by 4 points. And in 2012, Man Utd were 8 points clear with only 6 games left but it was City that won the title. Chelsea are also still in the Champions League, where they will play Paris St. Germain in the last 16 and play the League Cup Final on March 1st against Tottenham Hotspur, after beating Liverpool in the semi-final.

"Ivanovic's boot should be put in the Academy so the kids can see a boot full of blood. He gives everything." Mourinho talking about Ivanovic's performance against Liverpool.

What do we know about Branislav Ivanovic?

Branislav Ivanovic was born in February 1984, and is from Sremska Mitrovica, a town in the north of Serbia, which is famous for being one of the capitals of the Roman Empire. Ivanovic's first professional club was FC Srem, which is based in his hometown in Serbia. In 2003, he moved to the capital to play for OFK Beograd and played 57 times for the club before being spotted by Lokomotiv Moscow. Ivanovic played 71 matches for the Russian team and scored 7 times, helping them win the Russian Cup. In 2008, Ivanovic moved to Chelsea and his career took off. In 8 seasons with the London club, Ivanovic has made over 300 appearances and scored 29 goals. Only 34 players have played more than 300 games for Chelsea in the club's history, and he is only the fifth overseas player to reach this milestone.

What has Ivanovic won?

Apart from the Russian Cup, which Ivanovic won with Lokomotiv Moscow, all his club honours have been won with Chelsea, and he has won nearly everything! He won the Premier League in 2008/09, he has three FA Cup winners medals (2009, 2010, 2012), the Champions League (2012) and the Europa League (2013), when he scored a last-minute winning goal against Benfica to give Chelsea the trophy. The only medal that he hasn't won is the League Cup, which he hopes to change when Chelsea play Spurs in the final on March 1st.

"It's a great feeling that we are going to the Cup Final. This is the only trophy that I am missing with Chelsea and I really want it." Branislav Ivanovic.

Does Ivanovic play international football?

As a youth player, Ivanovic captained the Serbian under-21 team to the Final of the European Championships in the Netherlands, where they lost to the hosts. As a senior player, Ivanovic has played 76 times for the Serbian national team and has scored 8 goals. He is the only player to have been named Serbian Player of the Year in consecutive years (2012 and 2013) and only the third player to have won this award twice (the others were Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic). 

What is Ivanovic's style of play?

Ivanovic is one of the best defenders in the Premier League and he is well known for his strong defending and his attacking ability. He is very strong in the air and when tackling in one on one situations. If you look at the Premier League's fantasy football game, you will see that Ivanovic has more points than any other Premier League defender and only 3 players in other positions (Eden Hazard, Alexis Sanchez and Christian Eriksen) have more points than the Chelsea defender.

"The scariest player to play against is Branislav Ivanovic. He isn't dirty, the guy is just a tank!" Liverpool striker, Raheem Sterling.

What did you understand?

Did you know......?

• Branislav Ivanovic wanted to be a striker when he was young. 
• Ivanovic's father was also a professional footballer.
• Ivanovic has made more Premier League appearances than any other Serbian player.
• Chelsea's win against Aston Villa was the first time Jose Mourinho had won at Villa Park as a manager.
• Aston Villa failed to score for 659 minutes until they scored against Chelsea. This is the 4th longest time in Premier League history.