1. Asmir Begovic
By The Bear Pit
July 11 2011
The first of The Bear Pits Player Profile's takes a look at City number 1, Asmir Begovic.

Player Profile
Asmir Begovic Full name Asmir Begović Date of birth 20 June 1987   Place of birth Trebinje, SFR Yugoslavia Height 6 ft 5 in    Playing position Goalkeeper Weight 13st 1lbs Squad Number 1 Contract Until 30.06.2014 Stoke Debut 25.04.2010 Cost £3.25m Joined Stoke February 2010
About Asmir Begovic
Highly rated goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, is Stoke City's current first choice keeper having put in some stella performances accross the 2010/11 season to dislodge the ever consistant Sorensen. 24 Year old Begovic joined the Potters on deadline day, 1st February 2010, in a move worth £3.25m from cash stricten Portsmouth. The move almost never happened with Potters originally pursuing Pompey's other keeper, England international David James at the time. The move didn't come without its controversy however, with Asmir turning down moves to both Chelsea and Tottenham. Tottenham felt the deal was completed and feel Portsmouth owe them money as a result of the failed deal. Before joining Stoke as alot of young keepers do, Asmir spent time abroad and in the Uk on loan at various clubs to learn his trade. Spotted by Harry Redknapp, he signed for Portsmouth but almost immediately joined Roy Keane's Ipswich on loan. An injury suffered by David James see him recalled and play 11 games for Pompey under then manager Avram Grant before joining Stoke City. The Bosnian international, who played 11 times for Canada at U21 level will remember his Potters debut for all the wrong reasons, coming on to replace the injured Thomas Soresen at Stamford Bridge. This fixture ended in a 7-0 defeat for Stoke. However since this day, Asmir has gone to keep many clean sheets and his international career has grown aswell. He played in Bosnia's 2-0 World Cup Qualifier victory against Estonia and has continued to put in mightily impressive performances. Begovic's time at Stoke has been full of controversy from alledgedly refusing to play in the Carling Cup, to pull out of Internation fixtures whilst all the time being linked with moves to bigger clubs. However after a strong finish to the 2010/2011 season Asmir has cemented the number 1 shirt as his own, and next season should be a great season for the young shot stopper.
Career Achievements FA Cup 07/08 Portsmouth FC U20 Weltmeisterschaft 07 Kanada FA Cup 10/11 Runners Up Stoke City FC	Last Season Competition Apps Goals Yel Red League 28 (0) 0 3 0 League Cup 2 (0) 0 0 0

Career Appearances

Club Season Competition Apps Goals Stoke City 2009 - 10 League 3  (1) 0 Ipswich Town 2009 - 10 League 6  (0) 0 Portsmouth 2009 - 10 League 8  (1) 0     FA Cup 3  (0) 0     League Cup 3  (0) 0 Yeovil Town 2008 - 09 League 14  (0) 0 Portsmouth 2008 - 09 League 2  (0) 0 Yeovil Town 2007 - 08 League 2  (0) 0 Bournemouth 2007 - 08 League 8  (0) 0 Macclesfield 2006 - 07 League 2  (1) 0     FA Cup 1  (0) 0

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