Vladimir Ivić (; born 7 May 1977) is a Serbian football manager who is the head coach of UAE Pro League club Al-Ain. A former Serbia and Montenegro international footballer, Ivić spent hundreds of matches with Partizan and PAOK at club level. After retirement, Ivić won back-to-back championship titles as Maccabi Tel Aviv manager in 2019 and 2020.
Club career Ivić began his career with Proleter Zrenjanin, making his senior debut in the 1994–95 season. He was transferred to Partizan in the summer of 1998. Over the next six years, Ivić helped the side win three championship titles and two domestic cups. He also made his UEFA Champions League debut in the 2003–04 campaign. After Saša Ilić's departure from the club in early 2004, Ivić became the team's captain. He scored a total of 64 league goals in 133 appearances with the Crno-beli.
In July 2004, Ivić signed a three-year contract with German club Borussia Mönchengladbach. He made just four league appearances and scored once in the team's 3–1 home victory against Werder Bremen. On 21 December he was transferred to the Greek side, AEK Athens, where his brother, Ilija was the technichal director. On 31 August 2007 Ivić was released from AEK and signed with fellow Super League club, Aris. He spent one year there, before switching to crosstown rivals PAOK in June 2008. Over the following four seasons, Ivić made 133 appearances and scored 24 goals across all competitions.
International career At international level, Ivić was capped eight times by Serbia and Montenegro between 2001 and 2004, making his debut as a substitute for Dejan Stanković in a World Cup 2002 qualifier against Switzerland, an eventual 1–1 draw. His final international was an April 2004 friendly match against Northern Ireland.
Ivić was previously a member of the team that represented his nation at the Millennium Super Soccer Cup, winning the tournament.
Managerial career 2010s In June 2013, Ivić started working with PAOK's under-20 team. He led them to the league title in his first year for the role. In March 2016, Ivić was appointed manager of PAOK until the end of the season, following the departure of Igor Tudor. He won the Greek Cup in May 2017, before leaving the following month.
On 31 May 2018, Ivić officially took charge of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, penning a two-year deal with an option for a third season. He won the national championship in his debut season with a record 31-point margin and only one loss. In his second season, Ivić led the team to another championship title, only losing in the final league fixture.
2020s On 15 August 2020, Ivić was appointed as manager of Watford on a one-year contract with an option for a further year. He was sacked by the club on 19 December when they finished fifth in the league. Ivić returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv on 12 June 2022 on a two-year contract.
On 4 January 2023, Ivić was appointed manager of Russian Premier League club Krasnodar on a two-year deal. He was dismissed by the club on 13 March 2024. On 4 February 2025, Ivić was appointed coach of UAE Pro League club Al-Ain.
Personal life Ivić is the younger brother of fellow footballer Ilija Ivić.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsProleter Zrenjanin1994–95First League of FR Yugoslavia51—511995–96161—1611996–97201—2011997–9826440304Total67740717Partizan1998–99First League of FR Yugoslavia2011606032111999–003018108339212000–013020424038222001–02238101225102002–03First League of Serbia and Montenegro13310622052003–041743220226Total1336416427717675Borussia Mönchengladbach2004–05Bundesliga4100—41AEK Athens2004–05Alpha Ethniki17461002352005–0627350203432006–07Super League Greece1220051173Total569111717411Aris Thessaloniki2007–08Super League Greece2956350408PAOK2008–09Super League Greece28740—3272009–10309004134102010–11232501033852011–122222050292Total1032011019413324Career total3921064486212498126
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsYugoslavia200120200250Serbia and Montenegro200300200410Total80
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordPAOK U209 March 20145 March 2016PAOK9 March 201610 June 2017Maccabi Tel Aviv31 May 20187 July 2020Watford15 August 202019 December 2020Maccabi Tel Aviv12 June 20223 January 2023Krasnodar4 January 202313 March 2024Al Ain4 February 2025PresentTotal
Honours Player Partizan First League of FR Yugoslavia: 1998–99, 2001–02, 2002–03 FR Yugoslavia Cup: 2000–01
Manager PAOK U20 Greek Superleague U19: 2013–14 PAOK Greek Cup: 2016–17 Maccabi Tel Aviv Israeli Premier League: 2018–19, 2019–20 Toto Cup Al: 2018–19 Israel Super Cup: 2019 Krasnodar Russian Cup runner-up: 2023 Al Ain UAE Pro League 2025–26 UAE President's Cup 2025-26 UAE League Cup runner-up: 2025–26 Individual Super League Greece Manager of the Season: 2016–17 EFL Championship Manager of the Month: November 2020 Russian Premier League Manager of the Month: July/August 2023, September 2023.
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