# Damir Čakar

Damir Čakar (Serbian Cyrillic: Дамир Чакар; born 28 June 1973) is a Montenegrin former professional footballer who played as either an attacking midfielder or a striker. He is known for his powerful shots and set pieces.

## Club career

Čakar started out at his local club Rudar Pljevlja, before joining Budućnost Titograd, aged 15. He made his senior debut for the side during the final 1991–92 edition of the Yugoslav First League. Afterwards, Čakar returned to Rudar Pljevlja for the 1992–93 Second League of FR Yugoslavia, helping them win promotion to the First League of FR Yugoslavia. He subsequently moved to Borac Čačak, spending the next year and a half at the club.
In the 1995 winter transfer window, Čakar was transferred to Partizan. He was the team's top scorer in 1995–96 and 1996–97, helping them win back-to-back championships. In the summer of 1997, Čakar was sold to French side Châteauroux. He scored three league goals in his debut season at the club, as they suffered relegation from the top flight. In the following 1998–99 campaign, Čakar appeared in just four league games, before eventually leaving Châteauroux.
After two years abroad, Čakar returned to FR Yugoslavia and joined ambitious Sartid Smederevo in early 2000. He however failed to make an impact there due to an injury, before terminating his contract by mutual agreement with the club's chairman. Subsequently, Čakar signed with Sutjeska Nikšić. He scored 19 league goals in 23 appearances in the 2000–01 First League of FR Yugoslavia, securing him a return to Partizan. Over the next two seasons, Čakar added two more championship titles to his collection. He also helped Partizan reach the UEFA Champions League group stage in the 2003–04 campaign. In February 2005, Čakar was loaned to his parent club Rudar Pljevlja.
In the summer of 2005, Čakar extended his contract with Rudar Pljevlja, helping the side win the Montenegrin Cup in its first edition. He subsequently moved to fellow Montenegrin First League club Mogren, winning his second national cup, before eventually retiring from the game.

## International career

At international level, Čakar earned three caps for FR Yugoslavia. He made his national team debut on 31 March 1995, coming on as a substitute for Dejan Stefanović in a 1–0 friendly win over Uruguay. Six years later, Čakar received a call-up to the squad for the 2001 Kirin Cup.

## Post-playing career

In October 2015, Čakar was hired as a scout by Partizan under newly appointed sporting director Ivica Iliev.
In October 2022, Čakar was appointed as manager of Serbian SuperLiga club Novi Pazar.

## Personal life

Born in Pljevlja, Čakar grew up in a footballing family. His father Rasim and uncle Safet both played for Rudar Pljevlja. They are considered among the greatest players in the club's history.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Budućnost Podgorica | 1991–92 | Yugoslav First League | 2 | 0 | | | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Rudar Pljevlja | 1992–93 | Second League of FR Yugoslavia | 30 | 17 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 31 | 18 |
| Borac Čačak | 1993–94 | Second League of FR Yugoslavia | | | | | — | — | | |
| Borac Čačak | 1994–95 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 15 | 11 | | | — | — | 15 | 11 |
| Borac Čačak | Total | Total | 15 | 11 | | | — | — | 15 | 11 |
| Partizan | 1994–95 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 7 |
| Partizan | 1995–96 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 32 | 16 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 39 | 18 |
| Partizan | 1996–97 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 29 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 20 |
| Partizan | Total | Total | 73 | 43 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 85 | 45 |
| Châteauroux | 1997–98 | French Division 1 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 3 |
| Châteauroux | 1998–99 | French Division 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Châteauroux | 1999–2000 | French Division 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Châteauroux | Total | Total | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 3 |
| Sartid Smederevo | 1999–2000 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Sutjeska Nikšić | 2000–01 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 23 | 19 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 19 |
| Partizan | 2001–02 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 29 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 13 |
| Partizan | 2002–03 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro | 26 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 34 | 11 |
| Partizan | 2003–04 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 4 |
| Partizan | 2004–05 | First League of Serbia and Montenegro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Partizan | Total | Total | 67 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 90 | 28 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 245 | 113 | 17 | 5 | 21 | 6 | 283 | 124 |

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| FR Yugoslavia | 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 1996 | 0 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 1997 | 0 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 1998 | 0 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 1999 | 0 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 2000 | 0 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 2001 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 3 | 0 |

## Honours

Partizan
* First League of FR Yugoslavia: 1995–96, 1996–97, 2001–02, 2002–03
Rudar Pljevlja
* Montenegrin Cup: 2006–07
Mogren
* Montenegrin Cup: 2007–08
Individual
* Montenegrin First League top scorer: 2006–07