Preki's Last Everton Goal

On This Day in 1994, the Left-Footed Maestro Curled Home the Opener in a Victory Over Oldham

The journey from indoor soccer in America to scoring spectacular free kicks in the Premier League was unusual, but Predrag "Preki" Radosavljević made it work at Goodison Park. The midfielder spent seven years starring in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) before joining Everton in 1992. After being spotted by Tacoma Stars head coach Bob McNab at an indoor tournament in Belgrade and sent him to the United States, where played five seasons for the Stars. He returned to the outdoor game and played one season for Råslätts SK in Sweden in 1990 before signing with St. Louis Storm in August, where he spent two seasons.

Everton manager Howard Kendall's £100,000 gamble on the indoor soccer star raised eyebrows, but Preki had shown flashes of brilliance despite the challenging transition to the English game. The 30-year-old's adaptation from the confined spaces of indoor arenas to the expansive Premier League pitches hadn't been seamless, and he often appeared as a substitute. Still, he netted three goals in his first season—three of which came in the final six matches of the season—helping Everton secure Premier League safety.

It was fitting that former manager Kendall attended this March 5 match against Oldham. Kendall returned to Goodison Park for the first time after resigning in December following a poor run of league form. The former boss watched from an executive box when one of his signings produced a moment of magic.

In the 40th minute, Everton was awarded a free kick in a promising position. While Graham Stuart ran over the ball as a decoy, Preki stepped up and curled an unstoppable left-footed shot into Jon Hallworth's top left corner, sending the Gwladys Street End into raptures. It was a reminder of the technical ability that made him the 1989 MVP in the MISL. 

According to witnesses, a fellow spectator in the executive box doubted Preki's set-piece abilities, predicting he would miss. Kendall had confidently predicted Preki would find the net from the free kick, having seen the midfielder repeatedly practice similar efforts in training. The doubter said, "It would be champagne all night for EVERYONE in the box" if Preki scored. The prescience of Everton's most successful manager led to champagne celebrations as the ball ripped the net, ending with a roar from the spectators after the goal.

Though Graeme Sharp would equalize for Oldham three minutes later against his former club, Stuart's second-half strike secured a vital win for Mike Walker's side. The victory moved Everton clear of the relegation-threatened Latics and provided a bright spot in what had been a challenging campaign.

For Preki, who had made 23 Premier League appearances this season, the goal vindicated his unique career path. The midfielder would return to America in the summer for another spell in indoor soccer, having already agreed terms with San Jose Grizzlies. The indoor game's truncated season meant he could return to English football later in the year, which he did when he signed with Portsmouth in August, where he spent one season before returning to America to join the Kansas City Wizards in MLS. In 1996, Preki became a US citizen, making him eligible to play for the national team.

While his time at Goodison appeared to be drawing to a close, moments like that free kick ensured Preki's brief but memorable Premier League adventure wouldn't be quickly forgotten by the Everton faithful. While the midfielder's overall impact in English football might not match his indoor achievements, the strike showed why Kendall had been willing to take a chance on such an unconventional signing.