Broken ankle ends Ačimovič season
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Article summary
LOSC Lille Métropole's Slovenian playmaker Milenko Ačimovič will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a broken ankle.
Article body
LOSC Lille Métropole playmaker Milenko Ačimovič will miss the rest of the season after suffering a broken ankle.
Immediate surgery
The Slovenian was stretchered off after 15 minutes of his team's 3-0 Ligue 1 win against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard on Saturday, following a challenge with Valéry Mezague. As well as fracturing his left ankle, Ačimovič also suffered ligament damage and immediately underwent surgery. Lille do not expect the 29-year-old to feature again until the 2006/07 season.
UEFA Cup berth
Ačimovič scored Lille's only goal in their UEFA Champions League campaign, the winner in a 1-0 home win against Manchester United FC. Although they did not progress to the knockout stages, that victory helped them to beat United to third place and the prize of a UEFA Cup berth. The northern French side have been paired with Ukrainian champions FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the round of 32.