Career
Kovačević had a successful playing career in both SFR Yugoslavia with FK Partizan, and in France with Football Club Nantes and Angers SCO. With Partizan, he was the European Cup Top Goal Scorer during the 1963-1964 season with 7 goals, alongside Sandro Mazzola of Inter, and Ferenc Puskas of Real Madrid, and he reached the 1966 European Cup Final with the club At International level, he played at the 1962 for SFR Yugoslavia, finishing the tournament in fourth place. He later coached Olympique Lyonnais after retiring.