Dejan Stanković facts for kids
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Stanković with Red Star Belgrade in 2022
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dejan Stanković | ||
| Date of birth | 11 September 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Belgrade, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Spartak Moscow (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1985–1992 | Teleoptik | ||
| 1992–1995 | Red Star Belgrade | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1998 | Red Star Belgrade | 85 | (29) |
| 1998–2004 | Lazio | 137 | (22) |
| 2004–2013 | Inter Milan | 231 | (29) |
| Total | 453 | (80) | |
| International career | |||
| 1998–2013 | Serbia | 103 | (15) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2019–2022 | Red Star Belgrade | ||
| 2022–2023 | Sampdoria | ||
| 2023–2024 | Ferencváros | ||
| 2024– | Spartak Moscow | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Dejan Stanković (born 11 September 1978) is a Serbian football manager and former player. He was the captain of the Serbia national team from 2007 until 2011. He is currently the manager of the Russian team Spartak Moscow.
Stanković started his playing career at Red Star Belgrade. In 1998, he moved to Lazio in Italy. After more than five years there, he joined Inter Milan, where he played until he retired in 2013. Stanković is special because he played for three different national teams at FIFA World Cups: Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Serbia.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting at Red Star Belgrade
Dejan Stanković grew up in Zemun, a part of Belgrade. Both his parents loved football. He began playing for FK Teleoptik. When he was 14, a coach from Red Star Belgrade saw him play. Dejan then joined Red Star's youth teams. He played alongside future professional players like Nikola Lazetić.
In the 1994–95 season, Stanković made his first team debut for Red Star. This was on 11 February 1995, against OFK Beograd. He became the youngest player to play for Red Star's senior team. At 16, he played seven league games as his team won the league title. He scored his first goal against Budućnost Podgorica. This made him the youngest goal scorer in Red Star's history. He quickly became a regular player and a fan favorite.
In the early 1990s, Red Star could not play in European competitions. This was because of a ban on FR Yugoslavia. The ban was lifted before the 1995–96 season. A year later, Stanković played his first European game. This was in the Cup Winners' Cup.
Before the 1997–98 season, he became the team captain at just 19 years old. This made him the youngest captain in the club's history. Even though they did not win the league, he led the team to win two national cups.
Time at Lazio
In the summer of 1998, Stanković moved to Lazio in Italy. He scored in his first Serie A game on 13 September 1998. Lazio had many famous players at that time. But Stanković quickly became a regular player. He played well with Juan Sebastián Verón and Diego Simeone in midfield. His hard work earned him the nickname "Il Dragone" ("The Dragon"). He played for Lazio for five and a half successful seasons. During this time, he won the Serie A title, the Italian Cup, and the Cup Winners' Cup. In February 2004, he moved to Inter Milan.
Years at Inter Milan
Joining Inter and Early Success
Stanković joined Inter Milan in January 2004. He played his first game for Inter in February 2004, a 4–0 win against Siena. On 21 February 2004, he scored a fantastic goal directly from a corner kick against Milan. Inter finished fourth in the league, which meant they qualified for the Champions League.
In the summer of 2004, Roberto Mancini, his former coach from Lazio, became Inter's new coach. Stanković also reunited with Siniša Mihajlović, another former Lazio player.
On 7 May 2006, Stanković played his 100th game for Inter. He was in great form after playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored important goals, including two against Catania and a memorable one against city rivals Milan. He was a key player as Inter won the league title that season. He signed a new contract in February 2007, keeping him at Inter until at least 2010.
Under José Mourinho
When José Mourinho became Inter's coach in June 2008, there was talk that Stanković might leave. However, Stanković stayed and fought for his place. On 19 October 2008, he scored a superb goal in Inter's 4–0 win against Roma. He was happy to be back in form after injuries. Stanković became a very important part of Mourinho's midfield. He helped Inter win their fourth league title in a row.
In the Champions League, Inter lost to Manchester United in the Round of 16. Stanković played well in both games.
Winning the Treble (2009–10)
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The 2009–10 season was great for Stanković. In the Milan derby on 29 August, he played a deeper role. He scored Inter's fourth goal in a 4–0 win, a spectacular shot from 30 yards. He also scored against Rubin Kazan and Udinese.
He scored an amazing goal from 54 meters away against Genoa. He volleyed the ball straight into the net after the opposing goalkeeper cleared it. At the end of the season, Stanković and Inter won a historic treble. They won the Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League.
Later Seasons and Retirement
Under new coach Rafael Benítez, Stanković continued to play in midfield. On 28 November 2010, he scored three goals in a 5–2 win against Parma. At the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup in December, Stanković played very well in the semi-final. He scored the first goal against Seongnam. Inter won the trophy.
Under coach Leonardo, Stanković kept his midfield role. He scored a spectacular volley from the halfway line against Schalke 04 in the Champions League quarter-final on 5 April 2011. He won his last trophy with Inter in the 2011 Coppa Italia Final.
Stanković played two more seasons at Inter. On 6 July 2013, he announced his retirement from the club. He played 326 games for Inter and scored 42 goals. In 2019, he was added to the Inter Milan Hall of Fame.
International Career
Stanković first played for the FR Yugoslavia team on 22 April 1998. He scored two goals in a 6–1 win against South Korea. He played for FR Yugoslavia at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He quickly became an important player.
The team was later renamed Serbia and Montenegro. Stanković played in almost all their games for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he wore the number 10 shirt. After Savo Milošević retired, Stanković became the captain of the new Serbia national team.
Serbia qualified for their first World Cup as an independent nation in 2010. Stanković was the captain and played every minute in the group stage. He was key in their surprising 1–0 win over Germany.
After a 1–0 loss to Slovenia in the Euro 2012 qualifiers, Stanković announced he was retiring from international football. This was 13 years after his first game. Two years later, he played a special farewell match against Japan. He played for ten minutes, becoming the most capped player for Serbia with 103 games. He received a standing ovation as he said goodbye to football. Serbia won the match 2–0.
Playing Style
Dejan Stanković was a very talented and versatile player. He often played as an attacking midfielder. However, he could also play on the wings or in a defensive midfield role. He was known for his hard work, accurate passing, and creativity. He was also good at scoring goals, especially from long distances, using his strong right foot. He was also good at heading the ball. In his best years, he was considered one of the top players in European football.
Managerial Career
Red Star Belgrade Manager
On 21 December 2019, Stanković became the manager of Serbian SuperLiga club Red Star Belgrade. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract. The club won the 2019–20 Serbian SuperLiga in his first season, finishing 14 points ahead of their rivals Partizan.
In the 2020–21 season, Red Star Belgrade did not lose a single league game. They won 35 out of 38 matches and scored a record 114 goals. On 25 May, the club also won the Serbian Cup by beating Partizan in the final. They also reached the knockout stage of the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League.
On 26 August 2022, Stanković resigned as Red Star manager. This happened after his team was knocked out of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League qualification round by Maccabi Haifa.
Sampdoria Manager
On 6 October 2022, Stanković signed a contract with Serie A club Sampdoria. The team was struggling at the time. He left Sampdoria at the end of the season. He could not save the team from being relegated, partly due to the club's financial problems.
Ferencváros Manager
On 4 September 2023, he was appointed as the coach of Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC. On 14 December 2023, Ferencváros drew with ACF Fiorentina in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League group stage. Ferencváros finished second in their group and moved on to the knockout stage.
Stanković said that drawing twice with Fiorentina was a big achievement. He also mentioned that coaching Ferencváros taught him how to handle stress as a football manager.
On 15 May 2024, Ferencváros lost 2–0 to Paks in the 2024 Hungarian Cup Final. He resigned from his position the next day.
Spartak Moscow Manager
On 16 May 2024, Russian club Spartak Moscow announced they signed a two-year contract with Stanković. He started coaching the team in the 2024–25 season.
Personal Life
Dejan Stanković was born in Belgrade, Serbia. His parents are Borislav and Dragica, and he has a brother named Siniša. He was married to Ana Ačimovič, who is the sister of his former Red Star teammate Milenko Ačimovič. They have three sons: Stefan (born 2000), Filip (born 2002), and Aleksandar (born 2005). All three of his sons were part of the Inter Milan football academy.
Stanković is now married to Slovenian journalist Anita Bojanić. Their daughter, Anđela, was born on 19 January 2025.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Red Star Belgrade | 1994–95 | First League of FR Yugoslavia |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 1995–96 | First League of FR Yugoslavia |
24 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 5 | |
| 1996–97 | First League of FR Yugoslavia |
26 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 13 | |
| 1997–98 | First League of FR Yugoslavia |
28 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 21 | |
| Total | 85 | 29 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 39 | ||
| Lazio | 1998–99 | Serie A | 29 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 9 |
| 1999–2000 | Serie A | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 5 | |
| 2000–01 | Serie A | 21 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2001–02 | Serie A | 27 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 8 | |
| 2002–03 | Serie A | 29 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 6 | |
| 2003–04 | Serie A | 15 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |
| Total | 137 | 22 | 21 | 4 | 47 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 208 | 33 | ||
| Inter Milan | 2003–04 | Serie A | 14 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| 2004–05 | Serie A | 31 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 47 | 6 | |
| 2005–06 | Serie A | 23 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 6 | |
| 2006–07 | Serie A | 34 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 6 | |
| 2007–08 | Serie A | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2008–09 | Serie A | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 5 | |
| 2009–10 | Serie A | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 5 | |
| 2010–11 | Serie A | 26 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 9 | |
| 2011–12 | Serie A | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | Serie A | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 231 | 29 | 26 | 3 | 60 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 326 | 42 | ||
| Career total | 453 | 80 | 64 | 12 | 118 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 647 | 114 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR Yugoslavia / Serbia |
1998 | 10 | 3 |
| 1999 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2005 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 103 | 15 | |
- Scores and results list FR Yugoslavia/Serbia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Stanković goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Yugoslavia goals |
|||||||
| 1 | 22 April 1998 | Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia |  South Korea |
1–1 | 3–1 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 2–1 | ||||||
| 3 | 2 September 1998 | Čair Stadium, Niš, FR Yugoslavia |  Switzerland |
1–0 | 1–1 | ||
| 4 | 1 September 1999 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland |  Republic of Ireland |
1–1 | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying | |
| 5 | 8 September 1999 | Philip II Arena, Skopje, FYR Macedonia |  Macedonia |
3–0 | 4–2 | ||
| 6 | 9 October 1999 | Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia |  Croatia |
2–1 | 2–2 | ||
| 7 | 6 June 2001 | Svangaskarð, Toftir, Faroe Islands |  Faroe Islands |
1–0 | 6–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 8 | 3–0 | ||||||
 Serbia and Montenegro goals |
|||||||
| 9 | 16 November 2003 | Kazimierz Górski Stadium, Płock, Poland |  Poland |
1–2 | 3–4 | Friendly | |
| 10 | 13 October 2004 | Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro |  San Marino |
2–0 | 5–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 11 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 12 | 27 May 2006 | Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro |  Uruguay |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly | |
 Serbia goals |
|||||||
| 13 | 11 October 2006 | Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade, Serbia |  Armenia |
1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying | |
| 14 | 5 June 2010 | Stadion Partizana, Belgrade, Serbia |  Cameroon |
2–2 | 4–3 | Friendly | |
| 15 | 3 September 2010 | Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | Faroe Islands |
2–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying | |
Managerial Statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Red Star Belgrade |  |
21 December 2019 | 26 August 2022 | 134 | 108 | 17 | 9 | 334 | 79 | +255 | 80.60 | |
| Sampdoria |  |
6 October 2022 | 6 June 2023 | 32 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 22 | 58 | −36 | 12.50 | |
| Ferencváros |  |
5 September 2023 | 30 June 2024 | 50 | 33 | 10 | 7 | 108 | 37 | +71 | 66.00 | |
| Spartak Moscow |  |
1 July 2024 | present | 42 | 25 | 6 | 11 | 80 | 37 | +43 | 59.52 | |
| Total | 258 | 170 | 41 | 47 | 543 | 211 | +332 | 65.89 | ||||
Honours and Awards
As a Player
Red Star Belgrade
- Yugoslav First League: 1994–95
- Yugoslav Cup: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97
Lazio
- Serie A: 1999–2000
- Coppa Italia: 1999–2000
- Supercoppa Italiana: 1998, 2000
- Cup Winners' Cup: 1998–99
- UEFA Super Cup: 1999
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
- Coppa Italia: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010
- UEFA Champions League: 2009–10
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2010
Individual Player Awards
- ESM Team of the Season: 2006–07
- Serbian Player of the Year: 2006, 2010
- ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season: 2010
- Inter Milan Hall of Fame: 2019
As a Manager
Red Star Belgrade
- Serbian SuperLiga: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
- Serbian Cup: 2020–21, 2021–22
Ferencváros
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2023–24
Individual Manager Awards
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I Manager of the Month: October 2023
- Russian Premier League Manager of the Month: November/December 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Dejan Stanković para niños
- List of footballers with 100 or more caps
