Nikola Maksimović
Nikola Maksimović (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Максимовић, pronounced [nǐkola maksǐːmoʋitɕ]; born 25 November 1991) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Italian club Napoli and the Serbia national team.
.jpg.webp) Maksimović playing for Torino in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Maksimović | ||
| Date of birth | 25 November 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Bajina Bašta, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Napoli | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Kosmos Bajina Bašta | |||
| Sloga Bajina Bašta | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | Sevojno | 31 | (2) |
| 2010–2012 | Sloboda Užice | 32 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Red Star Belgrade | 25 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | → Torino (loan) | 23 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Torino | 43 | (0) |
| 2016– | Napoli | 58 | (2) |
| 2018 | → Spartak Moscow (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2012– | Serbia | 25 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:02, 31 January 2021 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 3 September 2020 | |||
Club career
Early career
Maksimović began his career with Kosmos Bajina Bašta, before moving to Sloga Bajina Bašta. He represented both clubs in youth competitions. Maksimović made his senior debut for Sevojno in the 2008–09 Serbian First League. He also played against FBK Kaunas and Lille in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League.
In the summer of 2010, Sevojno merged with Sloboda Užice. On 19 September 2010, Maksimović received the first yellow card of his career during a match against Spartak Subotica,[1] and scored the first goal of his professional career on 5 March 2011 in Lučani.[2]
Red Star
During the 2012 winter transfer window, Maksimović was signed by Red Star Belgrade for a reported fee of 300,000€. He made his debut on 3 March 2012 in a match against Spartak Zlatibor.[3][4]
At the end of the season, 51% of his contract was acquired by Cypriots Apollon Limassol.
Torino
On 23 July 2013, he was loaned to Italian Serie A club Torino with a buyout clause;[5][6] he made his official debut on 6 October as a substitute against Sampdoria in Genoa, finishing 2–2.[7] Over the course of the season he earned a spot in the starting lineup, first, as a central defender, then as a right-sided midfielder.
On 27 May 2014, Torino exercised the right to purchase him outright; Maksimović signed a contract until 2018.[8][9]
Napoli
On 31 August 2016 he was transferred to Napoli on loan with obligation to buy.[10] On 28 September 2016, Maksimović made his debut in 4–2 home victory over Benfica.[11] On 23 October 2016, he scored his first goal in Serie A, in 2–1 away victory over Crotone.[12]
Spartak
On 26 January 2018, he joined the Russian champions FC Spartak Moscow on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13]
International career
He made 4 appearances for the Serbian national youth teams: two with the under-19[14][15] and two with the under-21. He was first called up to the Serbian national team on 31 May 2012, for two friendly matches against France[16] and Sweden,[17] in which he was played as a starter. He returned for two friendlies against Ireland (where he entered in the second half) and Chile (from the onset), a 3–1 win.[18]
Style of play
Able to play as a defensive midfielder, he grew up playing mainly as a central defender. He is agile for his considerable height (193 cm), combined with a predisposition for the air and marking opponents.[19] At home he has been repeatedly compared to Nemanja Vidić.[20]
Career statistics
Club
Updated 31 January 2021
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sevojno | 2008–09 | Serbian First League | 7 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 24 | 2 | 3[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 34 | 2 | |||||
| Sloboda Užice | 2010–11 | Serbian SuperLiga | 20 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 1 | ||
| 2011–12 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 1 | ||||
| Red Star Belgrade | 2011–12 | Serbian SuperLiga | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | |||
| Total | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 35 | 1 | |||
| Torino | 2013–14 | Serie A | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 37 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 66 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 76 | 0 | |||
| Napoli | 2016–17 | Serie A | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | |
| 2017–18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | — | 28 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| Total | 58 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 2 | ||
| Spartak Moscow (loan) | 2017–18 | Russian Premier League | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 221 | 6 | 19 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 279 | 6 | ||
- All appearances in UEFA Europa League
- All appearances in UEFA Champions League
- Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of 3 September 2020
| Serbia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 0 |
Honours
Individual
References
- "Spartak Subotica vs. Sloboda Užice". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "Sloboda Užice vs. Hajduk Kula". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2013-07-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- http://www.fksloboda.org/vest.php?id=832
- "Maksimovic è del Toro". torinofc.it. Torino Football Club. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "Maksimovic, verrà esercitata l'opzione". torinogranata.it. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- "Nikola Maksimovic". torinofc.it. Torino Football Club. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- "Ufficiale Maksimovic al Toro sino al 2018".
- "Maksimovic un sogno che si avvera".
- Maksimovic al Napoli‚ torinofc.it, 31 August 2016
- Maksimović debitovao za Napoli: Opustili se na kraju...‚ mozzartsport.com, 28 September 2016
- Ljajić u 93, Maksimović se upisao!‚ mondo.rs, 23 October 2016
- Никола Максимович перешел в «Спартак» (in Russian). FC Spartak Moscow. 26 January 2018.
- "Faroe Islands U19 vs. Serbia U19". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "Serbia U19 vs. Greece U19". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "Amichevoli. Francia Serbia 2–0. Ribery e Malouda i marcatori francesi" [Friendly. France Serbia 2-0. Ribery and Malouda the French scorers]. sportnews.eu (in Italian). Web 365. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- https://it.eurosport.yahoo.com/calcio/amichevoli/2012/svezia-serbia-503295.html
- "Chile vs. Serbia". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- "Calciomercato Milan, piace Maksimovic: in patria è considerato l'erede di Vidic" [Milan transfer market, Maksimovic likes: at home he is considered the heir of Vidic]. milanlive.it (in Italian). Next Media Web. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- it:Nikola Maksimović#cite note-3
- "Coppa: Napoli beat Juventus on penalties". Football Italia. 17 June 2020.
External links
- Profile at utakmica.rs
- Nikola Maksimović at Soccerway