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 Serie A club Genoa and the Serbia national team.

Nikola Maksimović
Maksimović playing for Torino in 2015
Personal information
Full name Nikola Maksimović
Date of birth (1991-11-25) 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
Genoa
Number 52
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)
2013–2014Torino (loan) 23 (0)
2014–2016 Torino 43 (0)
2016–2021 Napoli 66 (2)
2018Spartak Moscow (loan) 9 (0)
2021– Genoa 13 (0)
National team
2012– Serbia 25 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 03:59, 5 April 2022 (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]

Genoa

On 31 August 2021, Maksimović signed with Genoa for free.[14]

International career

He made 4 appearances for the Serbian national youth teams: two with the under-19[15][16] 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[17] and Sweden,[18] 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.[19]

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.[20] At home he has been repeatedly compared to Nemanja Vidić.[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 3 April 2021.

Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sevojno 2008–09Serbian First League7070
2009–102423[lower-alpha 1]0272
Total31230342
Sloboda Užice 2010–11Serbian SuperLiga20130231
2011–1212010130
Total32140361
Red Star Belgrade 2011–12Serbian SuperLiga12030150
2012–13131106[lower-alpha 1]0201
Total2514060351
Torino 2013–14Serie A23000230
2014–15270109[lower-alpha 1]0370
2015–1616000160
Total6601090760
Napoli 2016–17Serie A81202[lower-alpha 2]0121
2017–1820101[lower-alpha 2] 040
2018–19170209[lower-alpha 3]0280
2019–20221303[lower-alpha 2]0281
2020–21170208[lower-alpha 1]000270
Total66210023000992
Spartak Moscow (loan) 2017–18Russian Premier League9020110
Career total 2296210410002916
  1. All appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. All appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of 3 September 2020
Serbia
YearAppsGoals
201240
201300
201410
201520
201680
201740
201810
201940
202010
Total250

Honours

Club

Red Star Belgrade

Torino

  • Trofeo Città di Mondovì: 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Eusébio Cup: 2016

Napoli

Individual

References

  1. "Spartak Subotica vs. Sloboda Užice". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. "Sloboda Užice vs. Hajduk Kula". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2013-07-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "FK Sloboda Uzice". www.fksloboda.org. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27.
  5. "Maksimovic è del Toro". torinofc.it. Torino Football Club. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. "Maksimovic, verrà esercitata l'opzione". torinogranata.it. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  7. "Nikola Maksimovic". torinofc.it. Torino Football Club. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  8. "Ufficiale Maksimovic al Toro sino al 2018".
  9. "Maksimovic un sogno che si avvera".
  10. Maksimovic al Napoli‚ torinofc.it, 31 August 2016
  11. Maksimović debitovao za Napoli: Opustili se na kraju...‚ mozzartsport.com, 28 September 2016
  12. Ljajić u 93, Maksimović se upisao!‚ mondo.rs, 23 October 2016
  13. Никола Максимович перешел в «Спартак» (in Russian). FC Spartak Moscow. 26 January 2018.
  14. "UFFICIALE: Genoa, per la difesa tesserato Nikola Maksimovic. Era svincolato".
  15. "Faroe Islands U19 vs. Serbia U19". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  16. "Serbia U19 vs. Greece U19". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  17. "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.
  18. "Yahoo | Mail, Meteo, Search, Notizie, Finanza, Sport, Video".
  19. "Chile vs. Serbia". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  20. "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.
  21. it:Nikola Maksimović#cite note-3
  22. "Coppa: Napoli beat Juventus on penalties". Football Italia. 17 June 2020.
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