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Predrag Rajković

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Predrag Rajković
Rajković with Serbia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Predrag Rajković[1]
Date of birth (1995-10-31) 31 October 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Negotin, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Al-Ittihad
Number 1
Youth career
2002–2009 Hajduk Veljko
2009–2013 Jagodina
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Jagodina 4 (0)
2013–2015 Red Star Belgrade 35 (0)
2015–2019 Maccabi Tel Aviv 136 (0)
2019–2022 Reims 102 (0)
2022–2024 Mallorca 72 (0)
2024– Al-Ittihad 13 (0)
International career‡
2010–2011 Serbia U16 3 (0)
2011–2013 Serbia U17 6 (0)
2013–2014 Serbia U19 14 (0)
2015 Serbia U20 8 (0)
2013 Serbia U21 1 (0)
2013– Serbia 39 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Serbia
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Winner 2015 New Zealand
UEFA U-19 Championship
Winner 2013 Lithuania
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:06, 6 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024

Predrag Rajković (Serbian Cyrillic: Предраг Рајковић, pronounced [prêdraːɡ rǎːjkoʋitɕ]; born 31 October 1995) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad and the Serbia national team.

Club career

[edit]

Jagodina

[edit]

Born in Negotin, he started training when he was 7 years old with his father Saša, who is also a former goalkeeper of Hajduk Veljko.[3][4] He was with his hometown club until 2009, when he moved to Jagodina. For next 4 years, he played for youth teams of Jagodina, and was with first team since 2011–12 season, and was licensed with jersey number 45.[5] Next season, Bondžulić changed his squad number to 11 again, so Rajković took 1. Although Bondžulić was the first choice, Rajković mainly was his reserve in front of competitors Petar Jokić and Stevica Zdravković.[6] He made his professional debut for Jagodina on 9 March 2013 in a Serbian SuperLiga match versus Partizan.[7][8] Until the end of 2012–13 season, he made one more match against Smederevo.[9] After Bondžulić's departure, Anđelko Đuričić joined Jagodina. After first fixture and lose against Napredak Kruševac, Mladen Dodić decided to give Rajković a chance, because of his merits in winning 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.[10] But, after 2 appearances in new season, Rajković left to Red Star Belgrade.[11] Jagodina should receive 30 percent of his next transfer.[12]

Red Star Belgrade

[edit]

2013–14 season

[edit]

He signed a four-year contract with Red Star Belgrade on 28 August 2013, and took the jersey number 95, according to year of his birth.[13] He acted as a backup to Boban Bajković, and fought for a place on the bench with Miloš Vesić. He made his official debut for Red Star in last fixture against Vojvodina.[14]

2014–15 season

[edit]

After Bajković's and Vesić's departures, Rajković stayed with a year younger Filip Manojlović and Marko Trkulja who returned from Spartak Subotica, where he was on loan. Club management decided to sign a more experienced goalkeeper, and Damir Kahriman joined Red Star. But Kahriman couldn't play at the beginning of the season because of administrative problems, so Rajković started the season as a first choice. After Milijaš's departure, Mijailović's suspension, Luković's injury, and Lazović's conflict with management, coach Nenad Lalatović decided to give the captain's armband to Rajković.[15] He had 16 clean sheets in 28 league appearances, and was selected as the best goalkeeper in 2014–15 season, chosen by other players.[16]

2015–16 season

[edit]

On 29 June 2015, Rajković signed a new three-year contract with Red Star, after days of speculation about his potential transfer away from the club.[17] After winning 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand and the award for the best goalkeeper of the tournament, many European clubs wanted Rajković, including French Ligue 1 club Lyon, Belgian side Club Brugge and according to some reports Italian giant Serie A club A.C. Milan. The Crvena zvezda captain was also a top target for Paris Saint Germain along with Kevin Trapp, who signed for Les Parisiens at the end. Rajković was the best member in team during both matches against Kairat in the first qualifying round of the Europa League. Rajković kept the team from suffering a deeper loss with some incredible saves. The coach of Kairat, Vladimír Weiss, said after the game that Rajković is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.[18] After great saves in first rounds of the Serbian SuperLiga, despite Zvezda's poor start, Turkish champion Galatasaray declared interest in him.

Predrag Rajković was one of the contestants at 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying draw, which took place at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, Saint Petersburg on 25 July 2015.

Maccabi Tel Aviv

[edit]
Rajković for Maccabi in a UEFA Champions League match against Chelsea in 2015

On 29 August 2015, Rajković signed a five-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv. The transfer fee was €3 million.[19] On 30 August, Rajković made his Israeli Premier League debut in a 1–0 victory over Hapoel Be'er Sheva during the second league match of the season.[20] Rajković made 43 appearances in all competitions, including Israeli Premier League, State Cup, Toto Cup in which he did not play and UEFA Champions League. He noted 21 clean sheets at total until the end of 2015–16 season.[21] Rajković also continued playing as the first choice goalkeeper in the 2016–17 Israeli Premier League season. During the first half-season, he also made 14 appearances in the UEFA Europa League, which the club ended at third place in group stage. Rajković made an assist to Viðar Örn Kjartansson in the State Cup match against Hapoel Bnei Lod played on 7 January 2017, saving a shot from the opponent's previous attack.[22] In May same year, Rajković was elected for the club's player of the season in an inner club event.[23] On 14 December 2017, Rajković won the Toto Cup trophy with Maccabi, beating Hapoel Be'er Sheva in final match of the competition.[24]

Reims

[edit]

On 23 July 2019, Rajković signed a four-year contract with Stade de Reims. The transfer fee was €3 million. Rajkovic was brought in for the outgoing Edouard Mendy, who was on his way to Stade Rennais after a summer of heavy speculation on his future. Mendy had been hugely impressive in his first season in Ligue 1, keeping 14 clean sheets bettered only by Lyon's Anthony Lopes and Nice's Walter Benitez. In his first season in the Champagne region, Rajković will have youth academy product Nicolas Lemaitre as a backup. Rajković made his debut on 10 August 2019 in a 2–0 away win against Marseille.[25]

Mallorca

[edit]

On 22 July 2022, Rajković signed for La Liga club Mallorca on a four-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Reims was of €4.5 million, with a sell-on clause included in the deal as well.[26]

Al-Ittihad

[edit]

On 5 August 2024, Rajković was transferred to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad.[27]

International career

[edit]

Youth

[edit]

Rajković was a member of the Serbia U-16 and Serbia U-17 national teams.[28] Radovan Ćurčić, coach of Serbia U-21, called him for a friendly match against Israel, played on 6 February 2013.[29] Rajković was one of the most deserving players for winning the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, when he saved goal many times with great interventions and stopped penalties.[30]

In 2014, Rajković represented the Serbian youth team that lost against Portugal in the semi-final after penalties.[31] In the quarter-final, Rajković saved two penalties and missed one in a penalty shootout against the United States. After Maksimović's goal, Serbia advanced to the next round.[32] In the final, Rajković was one of the most important men on the field, keeping the result with incredible saves, being awarded the best goalkeeper in the competition.[33]

Senior

[edit]

In 2013, Rajković received his first call-up for the Serbian senior squad under coach Siniša Mihajlović.[34] He debuted the same year on 7 August in a friendly match against Colombia.[35]

Rajković was selected in Serbia's squad for the 2018[36] and 2022 FIFA World Cups,[37] but did not make any appearance in both tournaments.

Rajković was selected in Serbia's squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. He played in all three group stage matches, against England, Slovenia and Denmark. Serbia finished fourth in the group.

Personal life

[edit]

On 8 August 2018, Rajković married his Serbian girlfriend Ana Cakić. Predrag picked his teammate from the Serbia national team, Saša Zdjelar, for his best man on the wedding. They have two sons together.[38]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 6 December 2024[21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jagodina 2011–12 Serbian SuperLiga 0 0 — — — — 0 0
2012–13 2 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 2 0
2013–14 2 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 2 0
Total 4 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 4 0
Red Star Belgrade 2013–14 Serbian SuperLiga 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 1 0
2014–15 28 0 0 0 — — — 28 0
2015–16 6 0 — — 2 0 — 8 0
Total 35 0 0 0 — 2 0 — 37 0
Maccabi Tel Aviv 2015–16 Israeli Premier League 34 0 3 0 0 0 6[a] 0 — 43 0
2016–17 35 0 6 0 2 0 14[b] 0 — 57 0
2017–18 36 0 1 0 5 0 14[b] 0 — 56 0
2018–19 31 0 4 0 3 0 8[b] 0 — 46 0
Total 136 0 14 0 10 0 42 0 — 202 0
Reims 2019–20 Ligue 1 27 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 — 30 0
2020–21 37 0 0 0 — 2 0 — 39 0
2021–22 38 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 37 0
Total 102 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 — 107 0
Mallorca 2022–23 La Liga 36 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 36 0
2023–24 36 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 36 0
Total 72 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 — 72 0
Al-Ittihad 2024–25 Saudi Pro League 13 0 2 0 — — — 15 0
Career total 361 0 16 0 13 0 46 0 0 0 436 0
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

[edit]
As of match played 15 October 2024[39]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Serbia 2013 1 0
2014 0 0
2015 1 0
2016 3 0
2017 2 0
2018 4 0
2019 2 0
2020 5 0
2021 8 0
2022 2 0
2023 2 0
2024 9 0
Total 39 0

Honours

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Jagodina

Red Star Belgrade

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Serbia

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Serbia (SRB)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 26. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  3. ^ "PREDRAG RAJKOVIĆ, GOLMAN FUDBALSKE REPREZENTACIJE SRBIJE NEGOTINAC NA KROVU EVROPE". ZAVIČAJ narodne novine (in Serbian). 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  4. ^ Журнал у Неготину са Предрагом Рајковићем: Звездин хајдук Рајко. Sportski žurnal (in Serbian). 2 January 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  5. ^ "FK Jagodina 2011–12". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  6. ^ "FK Jagodina 2012–13". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Jagodina – Partizan 0:1 (0:1)". FK Partizan official website (in Serbian). 9 March 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  8. ^ "INTERVJU: PREDRAG RAJKOVIĆ, ČUVAR MREŽE CRVENE ZVEZDE I MLADE REPREZENTACIJE SRBIJE". Soccer kladionica (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  9. ^ "27.kolo SMEDEREVO – JAGODINA". Serbian SuperLiga official website (in Serbian). 11 May 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  10. ^ "DODIĆ: NEĆE NAM MANJKATI HRABROSTI DA UBACIMO RAJKOVIĆA". jelenfootball.com (in Serbian). 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Rajković na četiri, Gogić na tri godine!". Alo! (in Serbian). 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  12. ^ Јагодини од трансфера Предрага Рајковића 30 одсто. Sportski žurnal (in Serbian). 22 April 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  13. ^ Гогић и Рајковић нова појачања. Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Vojvodina – Crvena zvezda 3:3 (0:1)". Red Star Belgrade official website. 29 May 2014. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Nova afera "traka" na Marakani: Lazović ponovo ražalovan, Predrag Rajković novi kapiten Zvezde!". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  16. ^ "JSL najboljih XI: Dominacija Čukaričkog". B92 (in Serbian). 26 May 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Rajković u ponedeljak potpisuje novi ugovor!". MojaCrvenazvezda (in Serbian). 28 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Rajković: Ne tražim alibi, biće bolje". B92 (in Serbian). 9 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  19. ^ צנציפר, נדב (29 August 2015). פרדראג ראיקוביץ' חתם במכבי ת"א ל-5 שנים [Predrag Rajković signed for five years with Maccabi]. ynet (in Hebrew).
  20. ^ "1–0 for Maccabi against Hapoel Be'er Sheva" (in Hebrew). ONE. 30 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Predrag Rajković at Soccerway
  22. ^ "Rajko brani kao da nije normalan! I još asistira! (VIDEO)". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 9 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  23. ^ Предраг Рајковић најбољи играч Макабија. Radio Television of Serbia (in Serbian). 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  24. ^ a b בפעם החמישית: מכבי ת"א זכתה בגביע הטוטו. ONE (in Hebrew). 14 December 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  25. ^ "Predrag Rajković Stade de Reims videos, transfer history and stats – SofaScore". sofascore.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  26. ^ "Transferts : Predrag Rajkovic quitte Reims pour le Real Majorque (officiel)". L'Équipe (in French). 22 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Predrag Rajković se marcha traspasado al Al-Ittihad" [Predrag Rajković is transferred to Al-Ittihad] (in Spanish). RCD Mallorca. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  28. ^ "Predrag Rajković: Čim oborim rekord, naći ću i devojku!". supersport.rs (in Serbian). 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  29. ^ "Predrag Rajković u mladoj reprezentaciji". 035info.rs (in Serbian). 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  30. ^ "Zapamtite Rajkovića i Mitrovića". B92 (in Serbian). 2 August 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  31. ^ "Srbija Nije Imala Sreće: Omladinci posle penala ispali u polufinalu EP! (Foto + Video)". Telegraf (in Serbian). 28 July 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  32. ^ "Tako se bori za Srbiju "Orlići" dramatičnim penalima do polufinala SP!". Blic Sport (in Serbian). 14 June 2015.
  33. ^ "Rajković najbolji golman Svetskog prvenstva!". Radio Television of Serbia (in Serbian). 20 June 2015.
  34. ^ "Млади голман из Неготинa позван на припреме "А" репрезентације". negotin.rs (in Serbian). 24 May 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  35. ^ Гурајмо младе, а не странце. Politika (in Serbian). 14 August 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2024. Сјајни Џексон Мартинез искористио је грешку српске одбране, изашао сам пред младог голмана Предрага Рајковића, који је само минут раније добио прилику да дебитује. [The great Jackson Martinez took advantage of a mistake by the Serbian defence in front of the young goalkeeper Predrag Rajković, who got a chance to debut one minute earlier.]
  36. ^ "World Cup 2018: All the confirmed squads for this summer's finals in Russia". BBC Sport. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  37. ^ "Head-coach Dragan Stojković announces the list of players for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar". Football Association of Serbia. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  38. ^ "RAJKOVIĆ SE ZAKLEO NA VEČNU LJUBAV: Golman reprezentacije Srbije rekao sudbonosno DA Ani Cakić (FOTO)". Kurir (in Serbian). 6 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  39. ^ Predrag Rajković at National-Football-Teams.com
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