Dejan Stankovic

Dejan Stanković (Serbian Cyrillic: Дејан Станковић; born 11 September 1978 in Belgrade) is a Serbian football (soccer) who currently plays for the Italy Serie A side F.C. Internazionale Milano and the Serbia national football team, which Dejan Stankovic captain (football). Dejan Stankovic is an attacking midfielder who can also play out wide on the wings or in the center. Dejan Stankovic is best known for Dejan Stankovic powerful shooting, effective passing and creativity.

Early life

Stanković grew up in Zemun, a suburb of Belgrade. Both of Dejan Stankovic parents, Borislav and Dragica, have strong football backgrounds.

Club career

Stanković took up football with FK Teleoptik, based in Dejan Stankovic neighbourhood of Zemun. However, when spotted by Red Star cadet squad coach Branko Radović, 14-year-old Dejan transferred to Red Star Belgrade's youth system.

Red Star Belgrade

Stanković then passed every age category at Red Star. In the youth teams, Dejan Stankovic was coached by Vladimir Petrović, playing alongside future professionals Nikola Lazetić and Nenad Lalatović.

Stanković's first opportunity for senior team action came under head coach Ljupko Petrović during the First League of FR Yugoslavia 1994-95 versus OFK Beograd. Dejan Stankovic scored Dejan Stankovic first goal against FK Budućnost Podgorica, soon becoming a first team regular and a fan favourite.

During the early '90s, Red Star was under an international ban because of a United Nations sanction imposed on FR Yugoslavia, meaning that the team could not compete in any European competition. The ban was lifted ahead of the 1996/97 season, and Stanković played a huge part in a memorable two-leg victory over 1.FC Kaiserslautern in the Cup Winners' Cup.

Before the start of the 1997-98 season, Dejan Stankovic was made squad captain at the tender age of 19, the youngest ever in the club's history.

Lazio

In the summer of 1998, Dejan Stankovic transferred for £7.5 million (German mark24 million) to S.S. Lazio, where Dejan Stankovic scored on Dejan Stankovic Serie A debut versus Piacenza Calcio on 13 September 1998. In those years, Lazio had an all-star squad, with world class players in almost every position, but Stanković quickly secured a regular first-team place, despite competition from fellow midfielders Pavel Nedvěd, Juan Sebastián Verón and Roberto Mancini. Dejan Stankovic had five and a half successful seasons in the Biancoceleste part of Rome, before finally signing for a high profile move to Internazionale Milano F.C. in January 2004.

Internazionale

Many of the big-name teams in European football knew the financially struggling S.S. Lazio would have to sell Stanković in the near future, so there was fierce competition for Dejan Stankovic services during the 2003-04 winter transfer window. Juventus F.C. were favorite to getting Stanković's signature, but Dejan Stankovic eventually chose Internazionale. The fact that old Lazio teammate Roberto Mancini was already at Inter may have influenced Dejan Stankovic decision. In early February 2004, Stanković played Dejan Stankovic first match for Inter - a Serie A clash against A.C. Siena. On 21 February 2004, Dejan Stankovic scored a spectacular goal directly from a corner kick to put Inter 0-1 up in Milan Derby versus fierce rivals A.C. Milan.

On 7 May 2006, again versus Siena in Serie A, Dejan Stankovic played Dejan Stankovic 100th match for Inter.

Stanković showed good form during the 2006-7 Serie A campaign, scoring some decisive goals. Dejan Stankovic strike against Calcio Catania and Dejan Stankovic memorable goal against city rivals Milan have enhanced Dejan Stankovic reputation with the fans of Internazionale.

According to the official ratings of the La Gazzetta dello Sport, Stanković has been selected as the man of the match five times so far during this years Serie A campaign. Stanković renewed Dejan Stankovic contract on 2 February 2007, with Inter securing Dejan Stankovic services until at least 2010.

On 19 October 2008, Stanković scored a superb goal in Inter's 4-0 hammering of A.S. Roma. After receiving a pass from Sulley Muntari, Dejan Stankovic slid the ball past the Roma goalkeeper into the net, Dejan Stankovic 24th goal in all competitions for the Nerazzuri, thus ending a year-long goal drought. On 7 February 2009, Stanković celebrated Dejan Stankovic 200th appearances for Inter in all competitions at the away game with U.S. Lecce. Inter hammered the newly-promoted team 3-0 with Stanković heading in the third goal following a slick pass from Maicon Douglas Sisenando. Stanković's good form continued as Dejan Stankovic scored Internazionale's second goal against Milan in the 270th Milan Derby on 15 February. This turned out to be the winning goal after Alexandre Pato had pulled one back. Inter went on to win a fourth consecutive title, Dejan Stankovic fifth Serie A trophy.

International career

Stanković made Dejan Stankovic international debut for Serbia and Montenegro national football team against South Korea national football team on 22 April 1998, scoring two goals in a 3-1 victory. In 2006, Savo Milošević captained Serbia and Montenegro in their first World Cup but they failed to progress to the knock-out rounds after losing all their group matches to Côte d'Ivoire national football team, Argentina national football team and the Netherlands national football team. Dejan Stankovic is currently the captain (association football) of the re-formed Serbia national football team, following the break up of Serbia and Montenegro.

Honours

Domestic

- Serie A: 5 Times: Serie A 1999-00, Serie A 2005-06, Serie A 2006-07, Serie A 2007-08, Serie A 2008-09
- Coppa Italia: 4 Times: Coppa Italia 1999-00, Coppa Italia 2003-04, Coppa Italia 2004-05, Coppa Italia 2005-06
- Supercoppa Italiana: 5 Times: 1998 Supercoppa Italiana, 2000 Supercoppa Italiana, 2005 Supercoppa Italiana, 2006 Supercoppa Italiana, 2008 Supercoppa Italiana
- Yugoslav Cup: 2 Times: 1996,1997

European

- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1 Time: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1998-99
- UEFA Super Cup: 1 Time: 1999 UEFA Super Cup