Luka Krajnc
Luka Krajnc (born 19 September 1994) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Fortuna Düsseldorf on loan from Frosinone.
![]() Krajnc in 2015 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Luka Krajnc | ||
Date of birth | 19 September 1994 | ||
Place of birth | Ptuj, Slovenia | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current team |
Fortuna Düsseldorf (on loan from Frosinone) | ||
Number | 32 | ||
Youth career | |||
2003–2011 | Maribor | ||
2011–2013 | Genoa Primavera | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2010–2011 | Maribor | 1 | (0) |
2011–2015 | Genoa | 3 | (0) |
2013–2015 | → Cesena (loan) | 44 | (1) |
2015–2018 | Cagliari | 21 | (0) |
2016–2017 | → Sampdoria (loan) | 0 | (0) |
2017–2018 | → Frosinone (loan) | 46 | (0) |
2018– | Frosinone | 24 | (0) |
2020– | → Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) | 3 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2010 | Slovenia U17 | 5 | (0) |
2011 | Slovenia U18 | 2 | (0) |
2011–2012 | Slovenia U19 | 16 | (1) |
2011–2012 | Slovenia U20 | 2 | (0) |
2012–2016 | Slovenia U21 | 19 | (2) |
2015– | Slovenia | 4 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 October 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 October 2018 |
Club career
Krajnc began his football career at the age of eight when his father took him on a trial with the Slovenian football club Maribor.[1] He signed his first professional contract with Maribor at the age of 16 and played for the main squad in a couple of friendly matches. On 29 May 2011, he played his first and only 1. SNL match for Maribor in the last round of the 2010–11 season,[2] with Maribor already crowned champions. At the time of his debut he was the youngest player ever with an appearance for Maribor in a 1. SNL match, a record which lasted until 25 March 2012.[3]
On 3 April 2011, Krajnc signed a pre-contract with Italian Serie A club Genoa.[4] The transfer fee paid by Genoa was undisclosed, but was reported to be close to €1 million. He joined his new club on 1 July 2011.[5][6] He began his career at Genoa with their Primavera side which he also captained, before making a debut for the main squad on 27 October 2012 at San Siro in a league match against Milan.[7] With 18 years, one month and 14 days he became the youngest Slovenian player ever with an appearances in the Italian top division, Serie A.[6]
On 3 July 2013 he moved to Cesena in temporary co-ownership deal.[8] In June 2015 Genoa acquired Cesena's share and became the sole owner of the player's rights.[9]
On 31 August 2016, Krajnc joined Sampdoria on a season-long loan.[10] In the second part of the 2016–17 season, he was loaned to Frosinone.[11]
On 20 June 2018, Frosinone turned Kranjc's loan into a permanent deal for undisclosed fee.[12]
International career
Krajnc has represented Slovenia at all youth levels from under-16 to under-21.[13] On 30 March 2015 he made his senior international debut, replacing Dominic Maroh after 65 minutes of an eventual 1–0 friendly defeat to Qatar at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.[14]
Style of play
Krajnc, who is left footed, primarily plays in central defence and is praised for his pace, strength, passing and ability on the ball.[15]
Personal life
Krajnc is from Kapla na Kozjaku in the hilly region of northeastern Slovenia near the Austrian border, roughly 37 km from the city of Maribor.[1][16] Before moving to Maribor he usually had to study and do his homework on the back seat of his father's car, traveling to and from training.[1][7]
References
- "Nočno življenje me ne bo zavedlo" [Nightlife will not deceive me] (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- "Luka Krajnc" (in Slovenian). Slovenian PrvaLiga. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- "Soigralci in navijači odnesli tremo" [Teammates and fans helped me with fright] (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
- To. G. (3 April 2011). "Luka Krajnc pri 16 letih iz Maribora v Genoo" [Luka Krajnc from Maribor to Genoa at the age of 16] (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- D.D. (7 April 2011). "Kako je Genoa Chelseaju speljala Krajnca?" [How did Genoa steal Krajnc from Chelsea?] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
- Rok Plestenjak (29 October 2012). "Tako mlad ni debitiral še nihče" [No one debuted that young] (in Slovenian). Siol. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- T.O. (30 October 2012). "Na San Siru kot v kinu, slike ni pokvaril niti sporen gol" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- "Luka Kranjc è un giocatore del Cesena" (in Italian). AC Cesena. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- Peter Dominko (25 June 2015). "Genoa odkupila Krajnca" [Genoa bought Krajnc]. Slovenski nogometni portal (in Slovenian). Retrieved 25 June 2015.
- "Official: Krajnc to Sampdoria". Football italia. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- Uredništvo (10 January 2017). "Uradno: Krajnc v Frosinone" [Official: Krajnc to Frosinone] (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- "Salamon alla Spal e Krajnc al Frosinone" (in Italian). Cagliari. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- "Luka Krajnc" (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- "Qatar 1–0 Slovenia". European Football. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
- "Blues to have first refusal on Slovenian starlet". theshedender.com. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- jb & rb (25 February 2015). "Luka Krajnc: Prav nič ne bi razmišljal" [Luka Krajnc: I wouldn't think about it] (in Slovenian). Ekipa. Retrieved 30 March 2016.