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.

Luka Krajnc
Krajnc in 2015
Personal information
Full name Luka Krajnc
Date of birth (1994-09-19) 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
  1. "Nočno življenje me ne bo zavedlo" [Nightlife will not deceive me] (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. "Luka Krajnc" (in Slovenian). Slovenian PrvaLiga. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. "Soigralci in navijači odnesli tremo" [Teammates and fans helped me with fright] (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. "Luka Kranjc è un giocatore del Cesena" (in Italian). AC Cesena. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  9. Peter Dominko (25 June 2015). "Genoa odkupila Krajnca" [Genoa bought Krajnc]. Slovenski nogometni portal (in Slovenian). Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  10. "Official: Krajnc to Sampdoria". Football italia. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  11. Uredništvo (10 January 2017). "Uradno: Krajnc v Frosinone" [Official: Krajnc to Frosinone] (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  12. "Salamon alla Spal e Krajnc al Frosinone" (in Italian). Cagliari. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  13. "Luka Krajnc" (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  14. "Qatar 1–0 Slovenia". European Football. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  15. "Blues to have first refusal on Slovenian starlet". theshedender.com. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  16. 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.
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