Marko Livaja

Marko Livaja (Croatian pronunciation: [mâːrko liʋǎːja, - lǐʋa-];[1][2] born 26 August 1993) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Greek club AEK Athens and the Croatia national team. He has represented his country at every level from the Under15s to the senior team.

Marko Livaja
Livaja with AEK Athens in August 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-08-26) 26 August 1993
Place of birth Split, Croatia
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 AEK Athens
Number 10
Youth career
2005–2008 Omladinac Vranjic
2008 Dinamo Zagreb
2008–2010 Hajduk Split
2010–2011 Internazionale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Internazionale 6 (0)
2011 → Lugano (loan) 11 (6)
2011–2012 → Cesena (loan) 3 (0)
2013–2014 Atalanta 31 (4)
2014–2016 Rubin Kazan 11 (0)
2015–2016 → Empoli (loan) 17 (1)
2016–2018 Las Palmas 25 (5)
2017–2018 → AEK Athens (loan) 27 (9)
2018–2021 AEK Athens 74 (19)
National team‡
2008 Croatia U15 4 (4)
2009 Croatia U16 7 (6)
2008–2010 Croatia U17 20 (7)
2010 Croatia U18 4 (1)
2011–2012 Croatia U19 7 (2)
2012–2013 Croatia U20 7 (1)
2013–2014 Croatia U21 5 (3)
2018– Croatia 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 November 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2018

Club career

Youth career

Livaja began at lower-tier Croatian sides GOŠK Kaštel Gomilica and NK Omladinac Vranjic before getting a call to the Dinamo Zagreb Academy in the summer of 2008. However, before he was registered for Dinamo he received a call from his hometown club Hajduk Split Academy,[3] long-standing rivals of Dinamo, and moved there. At the beginning of 2010, he was promoted to the full Hajduk team.[4]

Internazionale
Livaja in 2012

Later in 2010 (after joining the full Hajduk team) Livaja was sold to Internazionale, who loaned him to Swiss side FC Lugano in 2011.[5] He was loaned again to Cesena in summer 2011 through a €250,000 deal from Hajduk Split,[6] and made his Serie A debut for Cesena against Fiorentina in October 2011.[7] Livaja played for Cesena in both their primary team and their youth team.

In January 2012 he returned to Inter when Cesena partially sold him to them for €2.25 million in a co-ownership deal.[8] After Andrea Stramaccioni was appointed the coach of the first team, Livaja became a member of Inter Primavera, winning the 2011–12 NextGen series.[9] Livaja received his first call-up as a member of the first team on 1 April 2012, where he was an unused substitute in a match against Genoa won 5–4 at San Siro.[10]

In the 2012–13 season, Livaja made his first appearance in the opening season match against Pescara and played his first game as a team starter against Roma in January 2013.[11][12] He appeared in a total of six Serie A games during the first half of the season, but without scoring a goal. Livaja got more playing time in European games, as he was the coach Stramaccioni's first choice striker for 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group matches against Rubin Kazan, FK Partizan, and Neftchi Baku.

He scored his first goal for Inter against Rubin Kazan on 20 September 2012 and became Inter's top scorer for the group stage, with four goals in six group matches.[13] Inter finished second in Group H with 11 points, three behind Rubin Kazan.

Atalanta

On 31 January 2013 Livaja was loaned to Atalanta, though Inter retained half his registration rights.[14] Inter paid €1.5 million to acquire Livaja outright from Cesena[15] but resold half his rights to Atalanta for €2.5M as part of Ezequiel Schelotto's deal for €6M.[16] Livaja made his debut for the new club against Catania Calcio on 10 February 2013 and scored his first two goals for them on Matchday 26 against A.S. Roma.[17]

For disciplinary reasons, he remained off the squad list in April during Atalanta's match against Sampdoria.[18] He played his first game against his owners Inter Milan on 7 April 2013, coming on as a second-half substitute.[19] In April, Livaja was given Atalanta's "Man of the Month" award for February 2013 by the club fans.[20][21] On 7 May, before the match with Juventus, Livaja was once again expelled from the squad due to a breach of discipline.[22][23]

Rubin Kazan
Livaja with Rubin Kazan.

Livaja signed with Rubin Kazan on 15 May 2014 on a five-year deal. The Russian league club paid up to €6M for him.[24] On 31 August 2015, Rubin Kazan send him on loan at Serie A side Empoli.[25] His spell didn't go as expected, with Livaja scoring only once in 18 matches for Azzurri, only four as starter. That goal came on 22 November during the 2–2 away draw against Fiorentina.[26]

Las Palmas

On 14 July 2016, Livaja joined La Liga side Las Palmas by signing a contract until June 2020.[27] He made his debut later on 22 August, a debut which brought his first goals as well, as Las Palmas defeated Valencia 4–2 at Mestalla Stadium.[28] Then, he endured a 613-minute scoreless run across 10 matches until 4 December 2016, when he scored he's team's only goal in the 1–1 away draw against Deportivo Alavés.[29] Livaja made his first Copa del Rey appearance on 10 January of the following year in the returning leg of round of 16 against Atlético Madrid, scoring a brace in a 2–3 away win but 4–3 aggregate loss.[30]

2017–18 season

On 1 July 2017, Livaja was loaned to AEK Athens, for an initial loan fee of €200,000 with a purchase option of €1.8 million for the summer of 2018.[31] He made his debut on 25 July 2017 in a 2–0 home defeat against CSKA Moscow in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round.[32] On 28 September 2017, he scored a 90th-minute equaliser for AEK, his second in a game that ends 2–2 against Austria Wien in the UEFA Europa League group stage.[33] On 5 November 2017 he scored the only goal in the "double-headed eagle" derby against PAOK.[34] On 19 November 2017, Livaja stole a point for AEK in an away 1–1 derby against rivals Panathinaikos with a dramatic equalizer at the last moment of the game.[35] On 27 November 2017, he scored a brace in a 3–0 home win against Platanias, which brought his team back to the top of the league table.[36] On 3 December 2017, with his second-half goal, AEK won 2–0 in an away clash against Levadiakos remaining on top of the 2017–18 Super League after 13 matches.[37]

On 14 January 2018, he opened the score in a 3–1 home win game against PAS Giannina.[38] On 27 January he scored in a 2–0 home win game against Lamia.[39] On 4 March 2018, he scored with a head in a brilliant right-wing cross from Rodrigo Galo, sealing a 1–0 home win against rivals Panionios.[40]

According to various sources, the administration of AEK have decided to purchase the Croatian winger, who is currently a member of Athens club on loan from UD Las Palmas, in the summer of 2018. The 25-year-old winger has been in sensational form with experienced Spanish manager Manolo Jiménez's team during 2017–18 season and has already scored 10 goals at 37 official performances in all competitions, will sign contract until the summer of 2021, with a buy-out clause of €10 million.[41]

2018–19 season

On 22 March 2018, impressed by his performances, AEK decided to trigger his optional transfer clause of €1.8 million and the player will reportedly earn €700,000 per year until the summer of 2021.[42] On 14 August 2018, he headed into the net from close range to make it 2–0, and despite Scott Sinclair bringing Celtic back into the contest in the latter stages, AEK held on for dear life to earn progression to the UEFA Champions League playoffs to play Vidi in a 2–1 home win game against Celtic in the Champions League Third qualifying round, 2nd leg.[43] Two days later an unnamed Italian team, later proved to be Sampdoria, offered €8 million for the Croatian forward, but the administration of the team turned it down.[44] On 25 August 2018, he scored his first goal of the 2018–19 season in a 2–0 home win game against PAS Giannina as he was in the right place at the right time to convert a superb cross from right-back Michalis Bakakis after some neat approach play from Rodrigo Galo.[45] On 20 October 2018, some excellent build-up play from forward Viktor Klonaridis allowed Livaja to score his first league goal since the opening match of the season, in a 2–0 away win against Apollon Smyrnis.[46] A week later, he chipped in to put further gloss on the scoreline by converting a Lucas Boyé cross, added a fourth for Marinos Ouzounidis’ team in a hammering 4–0 home win game against Aris.[47] On 2 December 2018, he came in as a substitute and scored with a wonderful solo in a 2–0 home win against Xanthi.[48] Οn 20 December 2018, he scored a brace in a 3–1 away win against Volos in the final game of the 2018–19 Greek Cup group stage.[49]

On 20 January 2019, he opened the score in a comfortable 3–0 home win game against Asteras Tripolis.[50] Three days later, he came in as a substitute and scored a brace in an emphatic 5–0 home win against AO Chania−Kissamikos in the Greek Cup round of 16. His team won 6–1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter finals of the competition.[51] On 10 February 2019, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 home win against OFI, after a fine solo effort from Christos Albanis.[52]

On 5 May 2019, the last matchday of the season, he scored in a 3–0 away win against Levadiakos.[53]

2019–20 season

He contributed a goal and an assist as AEK beat Universitatea Craiova to reach the 2019–20 Europa League play-off round,[54] but despite his goal in that round against Trabzonspor, the tie ended 3–3 on aggregate and AEK were eliminated on away goals.[55] On 1 September 2019 he scored his first league goal of the season in a 2–3 away win against Asteras Tripolis, after an assist from Christos Albanis.[56] On 21 September, Livaja continued his excellent form by scoring in a 1–0 away win against Panetolikos, which was the third consecutive.[57] On 20 October 2019, Livaja scored with a kick in a 3–2 home win game against Volos.[58] On 18 December, Livaja helped AEK sealing a vital 2–1 home win game against Asteras Tripolis when 45 seconds into the second half a slick passing move involving Nenad Krstičić and Paulinho was finished off with a one-touch finish by the Croatian international.[59] On 5 January 2020, Livaja was in excellent form as he netted two goals (one from the penalty spot) and won a penalty to lead AEK to 3–1 home victory over struggling Panetolikos. He was named as the Man of the match.[60] On 19 February, he scored with a late penalty in a 4–0 home win against Panetolikos for the Greek Cup quarter finals.[61]

On 7 June, after an 80-day enforced Covid-19 break, Livaja picked up possession under close attention from Mattias Johansson, and he skillfully turned his man before beating Sokratis Dioudis with a powerful shot to equalize the score in a 1–1 home draw game against Panathinaikos for the 2019–20 Superleague playoffs.[62] On 14 June 2020, he scored with a close header, after an excellent cross from Hélder Lopes, helping to a 2–0 away win against OFI.[63]

On 24 June, Livaja scored a brace and led his team to the cup final for the fifth consecutive year, after a dramatic 2–2 away draw against Aris at extra time.[64] Also in June, Livaja was named as the Player of the Season in the Greek Super League.[65]

On 1 July, AEK’s were awarded a penalty when Giannis Michailidis fouled AEK’s Italian forward Daniele Verde in the PAOK box, and Livaja's excellent kick sealing a vital 2–0 away Playoffs win against rivals PAOK.[66]

2020–21 season

On 19 August 2020, AEK rejected a €4,000,000 offer from Al Wahda, setting a price tag of €8,000,000.[67] Rennes and Saint-Étienne, both of Ligue 1, also expressed interest in signing the player.[68] On 19 September 2020, in the 2020–21 Super League Greece opener, Livaja scored sealing a 2–0 away win against Panetolikos.[69] On 5 November 2020, he scored a brace and gave an assist in a 4–1 away win 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage game against FC Zorya Luhansk helping AEK to increase the possibility of qualifying for the next phase of the UEFA Europa League.[70] On 29 November 2020, he opened the score in a 2–1 away win against Asteras Tripolis.[71]

On 17 January 2021, he scored with a header helping to a 2–1 home win against Atromitos.[72]

International career

On 20 August 2018, as a result of his exceptional performances with AEK Athens, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić included the uncapped Livaja in his squad for the friendly versus Portugal (1–1 draw), and the Nations League clash against Spain, which ended up as Croatia's biggest defeat in history.[73]

Career statistics

Club
As of 18 January 2021.[74]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Inter Milan 2012–13 Serie A 600074—134
Total 600074—134
Cesena (loan) 2011–12 Serie A 3000——30
Total 3000——30
Atalanta 2012–13 Serie A 11200——112
2013–14 20232——234
Total 31432——346
Rubin Kazan 2014–15 Russian Premier League 11021——131
Total 11021——131
Empoli (loan) 2015–16 Serie A 17100——171
Total 17100——171
Las Palmas 2016–17 La Liga 25512——267
Total 25512——267
AEK Athens (loan) 2017–18 Superleague Greece 27850102—4210
Total 27850102—4210
AEK Athens 2018–19 Superleague Greece 2578451—3812
2019–20 3296343—4215
2020–21 1630072—235
Total 7319147166—10332
Career total 19337251233120023160

Honours

Club

Inter Primavera

AEK Athens

Individual

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