Nenad Krstičić

Nenad Krstičić (born 3 July 1990) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Greek club AEK Athens. He debuted for the Serbia national team in 2013.[1]

Not to be confused with Nenad Krstić.
Nenad Krstičić
Krstičić with Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League in 2018
Personal information
Full name Nenad Krstičić
Date of birth (1990-07-03) 3 July 1990
Place of birth Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Club information
Current team
 AEK Athens
Number 6
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2008 OFK Beograd 29 (2)
2008–2016 Sampdoria 92 (2)
2015 → Bologna (loan) 16 (0)
2016–2017 Alavés 20 (3)
2017–2019 Red Star Belgrade 40 (5)
2019– AEK Athens 47 (3)
National team‡
2008–2012 Serbia U21 6 (0)
2013– Serbia 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 October 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:25, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

Club career

Early career and cancer diagnosis

Krstičić began his career at OFK Beograd and joined Sampdoria on 1 September 2008 at the insisting of Giuseppe Marotta, who believed the 17-year-old was one of the most talented players he had ever brought to the club. While playing for the youth team, he played in the 2011 Torneo di Viareggio as one of the allowed over-age players. He suffered a knee injury and had surgery performed to correct his meniscus injury, after which doctors unexpectedly diagnosed him with Burkitt's lymphoma[2] and allegedly told Krstičić he had 48 hours to live.[3] Luckily, Sampdoria's medical staff was able to reverse the cancer growth[2] and Krstičić lived on to play football, although the condition was a great setback in his career.[4] Over the course of his cancer episode, Krstičić lost 55 pounds and his blood was compromised.[5] Krstičić finally made his debut for Sampdoria in a UEFA Europa League match against Debrecen on 16 December 2010. On 2 December 2012, he scored his first goal for Sampdoria against Fiorentina.[6]

On 2 February 2015, Krstičić was signed by Bologna in a temporary deal.[7] The club also signed Júnior Costa and Daniele Gastaldello from the Genoese club outright. However, Krstičić was injured in March.[8] His contract with Sampdoria was terminated on 18 July 2016.[9]

Alavés

On 25 July 2016, Krstičić signed for La Liga side Alavés on a free transfer.[10] Fellow countryman Aleksandar Katai, who also suffered from a serious illness earlier in his career,[11] joined Alavés later the same summer, and the two became midfield teammates.

Red Star Belgrade

On 23 August 2017, Krstičić joined Red Star Belgrade on a two-year deal.[12] He made his debut in the eternal derby on 27 August 2017.[13] Krstičić adapted as a central midfielder during the 2017–18 season under coach Vladan Milojević, usually pairing with defensive midfielder Mitchell Donald after Branko Jovičić's injury.[14] After Guélor Kanga left Red Star, Krstičić began playing offensive role in early 2018.[15] He scored his first goal for the club in 2–1 victory over Voždovac on 3 March 2018.[16] Eight days later, Krstičić also scored in 1–1 draw to Napredak Kruševac.[17]

AEK Athens

On 26 December 2018, Red Star Belgrade announced that Krstičić's transfer to AEK Athens had gone through. The Athens based club activated his release clause of €500,000, six months before the end of his contract with Red Star, which saw him move to his new club.[18]

On 23 January 2019, he scored his first goal for his new club in an emphatic 5–0 home win against AO Chania Kissamikos for the Greek Cup round of 16. His team won 6–1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter finals of the competition.[19] On 3 April 2019, by lashing the ball across from the right wing, Victor Klonaridis picked out the onrushing Krstičić, who prodded it past the beaten Nikos Melissas in a 2–0 Greek Cup semifinal 1st leg against Lamia.[20]

On 2 February 2020, AEK Athens escaped from Peristeri Stadium with all three points thanks to Nenad Krstičić header, whose solitary goal gave Massimo Carrera’s side a narrow 1–0 win over Atromitos. It was his first goal for the 2019–20 Superleague.[21] On 19 February 2020, he scored with a close tap-in in a 4–0 home win against Panetolikos for the Greek Cup quarter finals.[22]

On 27 September 2020, he scored with an exquisite shot outside the box, helping to a 3–0 home win against Lamia.[23]

International career

Krstičić made his debut for Serbia on 6 February 2013 in a friendly match against Cyprus at age 22.[1]

Career statistics
As of 30 October 2020[24]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
OFK Beograd 2007–08 Serbian SuperLiga 240??——242
2008–09 30??20—50
Total 272??20—292
Sampdoria 2009–10 Serie A 0000——00
2010–11 000010—10
2011–12 13000——130
2012–13 25110——261
2013–14 32121——342
2014–15 12030——150
2015–16 1000020—120
Total 9226130—1013
Bologna (loan) 2014–15 Serie A 16000——160
Total 16000——160
Alavés 2016–17 La Liga 14261——203
Total 14261——203
Red Star 2017–18 Serbian SuperLiga 2741080—364
2018–19 13110131—272
Total 40520211—636
AEK Athens 2018–19 Superleague Greece 13052——182
2019–20 3016140—402
2020–21 410040—81
Total 47211380—665
Career total 237132553410029519

International
As of 10 November 2017[25]
Serbia national team
YearAppsGoals
201330
201400
201500
201600
201710
Total40

Honours

Club
Red Star Belgrade

Individual

References
  1. M. Radović (July 23, 2013). "Blic Sport: Krstičić: Živim za dan kada ću postati kapiten Sampdorije" (in Serbian). Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  2. "Betshoot: Nenad Krsticic: Fought for his life, and won". July 29, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  3. "Mozzart Sport: BAJKA NENADA KRSTIČIĆA: Pre četiri godine na ivici smrti, danas reprezentativac Srbije" (in Serbian). October 5, 2012.
  4. "Telegraf: POVRATAK OTPISANOG: Krstičić: Život mi je visio o koncu, a sad igram za Srbiju!" (in Serbian). October 8, 2012.
  5. "Sportska centrala: Nenad Krstičić pobedio tešku bolest" (in Serbian). April 17, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  6. Youtube: Fiorentina v Sampdoria (2-2) Nenad Krsticic Goal (48') Serie A Highlights - 2 December 2012
  7. "Krsticic ceduto al Bologna a titolo temporaneo" (in Italian). U.C. Sampdoria. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  8. "Lesione al collaterale mediale per Krsticic" (in Italian). Bologna F.C. 1909. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  9. "Rescissione del contratto per Krsticic, il grazie e il saluto della Samp" (in Italian). U.C. Sampdoria. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  10. "Krsticic, fuerza, calidad y coraje para el centro del campo albiazul" [Krsticic, strength, skill and courage to the white-and-blue centre of the midfield] (in Spanish). Deportivo Alavés. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  11. "Mozzart Sport: Katai za MOZZART otkrio da je nekoliko meseci vodio bitku sa zdravljem: Bio sam nenormalno "plav" i lekari su utvrdili da bolujem od trombocitopenije" (in Serbian). 13 March 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  12. Ненад Крстичић потписао!. Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  13. "KRAJ: Crvena zvezda – Partizan 0:0 (VIDEO)". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 27 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  14. "ZVANIČNO: Reprezentativac Srbije u Zvezdi! (FOTO)". pikosport.net (in Serbian). 23 August 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  15. "Crvena zvezda: Gde će Ben, kako bez Kange i Boaćija i nova uloga Krstičića pred CSKA!". meridian-sport.com (in Serbian). 1 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  16. Црвена звезда - Вождовац 2:1 (0:0). Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  17. Црвена звезда - Напредак 1:1 (0:0). Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 11 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  18. Επίσημο: Ο Ερυθρός Αστέρας αποχαιρέτησε τον Κρίστιτσιτς. www.sport24.gr (in Greek). 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  19. ΑΕΚ - Κισσαμικός 5-0: Εύκολη νίκη με Γκάλο και Κρίστιτσιτς. www.sport24.gr. 23 January 2019.
  20. "ΑΕΚ - Λαμία 2-0". www.gazzetta.gr. 3 April 2019.
  21. "Ατρόμητος - ΑΕΚ 0-1". www.gazzetta.gr. 2 February 2020.
  22. "ΑΕΚ - Παναιτωλικός 4-0: "Σβηστά" στα ημιτελικά του Κυπέλλου". www.sport24.gr. 19 February 2020.
  23. "ΑΕΚ - Λαμία 3-0: Με λάμψη Μαχαίρα το "2 στα 2" στο πρωτάθλημα". www.sport24.gr. 27 September 2020.
  24. "N.Krstičić on Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  25. "Nenad Krstičić". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman.
  26. "Super liga: Održana manifestacija Prvi tim, priznanja u rukama najboljih". Serbian SuperLiga official website (in Serbian). 14 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
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