Dejan Stanković

Serbian midfielder who represented three nations at World Cups and won the Treble with Inter Milan.

Dejan Stanković (born 11 September 1978) is a Serbian professional football manager and former player. He last served as the head coach of Serbian Super League club Red Star Belgrade. He captained the Serbia national team from 2007 until 2011, when he announced his retirement from international football.

Quick Facts

Height: 1.81 m / 5 ft 11 in
Born: 11 September 1978
Birthplace: Belgrade, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia
Position: Midfielder
Total caps: 453
Total goals: 80

Lore & Background

Stanković began his career at Red Star Belgrade. He joined Lazio in 1998 and spent more than five years with the club before joining Inter Milan, where he remained until his retirement in 2013. Stanković is the only man to represent three differently named nations at FIFA World Cups – Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.

Reader's Guide

Stanković grew up in Zemun, a municipality of Belgrade. He began playing football for FK Teleoptik before transferring to Red Star Belgrade's youth system at age 14. He made his first-team debut on 11 February 1995 against OFK Beograd, becoming the youngest player to debut with Red Star at senior level. He scored his first goal against Budućnost Podgorica, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Red Star history. He was made squad captain at age 19, the youngest ever in the club's history. In summer 1998, he transferred for ₤24 million to Lazio, scoring on his Serie A debut versus Piacenza on 13 September 1998. He earned the nickname 'Il Dragone' ('The Dragon'). He moved to Inter Milan in February 2004, debuting under head coach Alberto Zaccheroni in a 4–0 win against Siena. He scored a spectacular goal directly from a corner kick in the Derby della Madonnina on 21 February 2004. He played his 100th match for Inter on 7 May 2006. Under José Mourinho, he remained with the club and scored a superb goal in Inter's 4–0 win over Roma on 19 October 2008. He celebrated his 200th appearance for Inter on 7 February 2009. In the 2009–10 season, he scored Inter's fourth goal in a 4–0 thrashing of Milan in the Milan derby on 29 August.