Alberto Zaccheroni Appointment

Verified Timeline

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.

In Their Own Story

In summer 1998, Stanković transferred for ₤24 million to Lazio, where he scored on his Serie A debut versus Piacenza on 13 September 1998. In those years, Lazio had an all-star squad with world-class players at almost every position, but Stanković quickly secured a regular first-team place despite competition from Pavel Nedvěd, Juan Sebastián Verón and Roberto Mancini. He formed a formidable midfield combination with Argentinian Verón and Diego Simeone and were an integral part of the successful Lazio side at the turn of the decade. His work rate and impressive performances earned him the nickname "Il Dragone" ("The Dragon"). He had five-and-a-half successful seasons in the Biancoceleste part of Rome – winning 1999–2000 Serie A, 1999–2000 Coppa Italia, 1998 and 2000 Supercoppa Italiana, 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and 1999 UEFA Super Cup – before earning a high-profile move to Inter Milan in February 2004.

Reader's Guide

Stanković captained the Serbia national team from 2007 until 2011, when he announced his retirement from international football.

Did You Know?

• Stanković is the only man to represent three differently named nations at FIFA World Cups – Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro and Serbia.
• He became the youngest player to debut with Red Star at senior level at age 16.
• He was made squad captain of Red Star at age 19, the youngest ever in the club's history.
• Stanković scored a spectacular goal directly from a corner kick in the Derby della Madonnina for Inter Milan.