Nikola Maksimović

Nikola Maksimović
Maksimović playing for Torino in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-11-25) 25 November 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Bajina Bašta, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Montpellier HSC
Number 52
Youth career
Kosmos Bajina Bašta
Sloga Bajina Bašta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Sevojno 31 (2)
2010–2012 Sloboda Užice 32 (1)
2012–2013 Red Star Belgrade 25 (1)
2013–2016 Torino 66 (0)
2016–2021 Napoli 66 (2)
2018 → Spartak Moscow (loan) 9 (0)
2021–2022 Genoa 14 (0)
2023–2024 Hatayspor 18 (0)
2024- Montpellier HSC 0 (0)
International career‡
2012–2020 Serbia 25 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 September 2020

Nikola Maksimović (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Максимовић, pronounced [nǐkola maksǐːmoʋitɕ]; born 25 November 1991) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Montpellier HSC.

Club career

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Early career

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Maksimović began his career with Kosmos Bajina Bašta, before moving to Sloga Bajina Bašta. He represented both clubs in youth competitions. Maksimović made his senior debut for Sevojno in the 2008–09 Serbian First League. He also played against FBK Kaunas and Lille in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League.

In the summer of 2010, Sevojno merged with Sloboda Užice. On 19 September 2010, Maksimović received the first yellow card of his career during a match against Spartak Subotica,[1] and scored the first goal of his professional career on 5 March 2011 in Lučani.[2]

Red Star

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During the 2012 winter transfer window, Maksimović was signed by Red Star Belgrade for a reported fee of 300,000€. He made his debut on 3 March 2012 in a match against Spartak Subotica.[3][4]

At the end of the season, 51% of his contract was acquired by Cypriots Apollon Limassol.

Torino

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On 23 July 2013, he was loaned to Italian Serie A club Torino with a buyout clause;[5][6] he made his official debut on 6 October as a substitute against Sampdoria in Genoa, finishing 2–2.[7] Over the course of the season he earned a spot in the starting lineup, first, as a central defender, then as a right-sided midfielder.

On 27 May 2014, Torino exercised the right to purchase him outright; Maksimović signed a contract until 2018.[8][9]

Napoli

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On 31 August 2016 he was transferred to Napoli on loan with obligation to buy.[10] On 28 September 2016, Maksimović made his debut in 4–2 home victory over Benfica.[11] On 23 October 2016, he scored his first goal in Serie A, in 2–1 away victory over Crotone.[12]

Spartak

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On 26 January 2018, he joined the Russian champions FC Spartak Moscow on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13]

Genoa

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On 31 August 2021, Maksimović signed with Genoa for free.[14]

Hatayspor

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After not playing in the 2022–23 season, on 7 July 2023 Maksimović joined Hatayspor in Turkey on a two-year contract.[15]

Montpellier HSC

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On 31 October 2024, Maksimović signed with Montpellier HSC for free.

International career

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He made 4 appearances for the Serbia national youth teams: two with the under-19[16][17] and two with the under-21. He was first called up to the Serbia national team on 31 May 2012, for two friendly matches against France[18] and Sweden,[19] in which he was played as a starter. He returned for two friendlies against Ireland (where he entered in the second half) and Chile (from the onset), a 3–1 win.[20]

Style of play

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Able to play as a defensive midfielder, he grew up playing mainly as a central defender. He is agile for his considerable height of 1.93 metres (6 ft 4 in), combined with a predisposition for the air and marking opponents.[21] At home he has been repeatedly compared to Nemanja Vidić.[22]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 22 May 2022.

Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sevojno 2008–09 Serbian First League 7 0 — — 7 0
2009–10 24 2 3[a] 0 — 27 2
Total 31 2 3 0 — 34 2
Sloboda Užice 2010–11 Serbian SuperLiga 20 1 3 0 — — 23 1
2011–12 12 0 1 0 — — 13 0
Total 32 1 4 0 — — 36 1
Red Star Belgrade 2011–12 Serbian SuperLiga 12 0 3 0 — — 15 0
2012–13 13 1 1 0 6[a] 0 — 20 1
Total 25 1 4 0 6 0 — 35 1
Torino 2013–14 Serie A 23 0 0 0 — — 23 0
2014–15 27 0 1 0 9[a] 0 — 37 0
2015–16 16 0 0 0 — — 16 0
Total 66 0 1 0 9 0 — 76 0
Napoli 2016–17 Serie A 8 1 2 0 2[b] 0 — 12 1
2017–18 2 0 1 0 1[b] 0 — 4 0
2018–19 17 0 2 0 9[c] 0 — 28 0
2019–20 22 1 3 0 3[b] 0 — 28 1
2020–21 17 0 2 0 8[a] 0 0 0 27 0
Total 66 2 10 0 23 0 0 0 99 2
Spartak Moscow (loan) 2017–18 Russian Premier League 9 0 2 0 — — 11 0
Genoa 2021–22 Serie A 14 0 0 0 — — 14 0
Career total 243 6 21 0 41 0 0 0 305 6
  1. ^ a b c d All appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b c All appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of 3 September 2020
Serbia
Year Apps Goals
2012 4 0
2013 0 0
2014 1 0
2015 2 0
2016 8 0
2017 4 0
2018 1 0
2019 4 0
2020 1 0
Total 25 0

Honours

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Club

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Red Star Belgrade

Napoli

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ "Spartak Subotica vs. Sloboda Užice". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Sloboda Užice vs. Hajduk Kula". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Званични портал - ФК Црвена Звезда :: Никола Максимовић Звездин". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  4. ^ "FK Sloboda Uzice". www.fksloboda.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Maksimovic è del Toro". torinofc.it. Torino Football Club. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Maksimovic, verrà esercitata l'opzione". torinogranata.it. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Nikola Maksimovic". torinofc.it. Torino Football Club. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Ufficiale Maksimovic al Toro sino al 2018".
  9. ^ "Maksimovic un sogno che si avvera".
  10. ^ Maksimovic al Napoli‚ torinofc.it, 31 August 2016
  11. ^ Maksimović debitovao za Napoli: Opustili se na kraju...‚ mozzartsport.com, 28 September 2016
  12. ^ Ljajić u 93, Maksimović se upisao!‚ mondo.rs, 23 October 2016
  13. ^ Никола Максимович перешел в «Спартак» (in Russian). FC Spartak Moscow. 26 January 2018.
  14. ^ "UFFICIALE: Genoa, per la difesa tesserato Nikola Maksimovic. Era svincolato".
  15. ^ "AILEMIZE HOŞ GELDIN NIKOLA MAKSIMOVIC!" [WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY, NIKOLA MAKSIMOVIC!] (in Turkish). Hatayspor. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Faroe Islands U19 vs. Serbia U19". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Serbia U19 vs. Greece U19". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Amichevoli. Francia Serbia 2–0. Ribery e Malouda i marcatori francesi" [Friendly. France Serbia 2-0. Ribery and Malouda the French scorers]. sportnews.eu (in Italian). Web 365. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  19. ^ "Yahoo | Mail, Meteo, Search, Notizie, Finanza, Sport, Video".
  20. ^ "Chile vs. Serbia". soccerway.com. Soccerway. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  21. ^ "Calciomercato Milan, piace Maksimovic: in patria è considerato l'erede di Vidic" [Milan transfer market, Maksimovic likes: at home he is considered the heir of Vidic]. milanlive.it (in Italian). Next Media Web. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  22. ^ it:Nikola Maksimović#cite note-3
  23. ^ "Coppa: Napoli beat Juventus on penalties". Football Italia. 17 June 2020.
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