Marcel Ratnik

Marcel Ratnik (born 23 December 2003) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Slovenian PrvaLiga club Olimpija Ljubljana and the Slovenia national under-21 team.

Marcel Ratnik
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-12-23) 23 December 2003
Place of birth Slovenia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, full-back[1]
Team information
Current team
 Olimpija Ljubljana
Number 14
Youth career
0000–2013 Mura 05
2013–2017 Mura
2017–2018 Maribor
2018–2021 Olimpija Ljubljana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Olimpija Ljubljana 59 (4)
International career‡
2017–2018 Slovenia U15 6 (0)
2018–2019 Slovenia U16 9 (2)
2019 Slovenia U17 8 (0)
2021 Slovenia U18 2 (2)
2021 Slovenia U19 6 (0)
2022– Slovenia U21 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 October 2023

Club career

Olimpija Ljubljana

Ratnik started his senior career with Olimpija Ljubljana, playing in the Slovenian PrvaLiga, the top tier of Slovenian football. He signed his first contract with Olimpija in March 2021, valid until 2023.[2] He had to wait until July of that year to make his debut for the club, starting in a 1–1 draw against Radomlje.[3] Ratnik would go on to make eleven more starts that season for a total of 17 league appearances alongside one appearance in the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round against Portuguese club Santa Clara.[4] During the season, he signed another new contract with Olimpija, this time until June 2025.[5]

The next season, at the age of 18, Ratnik established himself as a starter and crucial player for Olimpija.[6] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 home win against Bravo in July 2022.[7] Over the course of the season, Ratnik played a crucial role in his side lifting the league trophy in convincing fashion, making 31 appearances in the league campaign, as well as winning the Slovenian Cup to complete the double.[4]

International career

Ratnik represented Slovenia in all youth selections from under-15 to under-21, and made over 35 appearances for all teams combined.[8]

Style of play

Ratnik can play as a full-back, but is predominantly a centre-back. He is known for his confidence with the ball at his feet, with Nogomania describing him as calm, sovereign, always alert and versatile.[9] Due to the belief of Albert Riera, his coach during the 2022–23 season, that a player must be able to play in three different positions, Ratnik even played on the wing for a game towards the end of the season against Maribor.[9]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 21 October 2023[4]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Olimpija Ljubljana 2021–22 Slovenian PrvaLiga 170001[lower-alpha 1]0180
2022–23 Slovenian PrvaLiga 311502[lower-alpha 1]0381
2023–24 Slovenian PrvaLiga 1130010[lower-alpha 2]0213
Total 59450130774
Career total 59450130774
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
  2. Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Olimpija Ljubljana

References
  1. "Marcel Ratnik". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. "Sedemnajstletni Ratnik podpisal pogodbo z Olimpijo" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. "Radomlje vs. Olimpija". Soccerway. 25 July 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  4. Marcel Ratnik at Soccerway
  5. "Mladi Ratnik podaljšal sodelovanje z Olimpijo" (in Slovenian). Siol. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  6. "Riera jasno in glasno: To je leto Olimpije" (in Slovenian). Siol. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  7. "Ratnikov prvenec za tretjo zaporedno zmago Olimpije, Maribor poražen v Kopru" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. 31 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  8. "Marcel Ratnik – U21 reprezentanca". nzs.si (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  9. "Riera je sprožil močan impulz v karieri Marcela Ratnika, Slovenija dobiva unikatnega nogometaša" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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