Mladen Krstajić

Mladen Krstajić (Serbian Cyrillic: Младен Крстајић, pronounced [mlǎden kr̩stâjitɕ]; born 4 March 1974) is a Serbian professional football manager and former player who played as a centre-back.

Mladen Krstajić
Krstajić as Serbia manager at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Mladen Krstajić[1]
Date of birth (1974-03-04) 4 March 1974
Place of birth Zenica, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Bulgaria (manager)
Youth career
1984–1992 Čelik Zenica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1993 Senta
1993–1996 Kikinda 55 (2)
1996–2000 Partizan 84 (7)
2000–2004 Werder Bremen 112 (11)
2004–2009 Schalke 04 131 (7)
2009–2011 Partizan 43 (3)
Total 425 (30)
International career
1999–2006 Serbia and Montenegro[note 1] 48 (2)
2006–2008 Serbia 11 (0)
Managerial career
2016–2017 Serbia (assistant)
2017–2019 Serbia
2021 TSC
2021–2022 Maccabi Tel Aviv
2022– Bulgaria
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He represented Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. From January 2015[2] until March 2020,[3] Krstajić served the role of chairman of the board of Bosnian Premier League club Radnik Bijeljina. Krstajić coached Serbia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and then became head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv in December 2021. He is the current manager of the Bulgaria national football team.

Club career

Early career

Krstajić was born and raised in Zenica, SFR Yugoslavia, present day Bosnia and Herzegovina to a Bosnian Serb mother from Bijeljina and a father from Žabljak, Montenegro.[4] After playing in the youth teams of Čelik Zenica, Krstajić moved to Kikinda, FR Yugoslavia, present day Serbia in April 1992, following the breakout of the Bosnian War. He started playing with Senta for six months. He then moved to OFK Kikinda, at that time a first league club. At some point of a successful career as a Serbian football player, there comes the time, to decide, whether one wants to play for Partizan or for Red Star Belgrade, and Krstajić decided to take the move to Partizan in 1996. According to Krstajić himself, Red Star was interested in him, but as he comes from a family that cheers for Partizan, he decided to sign a contract with his favourite club. His four and a half years at Partizan were more than successful, winning the national championships three times (1996, 1997, 1999) and also the national cup in 1998.

Werder Bremen and Schalke 04
Krstajić with Schalke 04 in 2007.

In 2000, Krstajić joined German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen who paid a DM 1.8 million (about €950,000) transfer fee to Partizan.[5] At Werder Bremen he was initially deployed at left-back in his first season[6] but became one of the best central defenders in the Bundesliga,[5] winning the double of Bundesliga and cup with Werder in 2004.

In 2004 he joined Schalke 04, where he was named the new captain on 17 March 2009.[7]

Partizan

On 5 June 2009, Krstajić signed a two-year contract with his former club Partizan.[8] In January 2010, after the departure of Nenad Đorđević, he was named the new Partizan captain.[9] After two very successful seasons, Krstajić played his last professional match on 21 May 2011.[10]

International career

Krstajić was a part of the Serbia and Montenegro national team "Famous Four" defence, which conceded just one goal during the qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The other members of the famous four were Ivica Dragutinović, Goran Gavrančić and Nemanja Vidić.

Between 1999 and 2008 he made 58 international appearances scoring 2 goals. He represented three senior national sides: FR Yugoslavia (1992–2002; 20 appearances, 2 goals), Serbia and Montenegro (2002–2006; 27 appearances), and Serbia (2006–2008; 11 appearances).[11]

Managerial career

Serbia

Krstajić began his managerial career as assistant coach of the Serbia national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

In October 2017 after head coach Slavoljub Muslin's dismissal, Krstajić succeeded him as head coach of the Serbia national team, initially as caretaker. Krstajić led the team on the Asian tour where Serbia defeated China (2–0) and drew with South Korea (1–1). In December, it was announced he would take on the role permanently and at least until the end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[12][13]

On 13 June 2019, Krstajić was sacked from the position after a dismal 5–0 loss in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Ukraine.[14]

TSC

Krstajić became head coach of TSC in January 2021.[15] He left the club in October.[16]

Maccabi Tel Aviv

On 9 December 2021, Krstajić was appointed manager of Israeli Premier League club Maccabi Tel Aviv.[17]

Bulgaria

On 21 July 2022, Krstajić was named head coach of the Bulgaria national team until 2024.[18]

Administrative career

Immediately after retiring from playing, Krstajić was appointed as the new director of football of FK Partizan on 1 June 2011.[19] During the mid-season break, Krstajić attacked club president Dragan Đurić through the media, following Đurić's claim that Krstajić and head coach Aleksandar Stanojević were solely responsible for the unsuccessful campaign in UEFA competitions for the 2011–12 season. Krstajić stated that he and Stanojević did not have full control over the sale and acquisition of players during the summer transfer window, which affected the results on the field. On 26 December 2011, after less than six months as director of football, he was sacked.[20]

Before becoming a manager, Krstajić became the new chairman of the board of Bosnian Premier League club Radnik Bijeljina on 23 January 2015.[21]

During his time as club chairman, Radnik became a stable Bosnian Premier League club, finishing almost always in the top five or six. It won its first ever national and major trophy, the Bosnian Cup in the 2015–16 season and thus qualified for its first ever UEFA competition, the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds.[22][23][24]

In the 2018–19 Bosnian Premier League season, Radnik finished in fifth place, but as fourth placed Željezničar did not get an UEFA license to compete in the following season's UEFA Europa League, Radnik was qualified by default to the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds for a second time in its history.[25]

On 27 December 2019, Krstajić unexpectedly decided to leave Radnik, stating that it was time for someone new to lead the club.[26] He officially left the club on 28 March 2020, with Predrag Perković succeeding him as chairman.[3]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Kikinda 1993–94 First League of FR Yugoslavia 24000–240
1994–95 Second League of FR Yugoslavia 31200–312
Total 552–552
Partizan 1995–96 First League of FR Yugoslavia 6110–61
1996–97 First League of FR Yugoslavia 110–10120
1997–98 First League of FR Yugoslavia 21440–20234
1998–99 First League of FR Yugoslavia 17072–41213
1999–00 First League of FR Yugoslavia 29220–62374
Total 847142–13311112
Werder Bremen 2000–01[27] Bundesliga 252200050322
2001–02[27] Bundesliga 262200020302
2002–03[27] Bundesliga 314501041415
2003–04[27] Bundesliga 303500040393
Total 112111401015114212
Schalke 04 2004–05[27] Bundesliga 2815100121453
2005–06[27] Bundesliga 2921020120442
2006–07[27] Bundesliga 271200000291
2007–08[27] Bundesliga 232203060342
2008–09[27] Bundesliga 24130–40311
Total 1317131503411839
Partizan 2009–10 Serbian SuperLiga 22210–92324
2010–11 Serbian SuperLiga 21140–120371
Total 43350–212695
Career total 425304636083756040

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[28]
National teamYearAppsGoals
FR Yugoslavia 199920
200050
200151
2002111
Serbia and Montenegro 200370
200450
200580
200650
Serbia 200650
200740
200820
Total592

Managerial statistics
As of 17 October 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Serbia 30 October 2017 13 June 2019 19 9 5 5 30 21 +9 047.37
TSC 4 January 2021 19 October 2021 33 15 8 10 51 37 +14 045.45
Maccabi Tel Aviv 9 December 2021 24 May 2022 30 17 8 5 57 28 +29 056.67
Bulgaria 21 July 2022 Present 12 3 3 6 15 20 −5 025.00
Total 94 44 24 26 149 100 +49 046.81

Honours

Player

Partizan

Werder Bremen[29]

Schalke 04[29]

Notes
  1. Serbia and Montenegro was known as FR Yugoslavia prior to 2003.

References
  1. "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. "Mladen Krstajić na čelu Radnika iz Bijeljine" (in Bosnian). Mondo.ba. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  3. S. Mlaćo (28 March 2020). "Krstajić i zvanično bivši, Radnik ima novog predsjednika" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  4. Mondo (21 March 2018). "Krstajić za MONDO: Zvezdaši, neću vas zapostaviti" (in Serbian). Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  5. Lampert, Andreas (30 April 2003). "Der Kellner mit der linken Klebe". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  6. Heike, Frank (29 April 2003). "Länderspiel: Heimatgefühle im Weserstadion". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  7. B92 (19 March 2009). "Mladen Krstajić novi kapiten Šalkea" (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  8. "Mladen Krstajić ponovo u Partizanu" (in Serbian). b92.net. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  9. "Krstajić kapiten, Ilić zamenik (VIDEO)" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 22 January 2010. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  10. "Partizan – Cukaricki 4:0 (0:0)". partizan.rs. 21 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  11. Mladen Krstajić at National-Football-Teams.com
  12. "Football: Serbia appoint Mladen Krstajic as World Cup coach". The Straits Times. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  13. "WM-Experiment Krstajic: Serbiens Wagnis nach der Posse". kicker Online (in German). 29 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  14. E.B. (13 June 2019). "Mladen Krstajić smijenjen sa pozicije selektora nogometne reprezentacije Srbije" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  15. Novosti.rs (30 December 2020). "SADA JE ZVANIČNO: Mladen Krstajić je novi trener TSC" (in Serbian). Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  16. Stojiljković, Milan (19 October 2021). "Kraj saradnje: Bivši selektor Krstajić više nije trener TSC iz Bačke Topole". N1 (in Bosnian). Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  17. "Mladen Krstajic appointed as Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach". 9 December 2021.
  18. Bulgarian Football Union (21 July 2022). "Младен Кърстаич е новият селекционер на България" (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  19. "Krstajic new FK Partizan Sporting Director, Stanojevic extended his contract". partizan.rs. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  20. B92 (26 December 2011). "Mladen Krstajić dobio otkaz!" (in Serbian). Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  21. M. Šljivak (23 January 2015). "Mladen Krstajić predsjednik Radnika" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  22. E.B. (18 May 2016). "Historijski dan za Bijeljinu: Fudbaleri Radnika savladali Slobodu 3:0 i osvojili Kup BiH" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  23. O.T. (30 June 2016). "Radnik izvukao remi u gostima protiv Beroea u 1. pretkolu Evropske lige" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  24. O.T. (7 July 2016). "Beroe u finišu meča srušio Radnik i eliminisao ga iz Evropske lige" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  25. "Željezničar ostao bez licence, Radnik iz Bijeljine naredne sezone igra Evropsku ligu" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  26. R. Pašić (27 December 2019). "Mladen Krstajić podnio ostavku!" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  27. "Mladen Krstajić » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  28. "Istorija fudbalske reprezentacije Srbije". www.reprezentacija.rs. 25 December 2009.
  29. "M. Krstajić". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  30. "Liberec 0-1 Schalke (Aggregate: 1 - 3)". uefa.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
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