Nikola Sekulov

Nikola Sekulov (Macedonian: Никола Секулов; born 18 February 2002) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie B club Cremonese, on loan from Juventus. Born in Italy to Macedonian parents, Sekulov represented Macedonia internationally at youth level, before switching to Italy in 2018.

Nikola Sekulov
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-02-18) 18 February 2002
Place of birth Piacenza, Italy
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Cremonese (on loan from Juventus)
Number 7
Youth career
2007–2012 Piacenza
2012–2015 Parma
2015–2016 Pro Piacenza
2016–2021 Juventus
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Juventus 0 (0)
2020–2023 → Juventus Next Gen[lower-greek 1] (res.) 64 (6)
2023– → Cremonese (loan) 1 (0)
International career‡
2017 Macedonia U17 2 (0)
2018–2019 Italy U17 10 (0)
2019–2020 Italy U18 6 (0)
2021–2022 Italy U20 6 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Italy
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Silver medal – second place2019 Republic of Ireland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:50, 24 April 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:22, 18 April 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Piacenza, Italy, to Macedonian parents, Sekulov began his youth career at Piacenza in 2007, remaining there until 2012 when he moved to Parma.[2] In 2015 he joined Pro Piacenza, before moving to Juventus in 2016.[2]

Sekulov made his Serie C debut for Juventus U23 – the reserve team of Juventus – on 21 October 2020 in a 1–0 defeat to Pro Vercelli.[3] On 22 September 2021, Sekulov scored his first goal in his career in a 2–1 win against Triestina.[4] On 17 October, Sekulov scored a brace in a 2–1 win against Seregno.[5] On 29 October, Sekulov extended his contract with Juventus until 2025.[6]

On 7 December 2022, Sekulov scored Juventus Next Gen's 2–0 in their victory against Padova in Coppa Italia Serie C after carrying the ball from his own half.[7] On 15 July 2023, he joined Serie B side Cremonese on loan.[8]

International career

Sekulov represented Macedonia internationally at youth level until the under-17s, switching allegiance to Italy in 2018.[2] He represented the under-17s at the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, reaching the final of the competition where Italy lost to the Netherlands.[9]

Style of play

A half-winger (Italian: mezz'ala), Sekulov has been likened to former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio for his technical qualities, movements, and height.[9]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 22 April 2023[10]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coppa Italia Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Juventus Next Gen[lower-greek 1] 2020–21 Serie C 30—0030
2021–22 Serie C 334—8[lower-alpha 1]0414
2022–23 Serie C 284—8[lower-alpha 2]2366
Total 648001628010
Career total 648001628010
  1. Three appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C, five appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
  2. Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C

Honours

Italy U17

Notes
  1. The team's name was changed from Juventus U23 to Juventus Next Gen in August 2022.[1]

References
  1. "From Under 23 to Next Gen – a new identity at Juventus". Juventus F.C. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  2. Attanasio, Christian (3 July 2020). "Juve Primavera: Nikola Sekulov, il talento dai Balcani tra bianconeri e Italia". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  3. "Pro Vercelli vs. Juventus II - 21 October 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  4. Ferrero, Giorgio (22 September 2021). "Juventus U23 Triestina 2-1: termina al Moccagatta, decide Akè". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  5. Ferrero, Giorgio (17 October 2021). "Juventus U23 Seregno 2-1: fischio finale, Sekulov ribalta la partita". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  6. JuventusNews24, Redazione (29 October 2021). "Rinnovo Sekulov Juve: è ufficiale! I dettagli per l'attaccante dell'Under 23". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  7. JuventusNews24, Redazione (7 December 2022). "Gol Sekulov, una meraviglia dell'attaccante per il 2-0 Next Gen – VIDEO". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  8. JuventusNews24, Redazione (15 July 2023). "Sekulov alla Cremonese: UFFICIALE il prestito dalla Juventus Next Gen. Il comunicato". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  9. "Nikola Sekulov, l'azzurro dei Balcani fa faville con Juve e Under - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". www.tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  10. Nikola Sekulov at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 July 2021.


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