Stefan Ljubicic

Stefan Alexander Ljubičić (born 5 October 1999) is an Icelandic professional footballer of Serbian descent, who plays as a forward for Keflavík in the Úrvalsdeild.

Stefan Ljubičić
Personal information
Full name Stefan Alexander Ljubičić
Date of birth (1999-10-05) 5 October 1999
Place of birth Keflavík, Iceland
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Keflavík
Number 11
Youth career
Keflavík
2016–2019 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Keflavík 3 (0)
2018–2019 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (0)
2018 → Bognor Regis Town (loan) 3 (0)
2019 → Eastbourne Borough (loan) 11 (1)
2019 Grindavík 8 (1)
2020 Riga 0 (0)
2020–2021 HK 33 (7)
2022–2023 KR Reykjavík 18 (2)
2023– Keflavík 15 (3)
International career
2015 Iceland U16 3 (0)
2016 Iceland U17 5 (1)
2017 Iceland U19 5 (3)
2018 Iceland U21 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:01, 11 September 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Brighton & Hove Albion

After 16-year old Ljubičić had played three games for Keflavík and several games for the youth national teams, he went on a trial at English club Norwich in October 2015 and later at Scottish club Celtic in January 2016.[1][2]

However, after yet another trial, this time at Brighton & Hove Albion where he scored a goal and played very well in a friendly game against Chelsea's youth team, it was confirmed by the players agent and Keflavík, that Ljubičić had accepted a three-year offer from the club.[3] He would join the club in the summer 2016.[4]

Ljubičić played for Brighton's U18 and U23 teams. In February 2018, he was loaned out to Bognor Regis Town until the end of the season.[5] In January 2019, he was loaned out to Eastbourne Borough until the end of April 2019.[6][7] However, it was confirmed in May 2019, that Ljubičić had been released.[8]

He played a total of 35 games and 12 goals for Brighton's U18 team and 8 games for the U23 team.

Grindavík

After being released by Brighton, Ljubičić returned to Grindavík in July 2019.[9] He made eight appearances and scored one goal for the club.

Riga FC

At the beginning of November, Ljubičić joined the training camp of Latvian club Riga FC in Cyprus. He played a friendly game for the team against Pafos FC where he scored a goal. He then signed officially for the club at the end of the month.[10] However, before playing any official games for the club, the cooperation was terminated by mutual agreement on 26 May 2020.[11] Ljubičić had had a few minor injuries, which prevented him from playing.[12]

HK

On 15 June 2020, Ljubičić signed a three-year deal with Icelandic club Handknattleiksfélag Kópavogs.[13] He scored his first goal for HK on 28 August the same year.[14] After HK was relegated for the 2022 season, Ljubičić left the club at the end of 2021.

KR Reykjavík

On 19 October 2021 it was confirmed, that Ljubičić would join KR Reykjavík for the 2022 season.[15]

Return to Keflavík

In April 2023, Ljubicic moved to Keflavík: a club he also played for in 2015-2016.[16]

Personal life

Stefan is the son of Bosnian Serb refugee Zoran Ljubičić, former Icelandic football player and coach.[17] His older brother, Bojan Stefan Ljubičić, is also a footballer. In his youth, Stefan played basketball for Keflavík ÍF for four years and was a member of the Icelandic junior national basketball teams.[18][19]

References
  1. Víðir Sigurðsson (3 October 2015). "Stefan til reynslu hjá Norwich". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  2. "Stefan til reynslu hjá Celtic". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  3. "Stefan Ljubicic til Brighton". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 23 February 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  4. Stefan Alexander Ljubicic til Brighton & Hove Albion (Staðfest), fotbolti.net, 23 February 2016
  5. Rocks swoop for striker Stefan, bognorregispost.co.uk, 2 February 2018
  6. Highly-rated young Brighton striker signs for Eastbourne Borough, eastbourneherald.co.uk, 31 January 2019
  7. Brian Owen (11 March 2019). "Why Stefan Ljubicic is getting top tips from Mark McGhee". The Argus (in Icelandic). Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  8. Five Under-23 Players Retained For 2019/20 Season, brightonandhovealbion.com, 14 May 2019
  9. Ástrós Ýr Eggertsdóttir (27 July 2019). "Stefan Ljubicic til Grindavíkur". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  10. LATVIJAS ČEMPIONIEM "RIGA FC" PIEVIENOJAS ISLANDES UZBRUCĒJS ĻUBIČIČS, sportacentrs.com, 29 November 2019
  11. STARPSEZONĀ NOLĪGTAIS ISLANDES UZBRUCĒJS ĻUBIČIČS UN "RIGA" PĀRTRAUC SADARBĪBU, sportacentrs.com, 26 May 2020
  12. Sæbjörn Þór Þórbergsson Steinke (18 April 2021). "Stefan Ljubicic: Ég er tæpir 2 metrar, hvað á ég að gera á kantinum?". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  13. Victor Pálsson (15 June 2020). "Stefan Ljubicic til HK". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  14. Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson (28 August 2020). "Hann hefur greinilega unnið vel í sínum málum og er á mun betri stað í dag". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  15. „Samkeppnin gerir mig betri“, mbl.is, 19 October 2021
  16. KEFLAVÍK KAUPIR STEFAN LJUBICIC (STAÐFEST), fotbolti.net, 5 April 2023
  17. Hafliði Breiðfjörð (8 February 2020). "Stefan Ljubicic er langyngstur hjá lettnesku meisturunum". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  18. "England er hjarta fótboltans". Víkurfréttir (in Icelandic). 3 June 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  19. Sæbjörn Þór Þórbergsson Steinke (19 April 2021). "Vann titilinn og var í körfuboltalandsliðinu - "Pabbi hefði ekki verið ánægður"". Fótbolti.net (in Icelandic). Retrieved 19 April 2021.
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