Adrian Zeljković

Adrian Zeljković
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-08-19) 19 August 2002
Place of birth Žalec, Slovenia[1]
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 MTK Budapest
(on loan from Viktoria Plzeň)
Number 80
Youth career
–2017 Žalec
2017 Maribor
2017–2018 Šampion
2018–2020 Celje
2020–2021 Olimpija Ljubljana
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 Olimpija Ljubljana 4 (0)
2021–2023 Tabor Sežana 37 (1)
2023–2025 Spartak Trnava 56 (5)
2025– Viktoria Plzeň 13 (0)
2026– → MTK Budapest (loan) 13 (1)
International career‡
2019 Slovenia U17 1 (0)
2022–2025 Slovenia U21 17 (2)
2024– Slovenia 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 June 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 7 June 2026

Adrian Zeljković (born 19 August 2002) is a Slovenian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Nemzeti Bajnokság I club MTK Budapest, on loan from Czech First League club Viktoria Plzeň, and for the Slovenia national team.

Club career

Zeljković started playing football in his hometown of Žalec.[2] He went on to play for the youth teams of several Slovenian football clubs, including Maribor, Celje and Olimpija Ljubljana, the latter of which he made his senior debut.[3] Zeljković joined Slovak club Spartak Trnava in July 2023, signing a four-year contract.[4] On 12 May 2025, Zeljković signed a four-year contract with Czech First League club Viktoria Plzeň for a reported transfer fee of €1.5 million.[5][6] He made his European debut for the club in a 3–1 win over Servette, where he got sent off in the 66th minute.[7] On 3 February 2026, Zeljković joined MTK Budapest on a half-year loan deal with an option to make the transfer permanent.[8]

International career

In November 2023, Zeljković scored his first goal for the Slovenia under-21 team in a 1–1 friendly draw against Turkey.[9] He made his debut for the senior team in a January 2024 friendly against the United States that ended 1–0 in Slovenia's favor thanks to a goal from Nejc Gradišar.[10][11][12]

Personal life

Zeljković's older brother Aleksandar is also a footballer.[13]

Honours

Spartak Trnava

Individual

  • Spartak Trnava Footballer of the Year: 2024[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Profile Adrian Zeljković, Spartak Trnava: Info, news, matches and statistics". BeSoccer. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  2. ↑ Viškovič, Rok (8 December 2023). "Še en talent, ki je spolzel iz rok Maribora, Olimpije in tudi Celja". Sportklub (in Slovenian). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  3. ↑ Plestenjak, Rok (29 June 2024). "Biser slovenskega nogometa, ki mu je v enem letu uspel meteorski vzpon". Siol (in Slovenian). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  4. ↑ "Novým hráčom v tíme je Adrian Zeljkovič". FC Spartak Trnava (in Slovak). 17 July 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Slovinský defenzivní záložník Adrian Zeljković je první letní posilou fotbalistů Plzně". Oneplay (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  6. ↑ Matis, Peter (14 May 2025). "DAC s masívnym zárobkom, Spartak zas s predajom pod cenu? Špekulácie o nedávnych prestupoch naberajú na sile". tvnoviny.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  7. ↑ Irvine, David (1 August 2025). "Key Viktoria Plzen ace ruled out of Rangers Champions League clash". Rangers Review. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  8. ↑ Machálek, René (3 February 2026). "Přetlak v záloze Plzně! Slovinec mizí na hostování s opcí, přednost dostanou zimní posily". eFotbal.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  9. ↑ "Adrian Zeljković je uspešno leto 2023 kronal še z golom za mlado reprezentanco, Slovenija je remizirala s Turčijo". Nogomania (in Slovenian). 17 November 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "Kekovemu izbrancu Slovaki zapirajo vrata Serie A". Sportklub (in Slovenian). 25 January 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Adrian Zeljković, international football player". eu-football.info. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ↑ Bogert, Tom (20 January 2024). "USMNT loses to Slovenia: Takeaways from the first friendly of 2024". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  13. ↑ Dominko, Peter (20 July 2023). "Zeljković zaostril konkurenco v zadnji vrsti Aluminija". Ptujinfo (in Slovenian). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
  14. ↑ "Kar trije slovenski nogometaši na praznik dela do lovorike: Erik Kojzek slavi v Avstriji, Žiga Frelih in Adrian Zeljković na Slovaškem". Planet Nogomet (in Slovenian). 1 May 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  15. ↑ Král, Ján (9 December 2024). "Titul najlepší hráč Spartaka získal Zeljkovič, top mládežníkom bol Trello". Trnavský Hlas (in Slovak). Retrieved 26 March 2025.
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