Wikipedia

Luka Krajnc

Luka Krajnc (born 19 September 1994) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Italian Serie B club Catanzaro.

Luka Krajnc
Krajnc in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-09-19) 19 September 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth Ptuj, Slovenia[1]
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Catanzaro
Number 32
Youth career
2003–2011 Maribor
2011–2013 Genoa Primavera
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Maribor 1 (0)
2011–2015 Genoa 3 (0)
2013–2015 → Cesena (loan) 44 (1)
2015–2018 Cagliari 21 (0)
2016–2017 → Sampdoria (loan) 0 (0)
2017–2018 → Frosinone (loan) 46 (0)
2018–2021 Frosinone 24 (0)
2020–2021 → Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan) 24 (2)
2021–2023 Hannover 96 40 (1)
2023– Catanzaro 11 (0)
International career
2010 Slovenia U16 1 (0)
2010 Slovenia U17 5 (0)
2011 Slovenia U18 2 (0)
2011–2012 Slovenia U19 16 (1)
2011–2012 Slovenia U20 2 (0)
2012–2016 Slovenia U21 19 (2)
2015–2018 Slovenia 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 January 2024

Club career edit

Krajnc began his football career at the age of eight when his father took him on a trial with the Slovenian football club Maribor.[2] He signed his first professional contract with Maribor at the age of 16 and played for the main squad in a couple of friendly matches. On 29 May 2011, he played his first and only 1. SNL match for Maribor in the last round of the 2010–11 season,[3] with Maribor already crowned champions. At the time of his debut he was the youngest player ever with an appearance for Maribor in a 1. SNL match, a record which lasted until 25 March 2012.[4]

On 3 April 2011, Krajnc signed a pre-contract with Italian Serie A club Genoa.[5] The transfer fee paid by Genoa was undisclosed, but was reported to be close to €1 million. He joined his new club on 1 July 2011.[6][7] He began his career at Genoa with their Primavera side which he also captained, before making a debut for the main squad on 27 October 2012 at San Siro in a league match against AC Milan.[8] With 18 years, one month and 14 days he became the youngest Slovenian player ever with an appearances in the Italian top division, Serie A.[7]

On 3 July 2013 he moved to Cesena in temporary co-ownership deal.[9] In June 2015 Genoa acquired Cesena's share and became the sole owner of the player's rights.[10]

On 31 August 2016, Krajnc joined Sampdoria on a season-long loan.[11] In the second part of the 2016–17 season, he was loaned to Frosinone.[12]

On 20 June 2018, Frosinone turned Krajnc's loan into a permanent deal for undisclosed fee.[13]

In September 2020, he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf on a season-long loan.[14]

On 24 August 2021, Krajnc joined Hannover 96 on a three-year contract.[15]

On 23 August 2023, Krajnc returned to Italy and signed a two-year deal with Catanzaro.[16]

International career edit

Krajnc has represented Slovenia at all youth levels from under-16 to under-21.[17] On 30 March 2015 he made his senior international debut, replacing Dominic Maroh after 65 minutes of an eventual 1–0 friendly defeat to Qatar at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.[18]

Style of play edit

Krajnc, who is left footed, primarily plays in central defence and is praised for his pace, strength, passing and ability on the ball.[19]

Personal life edit

Krajnc is from Kapla na Kozjaku in the hilly region of northeastern Slovenia near the Austrian border, roughly 37 km from the city of Maribor.[2][20] Before moving to Maribor he usually had to study and do his homework on the back seat of his father's car, traveling to and from training.[2][8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Luka Krajnc at Soccerway
  2. ^ a b c "Nočno življenje me ne bo zavedlo" [Nightlife will not deceive me] (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Luka Krajnc" (in Slovenian). Slovenian PrvaLiga. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  4. ^ "Soigralci in navijači odnesli tremo" [Teammates and fans helped me with fright] (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  5. ^ To. G. (3 April 2011). "Luka Krajnc pri 16 letih iz Maribora v Genoo" [Luka Krajnc from Maribor to Genoa at the age of 16] (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  6. ^ D. D. (7 April 2011). "Kako je Genoa Chelseaju speljala Krajnca?" [How did Genoa steal Krajnc from Chelsea?] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  7. ^ a b Plestenjak, Rok (29 October 2012). "Tako mlad ni debitiral še nihče" [No one debuted that young] (in Slovenian). Siol. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. ^ a b T. O. (30 October 2012). "Na San Siru kot v kinu, slike ni pokvaril niti sporen gol" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Luka Kranjc è un giocatore del Cesena" (in Italian). AC Cesena. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  10. ^ Dominko, Peter (25 June 2015). "Genoa odkupila Krajnca" [Genoa bought Krajnc]. Slovenski nogometni portal (in Slovenian). Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Official: Krajnc to Sampdoria". Football italia. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  12. ^ Uredništvo (10 January 2017). "Uradno: Krajnc v Frosinone" [Official: Krajnc to Frosinone] (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  13. ^ "Salamon alla Spal e Krajnc al Frosinone" (in Italian). Cagliari. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  14. ^ Uredništvo (29 September 2020). "URADNO: Luka Krajnc je izpolnil svoje sanje" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Trotz "anderer Optionen": Krajnc entscheidet sich für Hannover". kicker.de (in German). kicker. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Luka Krajnc se je po dveh letih v Nemčiji vrnil tja, kjer je doslej preživel največ časa: Branilec v Italiji podpisal za Catanzaro". Planet Nogomet (in Slovenian). 23 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Luka Krajnc" (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Qatar 1–0 Slovenia". eu-football.info. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  19. ^ "Blues to have first refusal on Slovenian starlet". theshedender.com. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  20. ^ "Luka Krajnc: Prav nič ne bi razmišljal" [Luka Krajnc: I wouldn't think about it]. Ekipa (in Slovenian). 25 February 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2016.

External links edit

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