Kristijan Belić (Serbian Cyrillic: Кристијан Белић; born 25 March 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club AZ Alkmaar. Born in Belgium, Belić represents the Serbia national team.
 Belić in 2024 with AZ | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 March 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Sint-Truiden, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | AZ Alkmaar | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Serbian White Eagles | |||
| OFK Beograd | |||
| 2015–2019 | West Ham United | ||
| 2019–2021 | Olympiacos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Olympiacos | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Čukarički | 13 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Partizan | 40 | (3) |
| 2024– | AZ Alkmaar | 22 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | Serbia U17 | 5 | (1) |
| 2019 | Serbia U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2022 | Serbia U21 | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | Serbia | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 September 2024 | |||
Club career
editYouth career
editBelić was born in Sint-Truiden, where his father, Dušan, played for the club of the same name. He trained with the Serbian White Eagles Academy in Canada when his father was involved with the senior team from 2006 to 2007.[1] In his younger years, he played for OFK Beograd. and then spent four years in West Ham United's academy.
Alkmaar
editIn the winter of 2024, he was transferred to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.[2] Belić made his debut In the 18th round of the Eredivisie, AZ Alkmaar and PEC Zwolle played 2–2.[3] On 14 September 2024, Belić scored his first goal. AZ Alkmaar broke their record for the biggest win in the Eredivisie on Saturday when they beat SC Heerenveen 9–1 at the AFAS Stadion.[4]
International career
editBelić was called up to the senior Serbia national team for the first time for the Nations League games against Spain and Denmark in September 2024.[5] Belić debuted on 5 September 2024 against Spain at the Rajko Mitić Stadium. He substituted Andrija Živković in the 61st minute of a scoreless draw.[6]
Style of play
editIn his younger years, Belić performed in attack and defense, while in the senior competition he made his mark as a midfielder. It is characterized by an aggressive playing style, often accompanied by sanctions in the form of cards. In the lineup of Partizan's coach, Gordan Petrić, he established himself as a bonus player from the 168th Eternal derby.
After the meeting with his former club, Čukarički, he was recognized in the media as the successor of Saša Zdjelar, and compared to Juca and Everton Luiz, also former Partizan players. Belić then scored a goal, and later caught up and stopped Samuel Owusu in an open counter attack, and due to his remarkable performance, he was selected as a player of the 15th round of the Serbian SuperLiga for the 2022–23 season.
Before the 169th Eternal derby, Igor Duljaj was appointed manager of Partizan. Belić received praise for his combativeness in the match and was rated by reporters as the most committed and dedicated Partizan player in their team's minimal defeat at the hands of Red Star Belgrade at Rajko Mitić Stadium. Belić exited the game in the 75th minute due to a head injury.
Personal life
editBelić is the son of former goalkeeper Dušan Belić.[7] His brother Luka is also a footballer.[7]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 27 October 2024[8]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Olympiacos | 2019–20 | Super League Greece | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Super League Greece | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Čukarički | 2021–22 | Serbian SuperLiga | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Partizan | 2022–23 | Serbian SuperLiga | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | Serbian SuperLiga | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 2 | |
| Total | 40 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 55 | 3 | ||
| AZ Alkmaar | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Eredivisie | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| Total | 22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 75 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 95 | 5 | ||
- Notes
- ^ Appearances in the Greek Cup
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
edit- As of match played 8 September 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
Honours
editIndividual
- Serbian SuperLiga Player of the Week: 2022–23 (Round 15[9]), 2023–24 (Round 6[10])
References
edit- ^ Vujcic, Djuradj (4 November 2022). "Serbian White Eagles Academy in the Spotlight With Belgrade's Giants". serbianwhiteeagles.ca. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ "Kristijan Belić zvanično predstavljen u AZ Alkmaru!" [Kristijan Belic officially presented in AZ Alkmaar!]. Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "AZ VS. PEC ZWOLLE 2 - 2". Soccerway.com. 20 January 2024.
- ^ "AZ VS. HEERENVEEN 9 - 1". Soccerway.com. 14 September 2024.
- ^ "ШИРИ СПИСАК СЕЛЕКТОРА ДРАГАНА СТОЈКОВИЋА ЗА УТАКМИЦЕ ПРОТИВ ШПАНИЈЕ И ДАНСКЕ" (in Serbian). Football Association of Serbia. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Serbia v Spain game report". ESPN. 5 September 2024.
- ^ a b Liberloo, Kristof (2 March 2001). "STVV-keeper Belic was ooit aanvaller én ref" (in Flemish). Gazet van Antwerpen. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ Kristijan Belić at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ "Najbolji igrač 15. kola Mozzart Bet Super lige Srbije – Kristijan Belić". www.superliga.rs. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Najbolji igrač 6. kola Mozzart Bet Super lige Srbije – Kristijan Belić". www.superliga.rs. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
External links
edit- Kristijan Belić at Soccerway.com
- Kristijan Belić at WorldFootball.net
- Kristijan Belić at Soccerbase.com
- Kristijan Belić at BDFutbol
- Kristijan Belić at kicker (in German)
