Veljko Nikitović (Serbian Cyrillic: Beљкo Hикитoвић ; born 3 October 1980) is a Serbian football executive and former professional player who is the current sporting director of Polish club Arka Gdynia. Regarded as one of the most important players in Górnik Łęczna's history,[1][2] he made over 300 appearances for the Zielono-Czarni and held multiple roles within the club after retirement.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Veljko Nikitović | ||
| Date of birth | 3 October 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Arka Gdynia (sporting director) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2001 | Mladost Lučani | ||
| 2001 | Górnik Łęczna | ||
| 2001–2002 | Mladost Lučani | ||
| 2002–2003 | Hajduk Beograd | ||
| 2004–2007 | Górnik Łęczna | 71 | (4) |
| 2007 | Vaslui | 1 | (0) |
| 2008–2016 | Górnik Łęczna | 213 | (13) |
| 2018–2019 | Tur Milejów | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Błękit Cyców | 27 | (8) |
| 2024 | LKS Biskupice | 2 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editIn February 2004, he joined Górnik Łęczna from Hajduk Beograd.[3]
In the summer of 2007, he moved to Vaslui.
In February 2008, he returned to Górnik Łęczna and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract.[4]
Post-retirement
editShortly after retiring in July 2016, Nikitović joined Górnik Łęczna's staff as an assistant coach and scout.[5] He held the role until 26 April 2017, when he became a board member of the club, and was mainly responsible for coordinating the club's academy and youth systems.[6]
On 17 July 2017, he was appointed chairman of the club.[7] Nikitović stepped down on 13 December 2018, and took on the role of sporting director the following day.[8] On 30 May 2024, he announced on Facebook that he was departing Górnik, after over 20 years as a player, staff and club management member.[9] During his time as an executive, he oversaw Górnik's relegation from the I liga in 2018, as well as their climb back to the top-tier with two consecutive promotions, before Górnik was demoted again after just one year in the Ekstraklasa in 2022.
On 9 June 2024, he was announced as the new sporting director of fellow I liga club Arka Gdynia.[10]
Honours
editGórnik Łęczna
- III liga, group IV: 2007–08[11]
Błękit Cyców
- Klasa A Lublin III: 2020–21[12][13]
References
edit- ^ "Klubowa legenda odchodzi z Górnika Łęczna po 20 latach!". dziennikwschodni.pl (in Polish). 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Smagała, Dominik (30 May 2024). "REKLAMA Szokująca decyzja legendy Górnika Łęczna. Veljko Nikitović żegna się z klubem". tubalecznej.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Nikitovic i Sobczyk testowani w Górniku Łęczna 5.02.2004, wp.pl
- ^ Veljko Nikitović wrócił do Górnika Łęczna! 1.02.2008, igol.pl
- ^ "Veljko Nikitović asystentem trenera Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 3 July 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Veljko Nikitović członkiem zarządu Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 26 April 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Veljko Nikitović prezesem Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 17 July 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Veljko Nikitović dyrektorem sportowym Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 14 December 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Veljko Nikitović odchodzi z Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 30 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ Galiński, Tomasz (9 June 2024). "Kluczowa decyzja Arki Gdynia. Legenda innego klubu zajęła ważne stanowisko". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "III liga 2007/2008, grupa: 4". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Keeza Klasa A 2020/2021, grupa: Lublin III". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "Zawodnik: Veljko Nikitović". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
External links
edit- Veljko Nikitović at 90minut.pl (in Polish)
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