Branislav Niňaj Explained

Branislav Niňaj
Birth Date:17 May 1994[1]
Birth Place:Bratislava, Slovakia
Height:1.91 m
Currentclub:Sepsi OSK
Clubnumber:82
Position:Centre-back
Youthyears1:2002–2010
Youthclubs1:Jozef Vengloš Academy
Youthyears2:2010–2011
Youthclubs2:Petržalka 1898
Youthyears3:2012
Youthclubs3:Slovan Bratislava
Years1:2011–2012
Clubs1:Petržalka 1898
Caps1:10
Goals1:0
Years2:2012–2015
Caps2:58
Goals2:6
Years3:2012–2015
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2015–2018
Caps4:38
Goals4:1
Years5:2017
Clubs5:→ Osmanlıspor (loan)
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2018
Clubs6:Žilina B (loan)
Caps6:2
Goals6:0
Years7:2018–2021
Clubs7:Fortuna Sittard
Caps7:53
Goals7:3
Years8:2021–
Clubs8:Sepsi OSK
Caps8:123
Goals8:1
Nationalyears2:2012
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2013
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2013–2017
Nationalcaps4:27
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2013–2020
Nationalteam5:Slovakia
Nationalcaps5:3
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:30 November 2024
Nationalteam-Update:11 October 2020

Branislav Niňaj (born 17 May 1994) is a Slovak professional footballer who plays as a defender for Liga I club Sepsi OSK.

Early career

In summer 2012, he moved from Petržalka 1898 to the fellow Bratislava team Slovan Bratislava.[2] He made his Corgoň Liga debut for Slovan 2013 against ViOn Zlaté Moravce on 1 March 2013, Slovan won this match 4–1.

International career

Niňaj made an unexpected international debut under Ján Kozák on 19 November 2013 in a memorable first UEFA-recognised match against Gibraltar (0–0), when he tactically replaced Jakub Sylvestr in the 85th minute.[3] However, he failed to make another appearance under Kozák until his resignation in October 2018.

After Niňaj joined Fortuna Sittard, where he experienced an incomparably more successful season to the previous ones, he was again nominated to the national team, initially as an alternate.[4] Niňaj's first nomination to the national team nomination after over 5 years happened on 28 May 2019 when coach Pavel Hapal called him up for a double fixture in June - a home friendly against Jordan, to which, unusually, 29 players were called-up and a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying fixture against Azerbaijan, played away on 11 June 2019. The squad was to be reduced to 23 players for the latter fixture.[5]

Career statistics

Club statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Slovan Bratislava2012–13Slovak First Football League511061
2013–1431460374
2014–15221106010301
Total586806010736
Slovan Bratislava B2014–152. Liga3030
Lokeren2015–16Belgian Pro League18020200
2016–17Belgian First Division A20100201
Total381200000401
Osmanlıspor (loan)2017–18Süper Lig103040
Žilina B (loan)2017–182. Liga2020
Fortuna Sittard2018–19Eredivisie21320233
2019–2024030270
2020–21800080
Total533500000583
Sepsi OSK2020–21Liga I1600010170
2021–2225140291
2022–233403120391
2023–24320206010410
2024–2516000160
Total12319180201422
Career totals278112711403032212

International

[6]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Slovakia201310
201910
202010
Total30

Honours

Slovan Bratislava

Sepsi OSK

2021–22, 2022–23

2022

Notes and References

  1. http://www.talenty-info.sk/index.php/futbal/futbal-profily/238 Branislav Niňaj
  2. http://sport.aktuality.sk/c/134088/slovan-ziskal-talentovaneho-branislava-ninaja-z-petrzalky/ Slovan získal talentovaného Branislava Niňaja z Petržalky
  3. Web site: Slováci Gibraltáru gól nedali, pred 350 divákmi remizovali 0:0. a.s. Petit Press. sport.sme.sk. sk. 2019-05-29.
  4. Web site: Stoch sa vracia do reprezentácie. Hapal oznámil nomináciu. a.s. Petit Press. sport.sme.sk. sk. 2019-05-29.
  5. Web site: SR A – V Hapalovej nominácii 29 hráčov, po Jordánsku sa zúži na 23 Slovenský futbalový zväz. www.futbalsfz.sk. 2019-05-29.
  6. Web site: Ninaj, Branislav. national-football-teams.com. 6 October 2022.