Damjan Đoković Explained

Damjan Đoković
Upright:0.8
Fullname:Damjan Đoković
Birth Date:18 April 1990
Birth Place:Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:1.90 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:–1998
Youthclubs1:Haaglandia
Youthyears2:1998–2006
Youthclubs2:ADO Den Haag
Youthyears3:2006–2007
Youthclubs3:Excelsior Rotterdam
Youthyears4:2007–2009
Youthclubs4:Sparta Rotterdam
Years1:2009–2010
Clubs1:Spartak Trnava
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2011
Clubs2:Monza
Caps2:10
Goals2:4
Years3:2011–2013
Clubs3:Cesena
Caps3:45
Goals3:4
Years4:2013–2015
Clubs4:Bologna
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2013–2014
Clubs5:CFR Cluj (loan)
Caps5:27
Goals5:3
Years6:2014–2015
Clubs6:Livorno (loan)
Caps6:33
Goals6:1
Years7:2015–2016
Clubs7:Gazélec Ajaccio
Caps7:35
Goals7:2
Years8:2016–2017
Clubs8:Greuther Fürth
Caps8:7
Goals8:0
Years9:2017
Clubs9:Spezia
Caps9:19
Goals9:3
Years10:2017
Clubs10:Rijeka
Caps10:2
Goals10:0
Years11:2017–2021
Clubs11:CFR Cluj
Caps11:90
Goals11:8
Years12:2021–2022
Clubs12:Çaykur Rizespor
Caps12:41
Goals12:6
Years13:2022
Clubs13:Adana Demirspor (loan)
Caps13:8
Goals13:0
Years14:2022–2023
Clubs14:Al-Raed
Caps14:29
Goals14:2
Years15:2023–2024
Clubs15:FCSB
Caps15:17
Goals15:2
Years16:2024
Clubs16:Rapid București
Caps16:10
Goals16:1
Years17:2024–
Caps17:0
Goals17:0
Pcupdate:6 April 2024

Damjan Đoković (born 18 April 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as midfielder for Liga I club CFR Cluj.

Born in Croatia, Đoković represented several sides in the Netherlands at junior level, before making his senior debut for Slovak team Spartak Trnava in 2010. He went on to compete professionally in Croatia, Italy, Romania, France, Germany, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Đoković achieved most success playing for CFR Cluj in Romania, amassing over 110 league games combined during his two spells and winning five domestic honours.

Club career

Early career

Đoković spent his junior years at Dutch clubs Haaglandia, ADO Den Haag, Excelsior Rotterdam, and Sparta Rotterdam,[1] respectively. He made his senior debut for Slovak team Spartak Trnava in 2009, recording only one appearance. The following year, he returned to his country of birth by signing for Croatian side HNK Gorica,[2] but did not play any match.

Italy

Đoković joined Italian club Monza in January 2011.[3] He amassed four goals from 10 Lega Pro Prima Divisione games, during a season which ended in relegation for the Biancorossi.

On 31 August 2011, Đoković was signed by Cesena for 220,000 and the loan of two other players.[4] He made his Serie A debut on 23 October 2011, replacing Erjon Bogdani in the 88th minute of a 0–2 away loss to Siena. He ended the campaign with 15 appearances, and stayed at the club for one more year after its relegation to the Serie B.

On 25 June 2013, Đoković moved to Bologna in a swap deal which took Andrea Ingegneri in the opposite direction, with both players being held in a co-ownership deal.[5] [6] [7] He signed a three-year contract, but was immediately sent on loan to Romanian team CFR Cluj.[8] In June 2014, the co-ownership deals were renewed, and on 27 August he again left on loan to Serie B side Livorno.[9]

Đoković was released by Bologna on 22 July 2015, without registering his debut in any competition.[10]

Gazélec Ajaccio

On 22 July 2015, Đoković signed for French club Gazélec Ajaccio, newly-promoted to the Ligue 1.[11] [12] He played 35 league matches and scored two goals, but left as a free agent following their relegation to the Ligue 2.[13]

Greuther Fürth

Đoković changed countries again on 15 October 2016, after agreeing a deal until the end of the season with 2. Bundesliga team Greuther Fürth.[14]

Spezia

On 28 January 2017, less than four months after joining Greuther Fürth and having made seven appearances in the league, Đoković returned to Italy by signing for Serie B side Spezia.[15]

Rijeka

On 19 June 2017, Đoković agreed to a three-year contract with Croatian defending champions HNK Rijeka.[16] He only featured in three games during his two-and-a-half-month spell, including an appearance in a 5–1 away victory over Welsh club The New Saints in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League on 18 July.[17]

Return to CFR Cluj

Đoković returned to Liga I team CFR Cluj on 4 September 2017.[18] On 20 May 2018, he won his first career trophy after scoring the only goal of the last league fixture against Viitorul Constanța.

On 1 August 2018, Đoković recorded his first goal in European competitions after opening the scoring in a Champions League second qualifying round match against Malmö FF (1–1 away draw, 1–2 loss on aggregate).[19] On 12 December 2019, he scored in a 2–0 home defeat of Celtic in the Europa League, with CFR Cluj advancing to knockout phase from the second place in Group E.[20]

Đoković amassed 124 games and ten goals in all competitions during his second stint in Cluj-Napoca, winning the national title in every possible season as well as the 2018 Supercupa României.

Turkey

On 25 January 2021, Đoković was transferred by Turkish club Çaykur Rizespor for a rumoured fee of €400,000.[21] [22] He made 19 Süper Lig appearances and netted twice during the remainder of the season, including a goal in a 2–3 home loss to Beşiktaş on 28 April.

On 27 August 2021, Đoković scored a double in a 2–3 away league loss to Antalyaspor. In February 2022, he moved to fellow Süper Lig team Adana Demirspor on a short-term loan.[23]

Late career

On 25 July 2022, Đoković joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Raed on a free transfer.[24] He totalled two goals from 29 league appearances during his stint.

Đoković returned to Romania by signing a contract with FCSB on 27 June 2023.[25] He scored his first goals for the Roș-albaștrii on 3 August, his double helping defeat CSKA 1948 3–2 at home and 4–2 on aggregate in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.[26]

On 7 January 2023, after falling out with FCSB owner Gigi Becali,[27] Đoković moved to city rivals Rapid București on a one-and-a-half-year deal.[28] On 10 February, he scored the only goal of an away victory over his former team CFR Cluj.[29]

Personal life

Đoković was born in Zagreb to a Serbian father and Croatian mother, and moved to the Netherlands at the age of three.[30]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Spartak Trnava2009–10Slovak First League100010
Monza2010–11Lega Pro Prima Divisione10420124
Cesena2011–12Serie A15000150
2012–13Serie B30410314
Total45410464
CFR Cluj (loan)2013–14Liga I27310283
Livorno (loan)2014–15Serie B33110341
Gazélec Ajaccio2015–16Ligue 13523010392
Greuther Fürth2016–172. Bundesliga700070
Spezia2016–17Serie B19310203
Rijeka2017–18Prva HNL201030
CFR Cluj2017–18Liga I23300233
2018–19334304110415
2019–201811015110352
2020–211600090250
Total908402822012410
Çaykur Rizespor2020–21Süper Lig192192
2021–2222400224
Total41600416
Adana Demirspor (loan)2021–22Süper Lig801090
Al Raed2022–23Saudi Pro League29210302
FCSB2023–24Liga I1723032234
Rapid București2023–24Liga I101101
Career total37436150103245042740

Honours

Spartak Trnava

CFR Cluj

2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21

2018; runner-up: 2019

FCSB

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Djokovic: via Sparta en Trnava naar de Serie A . nl . voetbalprimeur.nl . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111108192131/http://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/site/nieuws/186399/Djokovic_via_Sparta_en_Trnava_naar_de_Serie_A.html . 2011-11-08 .
  2. News: Đjoković u Gorici. 16 September 2010. 14 May 2012. HNK Gorica. hr. 1 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043207/http://www.hnk-gorica.hr/sadrzaj/blicinfo/djokovic-u-gorici-34-634.html. dead.
  3. News: MERCATO: Arrivano l'attaccante Furlan e il centrocampista Djokovic, Zebi al Poggibonsi . MARKET: Arrive the striker Furlan and the midfielder Djokovic, Zebi goes to Poggibonsi . 31 January 2011 . 10 May 2012 . AC Monza Brianza 1912 . it . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120528234901/http://www.acmonzabrianza.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=664&catid=46&Itemid=456&lang=it . 28 May 2012 .
  4. AC Cesena SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012
  5. Bologna F.C. 1909 SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013
  6. News: Scambio di compartecipazioni Ingegneri - Djokovic. 25 June 2013. 2 July 2013. AC Cesena. it. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032509/http://www.cesenacalcio.it/index.php?mod=news&id=1916. 1 December 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  7. A.C. Cesena SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013
  8. News: Bun venit, Damjan Djokovic! . https://archive.today/20130628023904/http://www.cfr1907.ro/ro/stiri/2869/bun-venit-damjan-djokovic/ . dead . 28 June 2013 . 25 June 2013 . CFR Cluj Official Website . ro .
  9. Web site: Djokovic al Livorno . https://web.archive.org/web/20150323174051/http://www.bolognafc.it/news.asp?id=7290 . dead . 23 March 2015 . 27 August 2014 . 24 July 2015 . Bologna F.C. 1909 . it .
  10. Web site: Risoluzione consensuale con Djokovic . https://web.archive.org/web/20150724213151/http://www.bolognafc.it/news.asp?id=13289 . dead . 24 July 2015 . 22 July 2015 . 24 July 2015 . Bologna F.C. 1909 . it .
  11. News: Damjan Djokovic commits to Gazélec Ajaccio for 2 years. corsematin.com. July 20, 2015. August 5, 2015. 2 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150802034255/http://www.corsematin.com/article/derniere-minute/damjan-djokovic-s%E2%80%99engage-deux-ans-au-gfc-ajaccio.1874296.html. dead.
  12. Web site: Damjan Djoković est Rouge & Bleu !. 22 July 2015. 8 August 2015. Gazélec Ajaccio. fr.
  13. News: Heidinger drängt in die Startelf - kommt Djokovic?. 13 October 2016. kicker Online. 13 October 2016. de.
  14. Web site: DJOKOVIC UNTERSCHREIBT IN FÜRTH . greuther-fuerth.de . de . 15 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161018170256/http://www.greuther-fuerth.de/aktuell/aktuelle-news/news-detail/article/djokovic-unterschreibt-in-fuerth.html . 2016-10-18 . dead .
  15. Web site: Fürth verpflichtet Ungarn Pinter - Djokovic geht. Goal. 19 February 2017. de. 28 January 2017.
  16. Web site: Damjan Đoković potpisao za Rijeku. nk-rijeka.hr. 19 June 2017. hr. 19 June 2017. 23 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170623082718/http://www.nk-rijeka.hr/vijest/damjan-dokovic-potpisao-za-rijeku/. dead.
  17. Web site: The New Saint 1–5 Rijeka. UEFA.com. 18 July 2017. 7 January 2024.
  18. Web site: CFR e de neoprit pe piața transferurilor » Clujenii au repatriat un străin care a mai jucat în Liga 1. CFR is unstoppable on the transfer market » Clujenii have brought back a foreign player who has played in the Liga 1 before. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 4 September 2017.
  19. Web site: Malmö 1–1 CFR Cluj. UEFA.com. 1 August 2018. 7 January 2024.
  20. Web site: CFR Cluj 2–0 Celtic. UEFA.com. 12 December 2019. 7 January 2024.
  21. Web site: Damjan Djokovic a plecat în Turcia pentru a finaliza transferul la Rizespor! Câți bani va încasa CFR Cluj. Damjan Djoković left for Turkey to complete his transfer to Rizespor! How much money will CFR Cluj receive?. Digi Sport. ro. 22 January 2021. 7 January 2024.
  22. Web site: Damjan Djokovic Çaykur Rizespor'da. tr. 25 January 2021.
  23. Web site: Dorit de CFR Cluj, Djokovic a ales altă echipă! Va fi coleg cu Balotelli și Loic Remy. Wanted by CFR Cluj, Djoković chose another team! He will be colleagues with Balotelli and Loïc Rémy. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 9 February 2022. 7 January 2024.
  24. Web site: رسميًا.. الرائد يتعاقد مع الكرواتي "داميان ديوكوفيتش". Officially... Al-Raed signs a contract with Croatian Damian Djokovic (video). Akhbaar24. ar. 25 July 2022.
  25. Web site: VIDEO FCSB a anunțat oficial transferul lui Damjan Djokovic: "Asta m-a atras să vin la București!" + Ce număr va purta. VIDEO FCSB officially announced the transfer of Damjan Djoković: "This is what attracted me to Bucharest!" + What number will he wear. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 27 June 2023. 7 January 2024.
  26. Web site: FCSB 3–2 CSKA 1948. UEFA.com. 3 August 2023. 7 January 2024.
  27. Web site: EXCLUSIV "I-am dat bani să plece!" Suma pe care a plătit-o Gigi Becali pentru a scăpa de Damjan Djokovic. EXCLUSIVE "I gave him money to leave!" The amount Gigi Becali paid to get rid of Damjan Djoković. Digi Sport. ro. 6 January 2024. 7 January 2024.
  28. Web site: Damjan Djokovic a semnat cu Rapid. Damjan Djoković signed for Rapid. FC Rapid București. ro. 7 January 2024. 7 January 2024.
  29. Web site: Rapid câștigă derby-ul "feroviar" și devine principala urmăritore a liderului FCSB! Djokovic, decisiv în fosta "casă" » Clasamentul ACUM. Rapid wins the "railway" derby and becomes the main contender of the leader FCSB! Djoković, decisive in his former "home" » Standings NOW. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 10 February 2024. 10 February 2024.
  30. News: Proslaviću ime Đoković i sa bubamarom!. 13 December 2013. 13 June 2014. alo.rs. sr. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123161408/http://www.alo.rs/sport/fudbal/proslavicu-ime-dokovic-i-sa-bubamarom/40140. 2015-01-23. dead.
  31. Web site: Liga 1 Betano: echipa ideală a play-off-ului. Liga 1 Betano: team of the championship play-offs. LPF.ro. Romanian. 27 May 2019. 27 May 2019.