| Esteban Saveljich | |
| Full Name: | Esteban Ariel Saveljich |
| Birth Date: | 20 May 1991 |
| Birth Place: | Tandil, Argentina |
| Height: | 1.87 m[1] |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Currentclub: | Real Murcia |
| Clubnumber: | 4 |
| Youthyears1: | 2006–2012 |
| Youthclubs1: | Racing Club |
| Years1: | 2012–2016 |
| Clubs1: | Racing Club |
| Caps1: | 28 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs2: | → Defensa y Justicia (loan) |
| Caps2: | 24 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2016 |
| Clubs3: | → Almería (loan) |
| Caps3: | 17 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2016–2019 |
| Clubs4: | Levante |
| Caps4: | 9 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs5: | → Albacete (loan) |
| Caps5: | 29 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs6: | → Almería (loan) |
| Caps6: | 33 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Years7: | 2019–2023 |
| Clubs7: | Rayo Vallecano |
| Caps7: | 79 |
| Goals7: | 4 |
| Years8: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs8: | Burgos |
| Caps8: | 8 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Years9: | 2024– |
| Clubs9: | Real Murcia |
| Caps9: | 4 |
| Goals9: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2015– |
| Nationalteam1: | Montenegro |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 6 October 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 24 March 2016 |
Esteban Ariel Saveljich (cnr|Естебан Савељић|Esteban Saveljić; born 20 May 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primera Federación club Murcia. Born in Argentina, he represents Montenegro at international level.[2]
Born in Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, Saveljich joined Racing Club's youth setup in 2006, aged 15. On 23 June 2012, he made his first team – and Primera División – debut, in a 2–1 away loss against Vélez Sársfield.[3]
Saveljich scored his first professional goal on 1 April 2014, in a 3–3 home draw against Estudiantes.[4] He was also a part of the squad which was crowned champions in that year, but as a backup.
In January 2015 Saveljich was loaned to fellow top-tier club Defensa y Justicia, until the end of the year. He appeared in 24 matches, scoring once, as his side avoided relegation.
On 24 January 2016, Saveljich moved abroad, signing a six-month loan deal with Segunda División side UD Almería.[5] On 18 August, he signed a permanent four-year deal with fellow league team Levante UD.[6]
On 4 August 2017, after contributing sporadically to the Valencian club's promotion to La Liga, Saveljich was loaned to Albacete Balompié in the second level, for one year.[7] On 31 August 2018, he returned to Almería on loan for the 2018–19 campaign.[8]
On 26 July 2019, Saveljich agreed to a permanent four-year deal with Rayo Vallecano, freshly relegated to the second division.[9] On 1 September 2023, he joined Burgos CF in the second division on a one-year contract.[10]
On 22 August 2024, Saveljich signed with Real Murcia in the third tier.[11]
Saveljich obtained Montenegrin nationality in 2015. He was called up for international matches of Montenegro versus Denmark and Sweden in June 2015, both of which he entered as a substitute. In a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Russia, he was in the starting line-up.Under Ljubiša Tumbaković, the new head coach of Montenegro national team, he played in a friendly match against Greece.[12]
Saveljich, a Montenegrin Argentine, is the cousin of former Montenegrin footballer Niša Saveljić.[13] His paternal great-grandfather and grandmother were immigrants from Montenegro.[14] [15]
Saveljich is nicknamed el Polaco (The Pole) by Argentine media, due to his hair colour. Conversely, in Montenegro he is nicknamed Gaucho.[16] [17]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Racing Club | 2011–12 | Primera División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | Primera División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | Primera División | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | |||
| Total | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |||
| Defensa y Justicia (loan) | 2015 | Primera División | 24 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | ||
| Almería (loan) | 2015–16 | Segunda División | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| Levante | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | ||
| Albacete (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 0 | ||
| Almería (loan) | 2018–19 | Segunda División | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| Rayo Vallecano | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 34 | 3 | ||
| 2020–21 | Segunda División | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Total | 66 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 75 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 206 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 220 | 8 | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montenegro | 2015 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 4 | 0 | ||
Racing Club
Levante UD