Filip Benković Explained

Filip Benković
Full Name:Filip Benković[1]
Birth Date:13 July 1997
Birth Place:Zagreb, Croatia
Height:1.94 m
Position:Centre back
Currentclub:Udinese
Clubnumber:28
Youthyears1:2008–2015
Youthclubs1:Dinamo Zagreb
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:Dinamo Zagreb
Caps1:56
Goals1:6
Years2:2018–2022
Clubs2:Leicester City
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Celtic (loan)
Caps3:20
Goals3:2
Years4:2020
Clubs4:Bristol City (loan)
Caps4:10
Goals4:2
Years5:2020–2021
Clubs5:Cardiff City (loan)
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2021
Clubs6:OH Leuven (loan)
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2022–
Clubs7:Udinese
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:Eintracht Braunschweig (loan)
Caps8:19
Goals8:0
Years9:2023–2024
Clubs9:Trabzonspor (loan)
Caps9:14
Goals9:2
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:Croatia U17
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2014
Nationalteam2:Croatia U19
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2015–2019
Nationalteam3:Croatia U21
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2019–
Nationalteam4:Croatia
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:17 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:11 June 2019

Filip Benković (born 13 July 1997) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Italian club Udinese.

Early life

Benković was born in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, and joined the Dinamo Zagreb academy in 2008.

Club career

Dinamo Zagreb

2015–16 season

On 19 July 2015, Benković made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw with Osijek.[2] On 22 July, Benković made his European debut in a 3–0 win over Fola Esch in the second leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League; playing twelve minutes after coming off the bench as a substitute in the 78th minute.[3] He went on to make a total of 18 competitive appearances for the club in the 2015–16 season.[4]

2016–17 season

On 29 July 2016, in the league match against Slaven Belupo, after Dinamo went 0–1 in the 92nd minute, Benković scored a last-minute equalizing goal in the 94th minute, to make it 1–1.[5] On 10 August, Benković played the full 90 minutes in a 4–0 away win over Hajduk Split.[6] [7] On 23 September, Benković scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win over Lokomotiva.[8] In the mid-phase of the 2016–17 season, Benković was reportedly suffering from injury which would force him to miss the majority of the season.[9] [10]

2017–18 season

On 15 July 2017, Benković scored in a 2–0 win over Istra 1961.[11] On 9 September, Benković scored in a 3–2 win over Rudeš.[12] On 21 October, Benković scored in a 2–2 draw with Hajduk Split.[13] On 4 May 2018, Benković scored a last-minute equalizing goal in a 2–2 draw with Slaven Belupo.[14] On 23 May, Benković came on as a 90th minute substitute in the Croatian Cup Final, as Dinamo won 1–0.[15]

Leicester City

On 9 August 2018, Leicester City confirmed via their official website that Benković signed for the club on a five-year contract, for a fee in the region of £13m.[16] [17] [18] [19] He left the club after mutually agreeing to cancel the remaining term of his contract on 12 January 2022.[20]

Loan to Celtic

On 31 August 2018, Benković joined Celtic on a season-long loan deal.[21] On 14 September 2018, Benković made his debut in a 0–0 draw with St Mirren, playing 60 minutes.[22] Benković scored his first goal for Celtic in a 5–0 victory over Heart of Midlothian on 3 November 2018.[23]

Loan to Bristol City

Benković signed for Bristol City until the end of the season on 31 January 2020.[24] He scored his first goal for Bristol City in a 3–2 win over Derby County on 12 February 2020.[25]

Loan to Cardiff City

In October 2020, Benković joined Cardiff City on a one-year loan.[26] On 6 January 2021, Benković was recalled by his parent club Leicester City, having only played one game for Cardiff City.[27] [28]

Loan to OH Leuven

Just a few days after being recalled from Cardiff City, Benković was announced by Oud-Heverlee Leuven, arriving on loan from Leicester City until the end of the season.[29]

Udinese

Following his release from Leicester City the previous day, Benković was confirmed as a new signing for Udinese on 13 January 2022.[30]

Loan to Eintracht Braunschweig

On 1 September 2022, Benković moved on loan to Eintracht Braunschweig in Germany.[31]

Loan to Trabzonspor

On 10 July 2023, Benković was loaned to Turkish side Trabzonspor.[32]

International career

Benković made his Croatia debut on 11 June 2019 in a friendly 2–1 loss to Tunisia, as a starter.[33] [34]

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb

2015–16, 2017–18

2015–16, 2017–18

Celtic

2018–19[35]

2018–19[36]

2018–19[37]

Leicester City

2021[38]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019/20 Premier League squads confirmed . Premier League . 3 September 2019 . 3 September 2019.
  2. Web site: Osijek – Dinamo 1:1 . Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga . hr . 9 August 2018 . 19 July 2015.
  3. Web site: UEFA Champions League – Fola-Dinamo Zagreb . UEFA.com . 9 August 2018.
  4. Web site: Croatia – F. Benković – Profile with news, career statistics and history . Soccerway . 9 August 2018.
  5. Web site: Remi Dinama i Slaven Belupa . Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga . hr . 9 August 2018 . 29 July 2016.
  6. Web site: Slavlje Dinama nad Hajdukom . Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga . hr . 9 August 2018 . 10 August 2016.
  7. News: Katastrofa Hajduka: Dinamo nanio 'bijelima' najteži poraz na Poljudu . Gol.hr . 9 August 2018 . hr-HR.
  8. Web site: Dinamo svladao Lokomotivu . Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga . hr . 9 August 2018 . 23 September 2016.
  9. News: Filip Benković misteriozna ozljeda . Goal.com . 9 August 2018 . hr . 22 March 2017.
  10. News: DOGODILA SE STRAŠNA POGREŠKA U DINAMU Alarm na Maksimiru zbog misteriozne ozljede: Mladoj zvijezdi prijeti naprasni kraj sezone!? . Sportske Novosti . 9 August 2018 . 23 March 2017.
  11. Web site: Dinamo – Istra 1961 2:0 . Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga . hr . 9 August 2018 . 15 July 2017.
  12. Web site: Dinamo – Rudeš 3:2 . Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga . hr . 9 August 2018 . 10 September 2017.
  13. Web site: Hajduk – Dinamo 2:2 . Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga . hr . 9 August 2018 . 21 October 2017.
  14. Web site: Slaven Belupo – Dinamo 2:2 . Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga . hr . 9 August 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  15. Web site: Dinamo – Hajduk 1:0 – Hrvatski nogometni savez . Hrvatski Nogonetmi Savez (Croatian Football Association) . hr . 9 August 2018 . 23 May 2018.
  16. News: Filip Benković Signs For Leicester City On A Five-Year Deal . 9 August 2018 . Leicester City FC.
  17. News: 9 August 2018. Leicester City agree Caglar Soyuncu deal and sign Filip Benkovic for undisclosed fee. BBC Sport. 10 August 2018.
  18. News: 9 August 2018. Leicester finalise £13m Filip Benkovic signing from Dinamo Zagreb. Sky Sports. 10 August 2018.
  19. News: 9 August 2018. Benković za 15 milijuna eura u Leicesteru: Dat ću svoje srce klubu. hr. Večernji. Publitzer. 10 August 2018.
  20. News: Filip Benković Leaves Leicester City . 12 January 2022 . Leicester City FC.
  21. Web site: Filip Benkovic joins Celtic on a season-long loan . Celtic FC . 31 August 2018 . 31 August 2018.
  22. News: St Mirren 0–0 Celtic . 14 September 2018 . BBC Sport . 3 November 2018.
  23. News: Celtic 5–0 Hearts: Reigning champions outclass leaders Hearts with thumping win . 3 November 2018 . BBC Sport . 3 November 2018.
  24. News: Bristol City sign Hull's Markus Henriksen and Leicester's Filip Benkovic . 31 January 2020 . BBC Sport . 1 February 2020.
  25. News: Bristol City 3-2 Derby . 7 July 2020 . BBC. 12 February 2020.
  26. Web site: Loan | Filip Benković links up with the Bluebirds | Cardiff.
  27. Web site: Filip Benković returns to Leicester City Cardiff. 2021-01-06. Cardiff City. en.
  28. News: Leicester recall Benkovic from Cardiff. en-GB. BBC Sport. 2021-01-06.
  29. Web site: OH Leuven heeft centrale verdediger beet. OH Leuven snatches central defender. 2021-01-12. OH Leuven. nl.
  30. News: Filip Benkovic è un nuovo giocatore dell’Udinese . 13 January 2022 . Udinese Calcio.
  31. Web site: Eintracht Braunschweig. Filip Benkovic wechselt auf Leihbasis an die Oker. 1 September 2022. 1 September 2022. de.
  32. Web site: Udinese. Benkovic moves to Trabzonspor. 10 July 2023. 18 July 2023.
  33. Web site: ESPN. Croatia v Tunisia game report. 11 June 2019.
  34. Web site: Player Database. 6 June 2022. EU-football.
  35. News: Celtic secured an eighth consecutive title in style with a convincing win away to wasteful Aberdeen. . . 4 May 2019.
  36. News: Hearts 1-2 Celtic. . 25 May 2019 . 4 April 2023.
  37. News: Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen. . 2 December 2018 . 4 April 2023.
  38. News: Leicester City 1–0 Manchester City . Shamoon . Hafez . BBC Sport . 7 August 2021 . 8 August 2021.