Stefan Bajcetic Explained

Stefan Bajcetic
Full Name:Stefan Bajcetic Maquieira
Birth Date:22 October 2004
Birth Place:Vigo, Spain
Height:1.85 m[1]
Position:Defensive midfielder, centre-back
Currentclub:Liverpool
Clubnumber:43
Youthyears1:2013–2020
Youthclubs1:Celta Vigo
Youthyears2:2020–2022
Youthclubs2:Liverpool
Years1:2022–
Clubs1:Liverpool
Caps1:12
Goals1:1
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalteam1:Spain U18
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2023–
Nationalteam2:Spain U21
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:18:39, 5 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:10:12, 9 Sep 2023 (UTC)

Stefan Bajcetic Maquieira (Serbian: Стефан Бајчетић|Stefan Bajčetić; born 22 October 2004) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for club Liverpool.

Early life

Stefan Bajcetic Maquieira[2] was born on 22 October 2004[3] in Vigo, Galicia.[1] He is the son of the Serbian former footballer Srđan Bajčetić and a Galician mother.[4] [5]

Club career

Bajcetic was a member of the Celta Vigo youth academy, and signed for Premier League club Liverpool in December 2020 for £224,000.[6] [7] [8] [9]

Bajcetic's progress was rewarded with a new contract in August 2022.[10] He made his professional debut on 27 August, coming on as a substitute in a 9–0 home victory over AFC Bournemouth.[11] Bajcetic made his UEFA Champions League debut against Ajax on 13 September as a 94th-minute substitution, replacing Thiago. [12] In doing so, he became Liverpool's youngest-ever player in the Champions League, beating a record previously held by Billy Koumetio.[13]

On 9 November 2022, Bajcetic started his first game for Liverpool, in the home win against Derby County in the third round of the 2022–23 EFL Cup. [14] On 26 December, as a 79th-minute substitute, Bajcetic scored his first senior goal for Liverpool in their 3–1 victory away to Aston Villa in the 2022–23 Premier League.[15] Aged, he became the third youngest player to score for Liverpool in the Premier League, behind Michael Owen and Raheem Sterling, and the second youngest Spanish player to score in the Premier League, behind Cesc Fàbregas.[16]

In January 2023, Bajcetic's progress was rewarded with a new long-term contract at Anfield.[17] On the field, he continued to progress, starting three consecutive Premier League games against Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and local rivals Everton. On 16 February, he was voted January’s Player of the Month by fans.[18] On 21 February, he became the youngest Liverpool player, aged 18 years and 122 days, to start in a Champions League knockout match, which ended in a 2–5 home defeat against Real Madrid.[19]

On 16 March 2023, he announced he would miss the rest of the 2022–23 season with an adductor injury.[20] He returned to training on 6 August 2023.[21]

International career

Bajcetic is eligible to represent Spain and Serbia at international level.[22] [23] In 2021, he was called up to the Spain U18 for the Lafarge Foot Avenir tournament by manager Pablo Amo, appearing in all 3 matches as Spain won the tournament.[24] His time with the youth squad was halted by injury in 2023, amidst a impending U21 call up and rumours of a call from the senior team.[25] [26]

Bajcetic made his debut for Spain U21s on 8 September 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 6-0 win over Malta.[27]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool U212021–22————1010
2022–23————2020
Total————3030
Liverpool2022–23Premier League11120204000191
2023–24Premier League10001010—30
Total12120305000221
Career total12120305030251

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stefan Bajčetić: Profile . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 16 July 2023.
  2. Web site: 2022/23 Premier League squad lists . Premier League . 16 September 2022 . 31 December 2022.
  3. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic . Premier League . 16 July 2023.
  4. News: Un meteoro vigués en Liverpool . La Voz de Galicia . A Coruña . es.
  5. Web site: Stefan u dresu Srbije moja velika želja! Ne verujemo u baksuzno "ić" na Enfildu: Otac Liverpulove nade za 24sedam izneo planove za budućnost . 24sedam . sr.
  6. Web site: Celta y Liverpool acuerdan la marcha del canterano Stefan Bajcetic . La Voz de Galicia . A Coruña . 23 December 2020 . es.
  7. Web site: Who is Stefan Bajcetic and why are Liverpool fans so excited? . Caoimhe . O'Neill . The Athletic . 30 July 2022 . 31 December 2022.
  8. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic: Liverpool is the best place for me to develop . Liverpool F.C..
  9. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic: "Valió la pena irme del Celta al Liverpool" . Moi Celeste . Marcos L. . Bacariza . es . 23 July 2022 . 18 February 2023 .
  10. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic signs new contract after impressive Liverpool pre-season . This is Anfield . 10 August 2022 . 11 August 2022.
  11. Web site: Liverpool 9–0 Bournemouth: Reds record biggest ever Premier League win . This is Anfield . 27 August 2022 . 28 August 2022.
  12. News: Liverpool's Joël Matip rises to see off Ajax and ease the Anfield anxiety . 13 September 2022 . The Guardian . London . 14 September 2022.
  13. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic becomes Liverpool's youngest-ever Champions League player . This is Anfield . 14 September 2022 . 14 September 2022.
  14. Web site: Kelleher's shootout saves see Liverpool scrape past Derby in Carabao Cup . 9 November 2022 . The Guardian . London . 10 November 2022.
  15. News: Teenager Stefan Bajcetic makes instant impact in Liverpool win at Aston Villa . Fisher . Ben . The Guardian . London . 26 December 2022 . 28 December 2022.
  16. Web site: Tko je Stefan Bajčetić? Čudo od djeteta koje je sinoć zaludilo Engleze . Gol.hr . 27 December 2022 . 27 December 2022 . hr . Who is Stefan Bajcetic? The wunderkind who made the English go crazy last night.
  17. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic signs new long-term contract with Liverpool FC . Liverpool FC . 27 January 2023.
  18. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic wins Standard Chartered Men’s Player of the Month . Liverpool F.C. . 16 February 2023 . 16 February 2023.
  19. Web site: Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid: Vinícius Júnior and Benzema score two each in stunning comeback from Champions League holders . UEFA . 21 February 2023 .
  20. Web site: 2023-03-16 . Liverpool's Stefan Bajcetic to miss rest of season with injury . 2023-03-16 . The Indian Express . en.
  21. Web site: Lynch . David . Liverpool get midfield boost with duo to return to full training . This Is Anfield . 4 August 2023.
  22. Web site: Who is Liverpool's talented teenager Stefan Bajčetić? The versatile Spaniard who has been compared to Man City star and rejected a move to Manchester United . 23 July 2022 . Talksport.
  23. Web site: U LIVERPULU SVI PRIČAJU O STEFANU – DA LI JE SRBIN NOVI FABINJO!? Sin bivšeg igrača Crvene zvezde ODUŠEVIO Jirgena Klopa . Mondo . sr.
  24. Web site: Liverpool centre-back celebrates silverware with Spain . Jack . Lusby . This is Anfield . 6 September 2021.
  25. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic was to be promoted into Spain U21 squad before season-ending injury . Joanna . Durkan . This is Anfield . 17 March 2023 . 3 July 2023.
  26. Web site: Liverpool starlet Stefan Bajcetic in the running for Spain call-up . Ruairidh . Barlow . Football España . 20 February 2023 . 3 July 2023.
  27. Web site: Stefan Bajcetic plays first game in 6 months – but not in Liverpool role . This is Anfield . 13 September 2023 . 9 September 2023.

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