Stefan Ljubicic Explained

Stefan Ljubičić
Fullname:Stefan Alexander Ljubičić
Birth Date:5 October 1999
Birth Place:Keflavík, Iceland
Height:1.97 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Skövde AIK
Clubnumber:26
Youthclubs1:Keflavík
Youthyears2:2016–2019
Youthclubs2:Brighton & Hove Albion
Years1:2015–2016
Clubs1:Keflavík
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2019
Clubs2:Brighton & Hove Albion
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Bognor Regis Town (loan)
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2019
Clubs4:Eastbourne Borough (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:1
Years5:2019
Clubs5:Grindavík
Caps5:8
Goals5:1
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Riga
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2020–2021
Clubs7:HK
Caps7:33
Goals7:7
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:KR Reykjavík
Caps8:18
Goals8:2
Years9:2023–2024
Clubs9:Keflavík
Caps9:19
Goals9:3
Years10:2024–
Clubs10:Skövde AIK
Caps10:14
Goals10:0
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:Iceland U16
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016
Nationalteam2:Iceland U17
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2017
Nationalteam3:Iceland U19
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:3
Nationalyears4:2018
Nationalteam4:Iceland U21
Nationalcaps4:4
Nationalgoals4:1
Pcupdate:19:53, 13 July 2024 (UTC)

Stefan Alexander Ljubičić (born 5 October 1999) is an Icelandic professional footballer of Serbian descent who plays as a forward for Swedish Superettan club Skövde AIK.

Club career

Brighton & Hove Albion

After 16-year old Ljubičić had played three games for Keflavík and several games for the youth national teams, he went on a trial at English club Norwich in October 2015 and later at Scottish club Celtic in January 2016.[1] [2]

However, after yet another trial, this time at Brighton & Hove Albion where he scored a goal and played very well in a friendly game against Chelsea's youth team, it was confirmed by the players agent and Keflavík, that Ljubičić had accepted a three-year offer from the club.[3] He would join the club in the summer 2016.[4]

Ljubičić played for Brighton's U18 and U23 teams. In February 2018, he was loaned out to Bognor Regis Town until the end of the season.[5] In January 2019, he was loaned out to Eastbourne Borough until the end of April 2019.[6] [7] However, it was confirmed in May 2019, that Ljubičić had been released.[8]

He played a total of 35 games and 12 goals for Brighton's U18 team and 8 games for the U23 team.

Grindavík

After being released by Brighton, Ljubičić returned to Grindavík in July 2019.[9] He made eight appearances and scored one goal for the club.

Riga FC

At the beginning of November, Ljubičić joined the training camp of Latvian club Riga FC in Cyprus. He played a friendly game for the team against Pafos FC where he scored a goal. He then signed officially for the club at the end of the month.[10] However, before playing any official games for the club, the cooperation was terminated by mutual agreement on 26 May 2020.[11] Ljubičić had had a few minor injuries, which prevented him from playing.[12]

HK

On 15 June 2020, Ljubičić signed a three-year deal with Icelandic club Handknattleiksfélag Kópavogs.[13] He scored his first goal for HK on 28 August the same year.[14] After HK was relegated for the 2022 season, Ljubičić left the club at the end of 2021.

KR Reykjavík

On 19 October 2021 it was confirmed, that Ljubičić would join KR Reykjavík for the 2022 season.[15]

Return to Keflavík

In April 2023, Ljubicic moved to Keflavík: a club he also played for in 2015–16.[16]

Skövde AIK

On 30 March 2024, Ljubicic joined Skövde AIK in Swedish second-tier Superettan on a two-year contract.[17]

Personal life

Stefan is the son of Bosnian Serb refugee Zoran Ljubičić, former Icelandic football player and coach.[18] His older brother, Bojan Stefan Ljubičić, is also a footballer. In his youth, Stefan played basketball for Keflavík ÍF for four years and was a member of the Icelandic junior national basketball teams.[19] [20]

Notes and References

  1. News: Víðir Sigurðsson . Stefan til reynslu hjá Norwich . 5 October 2020 . . 3 October 2015 . Icelandic.
  2. News: Stefan til reynslu hjá Celtic . 5 October 2020 . . 5 January 2016 . Icelandic.
  3. News: Stefan Ljubicic til Brighton . 5 October 2020 . . 23 February 2016 . Icelandic.
  4. https://fotbolti.net/news/23-02-2016/stefan-ljubicic-til-brighton Stefan Alexander Ljubicic til Brighton & Hove Albion (Staðfest)
  5. https://www.bognorregispost.co.uk/2018/02/rocks-swoop-striker-stefan/ Rocks swoop for striker Stefan
  6. https://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/sport/football/highly-rated-young-brighton-striker-signs-eastbourne-borough-129135 Highly-rated young Brighton striker signs for Eastbourne Borough
  7. News: Brian Owen . Why Stefan Ljubicic is getting top tips from Mark McGhee . 19 October 2020 . . 11 March 2019 . Icelandic.
  8. https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/1273521/five-under-23-players-retained-for-201920-season Five Under-23 Players Retained For 2019/20 Season
  9. News: Ástrós Ýr Eggertsdóttir . Stefan Ljubicic til Grindavíkur . 5 October 2020 . . 27 July 2019 . Icelandic.
  10. http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/virsliga/29112019-latvijas_cempioniem_riga_fc_pievienojas_i LATVIJAS ČEMPIONIEM "RIGA FC" PIEVIENOJAS ISLANDES UZBRUCĒJS ĻUBIČIČS
  11. http://sportacentrs.com/futbols/virsliga/26052020-starpsezona_noligtais_islandes_uzbrucejs_ STARPSEZONĀ NOLĪGTAIS ISLANDES UZBRUCĒJS ĻUBIČIČS UN "RIGA" PĀRTRAUC SADARBĪBU
  12. News: Sæbjörn Þór Þórbergsson Steinke . Stefan Ljubicic: Ég er tæpir 2 metrar, hvað á ég að gera á kantinum? . 19 April 2021 . . 18 April 2021 . Icelandic.
  13. News: Victor Pálsson . Stefan Ljubicic til HK . 5 October 2020 . . 15 June 2020 . Icelandic.
  14. News: Óskar Ófeigur Jónsson . Hann hefur greinilega unnið vel í sínum málum og er á mun betri stað í dag . 5 October 2020 . . 28 August 2020 . Icelandic.
  15. https://www.mbl.is/sport/efstadeild/2021/10/19/samkeppnin_gerir_mig_betri/ „Samkeppnin gerir mig betri“
  16. https://fotbolti.net/news/05-04-2023/keflavik-kaupir-stefan-ljubicic-stadfest KEFLAVÍK KAUPIR STEFAN LJUBICIC (STAÐFEST)
  17. Web site: Skövde AIK. Varmt välkommen till Skövde AIK, Stefan Ljubicic. A warm welcome to Skövde AIK, Stefan Ljubicic. 30 March 2024. 1 May 2024. sv.
  18. News: Hafliði Breiðfjörð . Stefan Ljubicic er langyngstur hjá lettnesku meisturunum . 5 October 2020 . . 8 February 2020 . Icelandic.
  19. News: England er hjarta fótboltans . 5 October 2020 . Víkurfréttir . 3 June 2016 . Icelandic.
  20. News: Sæbjörn Þór Þórbergsson Steinke . Vann titilinn og var í körfuboltalandsliðinu - "Pabbi hefði ekki verið ánægður" . 19 April 2021 . . 19 April 2021 . Icelandic.