Stjepan Radeljić Explained

Stjepan Radeljić
Birth Date:5 September 1997
Birth Place:Nova Bila, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height:2.01 m[1]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Rijeka
Clubnumber:6
Youthclubs1:Vitez
Youthyears2:2014–2016
Youthclubs2:Zrinjski Mostar
Years1:2016–2018
Clubs1:VfB Stuttgart II
Caps1:43
Goals1:2
Years2:2018–2022
Clubs2:Osijek
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2020
Clubs3:Široki Brijeg (loan)
Caps3:18
Goals3:2
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:Sheriff Tiraspol (loan)
Caps4:24
Goals4:2
Years5:2022–2023
Clubs5:Sheriff Tiraspol
Caps5:24
Goals5:1
Years6:2023–
Clubs6:Rijeka
Caps6:27
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:Bosnia and Herzegovina U19
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalteam2:Bosnia and Herzegovina U21
Nationalcaps2:12
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2024–
Nationalteam3:Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:18 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:3 June 2024

Stjepan Radeljić (pronounced as /hr/; born 5 September 1997) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Croatian Football League club Rijeka and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Radeljić started his professional career at VfB Stuttgart II, before joining Osijek in 2018. He was loaned to Široki Brijeg in 2020 and to Sheriff Tiraspol in 2021, with whom he signed permanently a year later. The following year, he moved to Rijeka.

A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Radeljić made his senior international debut in 2024.

Club career

Early career

Radeljić started playing football at Vitez, before joining Zrinjski Mostar's youth academy in 2014. In July 2016, he signed with German team VfB Stuttgart.[2]

In June 2018, he moved to Croatian side Osijek.[3] In January 2020, he was loaned to Široki Brijeg until the end of the season. In July, his loan was extended for an additional season.[4] On 29 February, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over Mladost Doboj Kakanj.[5]

In February 2021, Radeljić was sent on a year-long loan to Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol, with an option to make the transfer permanent, which was activated in January 2022.[6] He debuted in the UEFA Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk on 15 September.[7]

Rijeka

In July 2023, Radeljić signed a three-year deal with Rijeka.[8] He made his official debut for the squad in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against Dukagjini on 27 July.[9] On 10 August, he scored his first goal for Rijeka in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against B36 Tórshavn.[10] Two weeks later, he made his league debut against Lokomotiva.[11]

International career

Radeljić represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at various youth levels.[12]

In May 2024, he received his first senior call-up, for friendly games against England and Italy.[13] He debuted against the former on 3 June.[14]

Career statistics

Club

[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
VfB Stuttgart II2016–17Regionalliga Südwest242242
2017–18Regionalliga Südwest190190
Total432432
Osijek2018–19Croatian Football League00102030
Široki Brijeg (loan)2019–20Bosnian Premier League311041
2020–21Bosnian Premier League15110161
Total18220202
Sheriff Tiraspol (loan)2020–21Moldovan Super Liga12030150
2021–22Moldovan Super Liga122107010212
Total242407010362
Sheriff Tiraspol2021–22Moldovan Super Liga60102090
2022–23Moldovan Super Liga18140160381
Total24150180471
Rijeka2023–24Croatian Football League2506051361
2024–25Croatian Football League20004060
Total2706091421
Career total1367180361101918

International

[16]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
202410
Total10

Honours

Sheriff Tiraspol[15]

2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23

2021–22, 2022–23

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stjepan Radeljić. nk-rijeka.hr. 1 January 2024. Croatian.
  2. News: Zvanično: Stjepan Radeljić potpisao za Stuttgart. klix.ba. 13 July 2016. 14 July 2016. Bosnian.
  3. News: Stjepan Radeljić novi igrač Osijeka. reprezentacija.ba. 10 June 2018. 12 June 2018. Bosnian.
  4. News: Široki Brijeg i Osijek dogovorili novu posudbu. sportsport.ba. 4 July 2020. 6 July 2020. Bosnian.
  5. News: Mladost i Široki odigrali sjajan meč, gosti u nadoknadi postigli gol za bitna tri boda. sportsport.ba. 29 February 2020. 1 March 2020. Bosnian.
  6. News: Neće se vraćati u Osijek: Sheriff Tiraspol otkupio ugovor bh. stopera. scsport.ba. 2 January 2022. 2 January 2022. Bosnian.
  7. News: Pjanićeva asistencija nedovoljna Beşiktaşu, pobjeda Sheriffa na debiju u Ligi prvaka. faktor.ba. 15 September 2021. 18 September 2021. Bosnian.
  8. News: Jakirović u Rijeku doveo bivšeg U21 reprezentativca BiH. reprezentacija.ba. 13 July 2023. 14 July 2023. Bosnian.
  9. News: Dukagjini - Rijeka 0:1 Janković sjajnim golom donio Rijeci pobjedu na Kosovu. index.hr. 27 July 2023. 30 July 2023. Croatian.
  10. News: Tórshavn - Rijeka 1:3 Rijeka preokretom na Farskim otocima na korak do play-offa. index.hr. 10 August 2023. 12 August 2023. Croatian.
  11. News: Rijeka - Lokomotiva 2:1 Rijeka preokretom do pete uzastopne pobjede u sezoni. index.hr. 20 August 2023. 22 August 2023. Croatian.
  12. News: Radeljić: Reprezentativni poziv je šlag na tortu ove vrlo dobre sezone. oslobodjenje.ba. 30 May 2024. 1 June 2024. Bosnian.
  13. News: Barbarez objavio spisak za Englesku i Italiju: Četiri nova reprezentativca, poziv i Džeki. faktor.ba. 16 May 2024. 18 May 2024. Bosnian.
  14. News: Borbeni reprezentativci BiH poklekli u finišu, Engleska ubjedljivo slavila. oslobodjenje.ba. 3 June 2024. 6 June 2024. Bosnian.
  15. Web site: S. Radeljić. soccerway.com. 18 August 2024.
  16. Web site: Stjepan Radeljić. eu-football.info. 4 June 2024.