Timi Max Elšnik Explained

Timi Max Elšnik
Birth Date:29 April 1998
Birth Place:Ptuj, Slovenia[1]
Height:1.82 m[2]
Position:Central midfielder
Currentclub:Red Star Belgrade
Clubnumber:21
Youthclubs1:Zlatoličje[3]
Youthyears2:2008–2015
Youthclubs2:Aluminij
Youthyears3:2015–2016
Youthclubs3:Derby County
Years1:2016–2019
Clubs1:Derby County
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2017–2018
Clubs2:Swindon Town (loan)
Caps2:22
Goals2:3
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Mansfield Town (loan)
Caps3:19
Goals3:3
Years4:2019
Clubs4:Northampton Town (loan)
Caps4:9
Goals4:1
Years5:2020–2024
Clubs5:Olimpija Ljubljana
Caps5:129
Goals5:21
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Red Star Belgrade
Caps6:3
Goals6:2
Nationalyears1:2014–2015
Nationalteam1:Slovenia U17
Nationalcaps1:13
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2015
Nationalteam2:Slovenia U18
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2015–2016
Nationalteam3:Slovenia U19
Nationalcaps3:18
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2019–2021
Nationalteam4:Slovenia U21
Nationalcaps4:6
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2021–
Nationalteam5:Slovenia
Nationalcaps5:19
Nationalgoals5:1
Club-Update:15 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:1 July 2024

Timi Max Elšnik (born 29 April 1998) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serbian SuperLiga club Red Star Belgrade and the Slovenia national team.

Club career

Derby County

Elšnik joined the Derby County academy in 2015 at the age of 17.[4] During his first season, he initially played for the under-18 team before progressing to the under-21 squad. At the end of the 2015–16 season, he was named the club's Scholar of the Year.[5] Shortly after signing a new three-year contract with the club in August 2016,[6] he made his first team debut as a substitute against Carlisle United in the EFL Cup, scoring twice in Derby's penalty shoot-out win.[7] He was released by Derby in July 2019.[8]

Loans to Swindon Town, Mansfield Town and Northampton Town

On 31 August 2017, Elšnik signed on a season-long loan for Swindon Town along with Derby teammate Kellan Gordon.[9] Two days later, Elšnik made his Swindon debut during their 4–1 home defeat against Barnet, featuring for the entire 90 minutes.[10]

On 31 August 2018, Elšnik signed on a season-long loan for Mansfield Town.[11] Four days later, Elšnik made his Mansfield debut during their 2–1 away win against Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy, featuring for the entire 90 minutes.[12] On 30 October 2018, Elšnik was brought back into the Mansfield side, starting the game against Crewe Alexandra. He scored two goals ensuring a 3–0 win for Mansfield.[13]

In January 2019, Mansfield activated a clause to terminate the loan spell during the winter transfer window.[14] Shortly after his return to Derby, he was loaned to Northampton Town until the end of the season.[15]

Olimpija Ljubljana

In January 2020, Elšnik returned to his home country and signed with Olimpija Ljubljana.[16] In December 2020, after extending his contract with the club, president Milan Mandarić appointed him as the team captain at only 22 years of age.[17] With Olimpija, Elšnik won the Slovenian league title in the 2022–23 season and the Slovenian Cup in the 2020–21 and 2022–23 seasons.

International career

Elšnik has represented Slovenia at the under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-21 levels.[18] He was the captain of the under-21 team at the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[19]

He made his senior debut on 8 October 2021 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Malta, replacing Jasmin Kurtić late in the game.[20] In June 2024, Elšnik was called up to the squad for UEFA Euro 2024 by Slovenian coach Matjaž Kek.[21] He appeared as a starter in all four Slovenia matches at the tournament.[22]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Derby County2015–16Championship00000000
2016–17Championship00002020
2017–18Championship00001010
2018–19Championship00000000
Total0000003030
Swindon Town (loan)2017–18League Two2231220255
Mansfield Town (loan)2018–19League Two1931041244
Northampton Town (loan)2018–19League Two91000091
Olimpija Ljubljana2019–20Slovenian PrvaLiga113113
2020–21Slovenian PrvaLiga3132120354
2021–22Slovenian PrvaLiga2111040261
2022–23Slovenian PrvaLiga3374230409
2023–24Slovenian PrvaLiga810093174
Total10415731830012921
Career total15422951839119031

International

[23]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Slovenia
202110
202210
202380
202491
Total191

Scores and results list Slovenia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Elšnik goal.[23]

Honours

Olimpija Ljubljana

2022–23[24]

2020–21, 2022–23[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Timi Max Elšnik . . 23 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230323104212/https://www.nkolimpija.si/igralci/timi-max-elsnik/ . 23 March 2023 . sl-SI.
  2. Web site: Timi Elšnik . worldfootball.net . 23 March 2023 . en.
  3. Web site: Levstik . Vanda . Timi Elšnik: Učil se bo od slavnega angleškega reprezentanta . . 2 December 2020 . sl . 24 June 2018.
  4. Web site: Štajerski kapetan, ki je zaljubljen v Ljubljano. Ona pa vanj. . . 29 September 2021 . sl . 13 March 2021. Rok. Viškovič.
  5. Web site: Ig. K. . Priznanje za mladega Slovenca . . 2 December 2020 . sl . 27 April 2016.
  6. News: Timi Max Elsnik: Derby County give youngster new three-year contract. 28 August 2016. BBC Sport. 18 August 2016.
  7. News: Derby County 1–1 Carlisle United (14–13 pens). 28 August 2016. BBC Sport. 24 August 2016.
  8. Web site: Derby County Confirm 2018/19 End Of Season Retained List. dcfc.co.uk. . 4 July 2019. 3 June 2019.
  9. Web site: Town Add Derby County duo on loan. Swindon Town F.C.. swindontownfc.co.uk. 31 August 2017. 2 December 2020.
  10. News: Swindon Town vs. Barnet . Soccerway . 2 September 2017 . 28 September 2017.
  11. Web site: Elsnik Makes Mansfield Loan Move. 31 August 2018. dcfc.co.uk. Derby County F.C.. 2 December 2020.
  12. News: Lincoln City vs. Mansfield Town . Soccerway . 4 September 2018 . 6 September 2018.
  13. News: Crewe Alexandra 0–3 Mansfield Town . . 30 October 2018 . 31 October 2018.
  14. Web site: Elsnik Returns From Mansfield Loan . dcfc.co.uk . 2024-07-02 . en . 2019-01-16.
  15. Web site: Northampton Town Sign Elsnik . ntfc.co.uk . 2024-07-02 . en . 2019-01-25.
  16. Web site: Olimpiji se je pridružil Timi Max Elšnik . NK Olimpija Ljubljana. 2 July 2024. sl . 15 January 2020.
  17. Web site: Jože. Okorn. Štajerec Timi Max Elšnik novi kapetan Olimpije . Dnevnik. 2 July 2024. sl . 2 December 2020.
  18. Web site: Timi Max Elšnik. nzs.si . Football Association of Slovenia. 27 March 2019 . sl.
  19. Web site: Elšnik: "Izjemna čast bo igrati evropsko prvenstvo doma in biti kapetan reprezentance." . NK Olimpija Ljubljana . 2 July 2024. sl . 15 March 2021.
  20. Web site: Malta – Slovenia 0:4 (WC Qualifiers Europe 2021/2022, Group H) . worldfootball.net . 19 October 2021 . en.
  21. Web site: Zalokar . Peter . Matjaž Kek izbral 26 adutov za euro 2024, zraven tudi prerojeni Iličić . . 2 July 2024 . sl . 7 June 2024.
  22. Web site: Timi Elšnik – Slovenia – UEFA EURO 2024 . UEFA . 2 July 2024.
  23. Web site: Timi Elšnik, international football player . eu-football.info . 27 March 2024.
  24. Web site: Okorn . Jože . Olimpija nadigrala Maribor in postala prvak . . 7 May 2023 . sl . 16 April 2023.
  25. Web site: Viškovič . Rok . Olimpija po drami v 130. minuti do dvojne krone, zanimiv niz Maribora je končan . Sportklub . 7 May 2023 . sl-SI . 6 May 2023.