Luka_Krajnc

Luka Krajnc

Luka Krajnc

Slovenian footballer (born 1994)

Luka Krajnc (born 19 September 1994) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Italian Serie B club Catanzaro.

Quick Facts Personal information, Date of birth ...

Club career

Krajnc began his football career at the age of eight when his father took him on a trial with the Slovenian football club Maribor.[2] He signed his first professional contract with Maribor at the age of 16 and played for the main squad in a couple of friendly matches. On 29 May 2011, he played his first and only 1. SNL match for Maribor in the last round of the 2010–11 season,[3] with Maribor already crowned champions. At the time of his debut he was the youngest player ever with an appearance for Maribor in a 1. SNL match, a record which lasted until 25 March 2012.[4]

On 3 April 2011, Krajnc signed a pre-contract with Italian Serie A club Genoa.[5] The transfer fee paid by Genoa was undisclosed, but was reported to be close to €1 million. He joined his new club on 1 July 2011.[6][7] He began his career at Genoa with their Primavera side which he also captained, before making a debut for the main squad on 27 October 2012 at San Siro in a league match against AC Milan.[8] With 18 years, one month and 14 days he became the youngest Slovenian player ever with an appearances in the Italian top division, Serie A.[7]

On 3 July 2013 he moved to Cesena in temporary co-ownership deal.[9] In June 2015 Genoa acquired Cesena's share and became the sole owner of the player's rights.[10]

On 31 August 2016, Krajnc joined Sampdoria on a season-long loan.[11] In the second part of the 2016–17 season, he was loaned to Frosinone.[12]

On 20 June 2018, Frosinone turned Krajnc's loan into a permanent deal for undisclosed fee.[13]

In September 2020, he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf on a season-long loan.[14]

On 24 August 2021, Krajnc joined Hannover 96 on a three-year contract.[15]

On 23 August 2023, Krajnc returned to Italy and signed a two-year deal with Catanzaro.[16]

International career

Krajnc has represented Slovenia at all youth levels from under-16 to under-21.[17] On 30 March 2015 he made his senior international debut, replacing Dominic Maroh after 65 minutes of an eventual 1–0 friendly defeat to Qatar at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.[18]

Style of play

Krajnc, who is left footed, primarily plays in central defence and is praised for his pace, strength, passing and ability on the ball.[19]

Personal life

Krajnc is from Kapla na Kozjaku in the hilly region of northeastern Slovenia near the Austrian border, roughly 37 km from the city of Maribor.[2][20] Before moving to Maribor he usually had to study and do his homework on the back seat of his father's car, traveling to and from training.[2][8]

References

  1. [1]
    Luka Krajnc at Soccerway
  2. [2]
    "Nočno življenje me ne bo zavedlo" [Nightlife will not deceive me] (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. [3]
    "Luka Krajnc" (in Slovenian). Slovenian PrvaLiga. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  4. [4]
    "Soigralci in navijači odnesli tremo" [Teammates and fans helped me with fright] (in Slovenian). NK Maribor. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
  5. [5]
    To. G. (3 April 2011). "Luka Krajnc pri 16 letih iz Maribora v Genoo" [Luka Krajnc from Maribor to Genoa at the age of 16] (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  6. [6]
    D. D. (7 April 2011). "Kako je Genoa Chelseaju speljala Krajnca?" [How did Genoa steal Krajnc from Chelsea?] (in Slovenian). Siol. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  7. [7]
    Plestenjak, Rok (29 October 2012). "Tako mlad ni debitiral še nihče" [No one debuted that young] (in Slovenian). Siol. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. [8]
    T. O. (30 October 2012). "Na San Siru kot v kinu, slike ni pokvaril niti sporen gol" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  9. [9]
    "Luka Kranjc è un giocatore del Cesena" (in Italian). AC Cesena. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  10. [10]
    Dominko, Peter (25 June 2015). "Genoa odkupila Krajnca" [Genoa bought Krajnc]. Slovenski nogometni portal (in Slovenian). Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  11. [11]
    "Official: Krajnc to Sampdoria". Football italia. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  12. [12]
    Uredništvo (10 January 2017). "Uradno: Krajnc v Frosinone" [Official: Krajnc to Frosinone] (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  13. [13]
    "Salamon alla Spal e Krajnc al Frosinone" (in Italian). Cagliari. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  14. [14]
    Uredništvo (29 September 2020). "URADNO: Luka Krajnc je izpolnil svoje sanje" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  15. [15]
    "Trotz "anderer Optionen": Krajnc entscheidet sich für Hannover". kicker.de (in German). kicker. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  16. [16]
    "Luka Krajnc se je po dveh letih v Nemčiji vrnil tja, kjer je doslej preživel največ časa: Branilec v Italiji podpisal za Catanzaro". Planet Nogomet (in Slovenian). 23 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  17. [17]
    "Luka Krajnc" (in Slovenian). Football Association of Slovenia. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  18. [18]
    "Qatar 1–0 Slovenia". eu-football.info. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  19. [19]
    "Blues to have first refusal on Slovenian starlet". theshedender.com. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  20. [20]
    "Luka Krajnc: Prav nič ne bi razmišljal" [Luka Krajnc: I wouldn't think about it]. Ekipa (in Slovenian). 25 February 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
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