Etien Velikonja
Encyclopedia
Etien Velikonja is a Slovenia
n football forward, who currently plays for Maribor
in Slovenian top division, 1.SNL.
which is a club well known for their excellent youth system. Coming through their youth system he was improving seasons by season until 2006–07 when he was promoted to the senior squad. In his first season he took part in seven matches, scoring one goal. Next year during season 2007–08 the managerial staff already understood that he is an enormous talent and Velikonja played 31 matches, scoring seven goals. During the 2008–09 campaign Velikonja exploded, the young striker played 32 matches, scoring an amazing total of 17 goals. Finishing the campaign as the top goal scorer in the Slovenian 1.SNL. In October 2009, on a league match against Koper
, he sustained a serious knee injury which caused him to miss the majority of 2009–10 season. He was not available to the team up until the end of April 2010, four rounds before the end of the season, when he returned to the pitch as a late substitute in a league match against Drava
.
During the 2010 summer transfer window it was speculated for the first time that Velikonja could join 1.SNL giants Maribor
, however, the deal was eventually not carried out and Velikonja stayed in Gorica for the start of the 2010–11 season. He then prepared himself for the new season, putting his injury behind him, as by the end of 2010 he had played a total of 18 league matches for Gorica with an average of over 89 minutes per round, scoring five goals in the process. On 17 January 2011, during the winter transfer window, Velikonja was signed by Maribor
in a deal that included an undisclosed transfer fee and a player, Vito Plut
, going the other way. Velikonja has signed a contract with Maribor until 31 December, 2013. He played his first league match for the new club on 26 February, 2011, and scored one goal in a 4–2 victory against Rudar.
national team at the Ljudski vrt
stadium, Maribor
, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
match against San Marino
.
, present day Slovenia
. He is a cousin
of the football player Tim Matavž
. The two were also childhood friends of another football player, Valter Birsa
.
|2006-07||rowspan="5"|Gorica
||rowspan="6"|1.SNL||7||1||1||0||2||0||10||1
|-
|2007-08||31||5||1||0||2||0||34||5
|-
|2008–09||32||17||4||4||3||1||39||22
|-
|2009-10||16||5||0||0||2||0||18||5
|-
|rowspan="2"|2010-11
||18||4||3||3||2||0||23||7
|-
|Maribor
||16||6||2||1||colspan="2"|–||18||7
120||38||11||8||11||1||142||46
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n football forward, who currently plays for Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
in Slovenian top division, 1.SNL.
Club career
Velikonja started to play football at GoricaND Gorica
ND Gorica is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Nova Gorica. They are one of the most successful Slovenian clubs with four Slovenian League, two Slovenian Cup and one Slovenian Supercup titles. Together with NK Maribor and NK Celje they are the only club that have participated in...
which is a club well known for their excellent youth system. Coming through their youth system he was improving seasons by season until 2006–07 when he was promoted to the senior squad. In his first season he took part in seven matches, scoring one goal. Next year during season 2007–08 the managerial staff already understood that he is an enormous talent and Velikonja played 31 matches, scoring seven goals. During the 2008–09 campaign Velikonja exploded, the young striker played 32 matches, scoring an amazing total of 17 goals. Finishing the campaign as the top goal scorer in the Slovenian 1.SNL. In October 2009, on a league match against Koper
FC Koper
FC Koper is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Koper. The club is one of only three football clubs in the country, the others being Maribor and former Olimpija, that won all three domestic competitions . The team plays its matches on Bonifika stadium that was built in 2010 and has a...
, he sustained a serious knee injury which caused him to miss the majority of 2009–10 season. He was not available to the team up until the end of April 2010, four rounds before the end of the season, when he returned to the pitch as a late substitute in a league match against Drava
NK Drava Ptuj
NK Labod Drava Ptuj is a Slovenian football club, which plays in the town of Ptuj. They play in the Slovenian Regional League.The club is named after the Drava river, which flows through the town.- Current squad :As of February 2011...
.
During the 2010 summer transfer window it was speculated for the first time that Velikonja could join 1.SNL giants Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
, however, the deal was eventually not carried out and Velikonja stayed in Gorica for the start of the 2010–11 season. He then prepared himself for the new season, putting his injury behind him, as by the end of 2010 he had played a total of 18 league matches for Gorica with an average of over 89 minutes per round, scoring five goals in the process. On 17 January 2011, during the winter transfer window, Velikonja was signed by Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
in a deal that included an undisclosed transfer fee and a player, Vito Plut
Vito Plut
Vito Plut is a football striker from Slovenia. His current club is Gorica.-NK Maribor:*Slovenian PrvaLiga: 2008-09*Slovenian Supercup: 2009*Slovenian Cup: 2010-External links:* - PrvaLiga* - NK Maribor* - transfermarkt.co.uk...
, going the other way. Velikonja has signed a contract with Maribor until 31 December, 2013. He played his first league match for the new club on 26 February, 2011, and scored one goal in a 4–2 victory against Rudar.
International career
Etien Velikonja was a member of all the Slovenian youth national teams. On 12 August 2009, Velikonja made his full international debut for SloveniaSlovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
national team at the Ljudski vrt
Stadion Ljudski Vrt
The Ljudski vrt stadium also known by the abbreviation LV, is a multi-purpose stadium located on the left bank of the river Drava in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. The stadium is a landmark of the city of Maribor and is considered as one of the most beautiful smaller stadium in the world...
stadium, Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...
match against San Marino
San Marino national football team
The San Marino national football team is the national football team of San Marino, controlled by the San Marino Football Federation...
.
Personal life
Velikonja was born in Šempeter pri GoriciŠempeter pri Gorici
Šempeter pri Gorici is a town and the administrative centre of the Šempeter-Vrtojba municipality in the Slovene Littoral region of Slovenia. There is a border crossing into the Italian town of Gorizia...
, present day Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. He is a cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of the football player Tim Matavž
Tim Matavž
Tim Matavž is a Slovenian football player who plays as a striker for the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.-Club career:Matavž began his football career at the age of 6 playing for NK Bilje. In 2004 he moved to ND Gorica youth squads...
. The two were also childhood friends of another football player, Valter Birsa
Valter Birsa
Valter Birsa is an Slovenian footballer who currently plays for Italian Serie A side Genoa and the Slovenian national team.-Club career:...
.
Career statistics
|-|2006-07||rowspan="5"|Gorica
ND Gorica
ND Gorica is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Nova Gorica. They are one of the most successful Slovenian clubs with four Slovenian League, two Slovenian Cup and one Slovenian Supercup titles. Together with NK Maribor and NK Celje they are the only club that have participated in...
||rowspan="6"|1.SNL||7||1||1||0||2||0||10||1
|-
|2007-08||31||5||1||0||2||0||34||5
|-
|2008–09||32||17||4||4||3||1||39||22
|-
|2009-10||16||5||0||0||2||0||18||5
|-
|rowspan="2"|2010-11
2010–11 Slovenian PrvaLiga
The 2010–11 Slovenian PrvaLiga was the 20th season of top-tier football in Slovenia. The season began in July 2010 and ended in May 2011...
||18||4||3||3||2||0||23||7
|-
|Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
||16||6||2||1||colspan="2"|–||18||7
120||38||11||8||11||1||142||46