Nejc Pecnik
Encyclopedia
Nejc Pečnik is a Slovenia
n footballer who plays for FC Krylia Sovetov Samara on loan from C.D. Nacional and the Slovenian national team
.
, Slovenia
, Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, Pečnik started his career at hometown club NK Dravograd
. After showing promise in its youth teams, he was signed by NK Celje, making his first division debut on 24 April 2004, against FC Ljubljana
.
The following year, Pečnik played in only seven league matches, adding a few Cup
appearances ties, including the final against FC Koper
. In the 2005–06 season he managed to gain a regular place in the first team, eventually establishing himself as a key offensive player.
In 2007–08, Pečnik was Celje's top scorer with 14 league goals. After five seasons, he was loaned out in June 2008 to Sparta Prague, but appeared rarely with the Czech first division
outfit during his six-month stay, spending most of his time with the reserve squad.
After a further 15 league games with Celje, into the 2009 spring, Pečnik signed with C.D. Nacional of Portugal
.
on 1 April 2009, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifier
against Northern Ireland
.
He scored his first goal for Slovenia on 10 October 2009, in the same competition, a 2–0 win Slovakia
. On 14 November, he scored a decisive goal in the play-offs' first leg, as the national side lost 1–2 with Russia
at the Luzhniki Stadium
, only to win 1–0 in the second leg, taking the tie on the away goals rule
, and qualifying for a World Cup
for the second time in the nation's history; in the final stages, he appeared twice as a late substitute, having to be however stretchered off in the match against United States
.
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 footballer who plays for FC Krylia Sovetov Samara on loan from C.D. Nacional and the Slovenian national team
Slovenia 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....
.
Club career
Born in DravogradDravograd
Dravograd is a small town and a municipality in northern Slovenia, close to the border with Austria. It lies on the Drava River at the confluence with the Meža and the Mislinja. It is part of the traditional Slovenian province of Carinthia)....
, 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...
, Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, Pečnik started his career at hometown club NK Dravograd
NK Dravograd
NK Dravograd is a Slovenian football club, which plays in the town of Dravograd. They currently play in the Slovenian Third League.- Current squad :As of April 2010....
. After showing promise in its youth teams, he was signed by NK Celje, making his first division debut on 24 April 2004, against FC Ljubljana
FC Ljubljana
FC Ljubljana was a Slovenian football club, based in the capital city of Ljubljana. It was founded on 23 June, 2005. The club regarded themselves as the spiritual continuation of NK Ljubljana, who went bankrupt and was abolished in 2005. However, legally FC Ljubljana was a distinct and separate...
.
The following year, Pečnik played in only seven league matches, adding a few Cup
Slovenian Cup
The Slovenian Football Cup , is the top knockout tournament of Slovenian football and the second most important football competition in Slovenia after the Slovenian PrvaLiga championship...
appearances ties, including the final against FC 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...
. In the 2005–06 season he managed to gain a regular place in the first team, eventually establishing himself as a key offensive player.
In 2007–08, Pečnik was Celje's top scorer with 14 league goals. After five seasons, he was loaned out in June 2008 to Sparta Prague, but appeared rarely with the Czech first division
Gambrinus Liga
The Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
outfit during his six-month stay, spending most of his time with the reserve squad.
After a further 15 league games with Celje, into the 2009 spring, Pečnik signed with C.D. Nacional of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
International career
Pečnik made his debut for the Slovenian national teamSlovenia 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....
on 1 April 2009, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifier
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
.
He scored his first goal for Slovenia on 10 October 2009, in the same competition, a 2–0 win Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
. On 14 November, he scored a decisive goal in the play-offs' first leg, as the national side lost 1–2 with Russia
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
at the Luzhniki Stadium
Luzhniki Stadium
The Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, or briefly Luzhniki Stadium , is the biggest sports stadium in Russia. Its total seating capacity is 78,360 seats, all covered. The stadium is a part of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, previously called the Central Lenin Stadium...
, only to win 1–0 in the second leg, taking the tie on the away goals rule
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
, and qualifying for a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
for the second time in the nation's history; in the final stages, he appeared twice as a late substitute, having to be however stretchered off in the match against United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
International goals
- Scores and results list Slovenia's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
Club statistics
|-
|2003–04||rowspan="5"|Celje||rowspan="5"|Slovenian League||2||0||?||?|||?||?||2||0
|-
|2004–05||7||0||?||?|||?||?||7||0
|-
|2005–06||29||1||4||0||2||0||35||1
|-
|2006–07||31||2||4||3||colspan="2"|-||35||5
|-
|2007–08||35||14||2||0||colspan="2"|-||37||14
|-
|2008–09||Sparta Prague||Czech LeagueGambrinus LigaThe Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
||4||0||0||0||2||0||6||0
|-
|2008–09||Sparta B||Second DivisionCzech 2. LigaThe 2. liga or Druhá liga is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in the Czech Republic. The top two teams are promoted to the Gambrinus liga.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the Czech 2. Liga...
||9||2||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||9||2
|-
|2008–09||Celje||Slovenian League||15||3||0||0||colspan="2"|-||15||3
|-
|2009–10||Nacional||Portuguese League||8||1||1||1||4||0||13||2
|-
119||20||10||3||2||0||131||23
4||0||0||0||2||0||6||0
9||2||colspan="2"|-||colspan="2"|-||9||2
132||22||10||3||4||0||146||25
Personal
Pečnik's older brother, AndrejAndrej PecnikAndrej Pečnik is an Slovenian football player who plays for FC Volgar-Gazprom Astrakhan.Pečnik played six times for the Slovenia national team between 2004 and 2006.He is a brother of Nejc Pečnik.-External links:...
, is also a professional footballer. A defenderDefender (association football)Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, he too represented Celje, also playing abroad in RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. He gained six caps for the national team.
External links