Esteban Ariel Saveljich (Montenegrin: Естебан Савељић, romanized: Esteban Saveljić; born 20 May 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primera Federación club Murcia. Born in Argentina, he represents Montenegro at international level.[2]
 Saveljich with Montenegro in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Esteban Ariel Saveljich | ||
| Date of birth | 20 May 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Tandil, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Real Murcia | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2012 | Racing Club | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | Racing Club | 28 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | → Defensa y Justicia (loan) | 24 | (1) |
| 2016 | → Almería (loan) | 17 | (1) |
| 2016–2019 | Levante | 9 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Albacete (loan) | 29 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Almería (loan) | 33 | (1) |
| 2019–2023 | Rayo Vallecano | 79 | (4) |
| 2023–2024 | Burgos | 8 | (0) |
| 2024– | Real Murcia | 4 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015– | Montenegro | 4 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2016 | |||
Club career
editBorn in Tandil, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, Saveljich joined Racing Club's youth setup in 2006, aged 15. On 23 June 2012, he made his first team – and Primera División – debut, in a 2–1 away loss against Vélez Sársfield.[3]
Saveljich scored his first professional goal on 1 April 2014, in a 3–3 home draw against Estudiantes.[4] He was also a part of the squad which was crowned champions in that year, but as a backup.
In January 2015 Saveljich was loaned to fellow top-tier club Defensa y Justicia, until the end of the year. He appeared in 24 matches, scoring once, as his side avoided relegation.
On 24 January 2016, Saveljich moved abroad, signing a six-month loan deal with Segunda División side UD Almería.[5] On 18 August, he signed a permanent four-year deal with fellow league team Levante UD.[6]
On 4 August 2017, after contributing sporadically to the Valencian club's promotion to La Liga, Saveljich was loaned to Albacete Balompié in the second level, for one year.[7] On 31 August 2018, he returned to Almería on loan for the 2018–19 campaign.[8]
On 26 July 2019, Saveljich agreed to a permanent four-year deal with Rayo Vallecano, freshly relegated to the second division.[9] On 1 September 2023, he joined Burgos CF in the second division on a one-year contract.[10]
On 22 August 2024, Saveljich signed with Real Murcia in the third tier.[11]
International career
editSaveljich obtained Montenegrin nationality in 2015. He was called up for international matches of Montenegro versus Denmark and Sweden in June 2015, both of which he entered as a substitute. In a Euro 2016 qualifying match against Russia, he was in the starting line-up. Under Ljubiša Tumbaković, the new head coach of Montenegro national team, he played in a friendly match against Greece.[12]
Personal life
editSaveljich, a Montenegrin Argentine, is the cousin of former Montenegrin footballer Niša Saveljić.[13] His paternal great-grandfather and grandmother were immigrants from Montenegro.[14][15]
Saveljich is nicknamed el Polaco (The Pole) by Argentine media, due to his hair colour. Conversely, in Montenegro he is nicknamed Gaucho.[16][17]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 22 August 2021[18]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Racing Club | 2011–12 | Primera División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | Primera División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Primera División | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | ||
| Total | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||
| Defensa y Justicia (loan) | 2015 | Primera División | 24 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | |
| Almería (loan) | 2015–16 | Segunda División | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | |
| Levante | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
| Albacete (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 0 | |
| Almería (loan) | 2018–19 | Segunda División | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | |
| Rayo Vallecano | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 34 | 3 | |
| 2020–21 | Segunda División | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 66 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 75 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 206 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 220 | 8 | ||
- ^ Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs
International
edit- As of match played 24 March 2016[19]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montenegro | 2015 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 0 | |
Honours
editRacing Club
Levante UD
References
edit- ^ "Esteban Saceljich". Rayo Vallecano. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Poziv za Saveljića i Vukčevića". FSCG. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ "Vélez terminó con sonrisa: venció 2–1 a Racing" [Vélez ended up smiling: defeated Racing by 2–1] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "Racing y Estudiantes igualaron 3–3 en un verdadero y emocionante partidazo" [Racing and Estudiantes draw 3–3 in a truly and emotional great match] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "El Almería cierra los fichajes del central Saveljich y del atacante Juan Ramírez" [Almería completes the signings of stopper Saveljich and forward Juan Ramírez] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ "Esteban Saveljich, nuevo jugador del Levante por las próximas cuatro temporadas" [Esteban Saveljich, new player of Levante for the following four seasons]. Levante UD. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Saveljich jugará cedido la próxima temporada en el Albacete Balompié" [Saveljich will play on loan the following season at Albacete Balompié] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
- ^ "Joaquín se marcha del Almería y llega Esteban Saveljich" [Joaquín leaves Almería and Esteban Saveljich arrives] (in Spanish). UD Almería. 31 August 2018. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "Esteban Saveljich nuevo jugador del Rayo Vallecano" [Esteban Saveljich new player of Rayo Vallecano] (in Spanish). Rayo Vallecano. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- ^ "Esteban Saveljich refuerza la zaga del Burgos CF" [Esteban Saveljich bolsters the defense of Burgos CF] (in Spanish). Burgos CF. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "¡Esteban Saveljich ya está en Murcia!" (in Spanish). Real Murcia. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ Esteban Saveljić: Igraću za Crnu Goru! Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine at MNsport, 28 January 2015
- ^ Esteban Saveljich: “Si hubiesen chances de jugar en Montenegro, no las descartaría”
- ^ Saveljich a la selección
- ^ "STIGAO SAVELJIĆ". CG Fudbal. Retrieved 2 June 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Esteban Saveljić stigao u Crnu Goru: Presrećan sam!". portalanalitika.me. Portal Analitika. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
- ^ a b c Esteban Saveljich at Soccerway
- ^ Esteban Saveljich at National-Football-Teams.com
External links
edit
- Esteban Saveljich at BDFutbol
- Esteban Saveljich at ESPN FC