Arjan Malić

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Arjan Malić

|image = SV Ried gegen FC Liefering (2024-03-15)a 04.jpg

|caption = Malić with Ried in 2024

|full_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|8|28|df=y}}

|birth_place = Jesenice, Slovenia

|height = 1.86 m{{cite web|url=https://sksturm.at/p/arjan-malic|title=Arjan Malić|website=sksturm.at|accessdate=1 January 2025|language=German}}

|position = Centre-back

|currentclub = Sturm Graz

|clubnumber = 23

|youthyears1 = 2014–2023

|youthclubs1 = Ried

|years1 = 2023

|clubs1 = Ried II

|caps1 = 13

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 2023–2024

|clubs2 = Ried

|caps2 = 29

|goals2 = 0

|years3 = 2025–

|clubs3 = Sturm Graz

|caps3 = 8

|goals3 = 0

|nationalyears1 = 2023–2024

|nationalteam1 = Slovenia U19

|nationalcaps1 = 8

|nationalgoals1 = 0

|nationalyears2 = 2024–

|nationalteam2 = Bosnia and Herzegovina U21

|nationalcaps2 = 1

|nationalgoals2 = 0

|nationalyears3 = 2025–

|nationalteam3 = Bosnia and Herzegovina

|nationalcaps3 = 2

|nationalgoals3 = 0

|club-update = 20 April 2025

|nationalteam-update = 24 March 2025

}}

Arjan Malić ({{IPA|bs|ǎrjan mâːlitɕ|pron}}; born 28 August 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz. Born in Slovenia, he plays for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Malić started his professional career at Ried, playing first in its reserve team, before joining Sturm Graz in 2024.

Malić represented Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina at youth levels, but decided to represent the latter at the senior level. He made his senior international debut in 2025.

Club career

=Early career=

Malić came through Ried's youth setup, which he joined in 2014. He made his professional debut against FAC on 30 July 2023 at the age of 17. On 1 March 2024, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over Stripfing.{{cite news|url=https://klix.ba/sport/nogomet/bih-uzela-sloveniji-velikog-talenta-malic-ce-u-buducnosti-igrati-za-zmajeve/241001073|title=BiH "uzela" Sloveniji velikog talenta, Malić će u budućnosti igrati za Zmajeve|website=klix.ba|date=1 October 2024|accessdate=1 October 2024|language=Bosnian}}

=Sturm Graz=

In June, Malić was transferred to Sturm Graz for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news|url=https://reprezentacija.ba/431087-sturm-graz-doveo-jos-jednog-igraca-koji-moze-igrati-za-bih|title=Sturm Graz doveo još jednog igrača koji može igrati za BiH|website=reprezentacija.ba|date=27 June 2024|accessdate=27 June 2024|language=Bosnian}} He made his official debut for the team against Red Bull Salzburg on 6 October.{{cite news|url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/salzburg-ponizen-u-grazu-potencijalni-zmaj-zabio-tri-gola-malic-zaigrao-povreda-dedica/483503|title=Salzburg ponižen u Grazu, potencijalni Zmaj zabio tri gola, Malić zaigrao, povreda Dedića|website=sportsport.ba|date=6 October 2024|accessdate=7 October 2024|language=Bosnian}}

Malić debuted in the UEFA Champions League away at Lille on 11 December.{{cite news|url=https://faktor.ba/sport/fudbal/rodjen-u-sloveniji-odbio-austrijance-zbog-bih-sada-debitovao-na-najvecoj-sceni/205597|title=Rođen u Sloveniji, odbio Austrijance zbog BiH, sada debitovao na najvećoj sceni|website=faktor.ba|date=11 December 2024|accessdate=12 December 2024|language=Bosnian}} Six weeks later, he scored his first goal in the competition against RB Leipzig, which was his first goal for Sturm Graz.{{cite news|url=https://avaz.ba/sport/nogomet/953409/velika-nada-bh-fudbala-postigla-prvi-gol-u-ligi-prvaka|title=Velika nada bh. fudbala postigla prvi gol u Ligi prvaka|website=avaz.ba|date=29 January 2025|accessdate=1 February 2025|language=Bosnian}}

International career

Despite representing Slovenia at the under-19 level, Malić decided to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the senior level. He was first part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 team.{{cite news|url=https://klix.ba/sport/nogomet/malic-poziv-u-reprezentaciju-bih-je-ispunjenje-djecackog-sna/250318165|title=Malić: Poziv u reprezentaciju BiH je ispunjenje dječačkog sna|website=klix.ba|date=18 March 2025|accessdate=19 March 2025|language=Bosnian}}

In March 2025, he received his first senior call up, for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Cyprus.{{cite news|url=https://n1info.ba/sport/nogomet/barbarez-umjesto-povrijedjenog-igraca-uvrstio-mladog-debitanta|title=Barbarez umjesto povrijeđenog igrača uvrstio mladog debitanta|website=n1info.ba|date=17 March 2025|accessdate=17 March 2025|language=Bosnian}} He debuted against the former on 21 March.{{cite news|url=https://avaz.ba/sport/nogomet/962742/pocetak-kvalifikacija-kao-iz-snova-zmajevi-srusili-rumuniju-usred-bukuresta|title=Početak kvalifikacija kao iz snova: Zmajevi srušili Rumuniju usred Bukurešta|website=avaz.ba|date=21 March 2025|accessdate=23 March 2025|language=Bosnian}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 20 April 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/arjan-malic/666607|title=A. Malić|website=soccerway.com|accessdate=21 April 2025}}

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|Austrian Cup !colspan=2\|Continental !colspan=2\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ried II \|2022–23 \|Austrian Regionalliga Central \|13	0	colspan=2\|–	colspan=2\|–	2	0
Ried \|2023–24 \|2. Liga \|29	1	2	0	colspan=2\|–	31	1
Sturm Graz \|2024–25 \|Austrian Bundesliga \|8	0	2	0	3{{efn\|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}	1	13	1
colspan=3\|Career total !50	1	4	0	3	1	57	2

=International=

{{updated|match played 24 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=33033|title=Arjan Malić|website=eu-football.info|accessdate=25 March 2025}}