Miloš Veljković
{{Short description|Serbian footballer (born 1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Miloš Veljković
| image = Miloš Veljković (cropped).jpg
| caption = Veljković with Serbia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
| full_name = Miloš Veljković{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Serbia (SRB) |publisher=FIFA |page=26 |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|9|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Basel, Switzerland
| height = 1.88 m{{cite web |title=Miloš Veljković |website=crvenazvezdafk.com|url=https://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/zvezda-tim/milos-veljkovic |access-date=22 June 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |title=2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players |website=FIFA.com |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619164139/https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF |archive-date=19 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Red Star Belgrade
| clubnumber = 13
| youthyears1 = 2000–2011
| youthclubs1 = Basel
| youthyears2 = 2011–2015
| youthclubs2 = Tottenham Hotspur
| years1 = 2013–2016
| clubs1 = Tottenham Hotspur
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2014–2015
| clubs2 = → Middlesbrough (loan)
| caps2 = 3
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2015
| clubs3 = → Charlton Athletic (loan)
| caps3 = 3
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2016
| clubs4 = Werder Bremen II
| caps4 = 8
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2016–2025
| clubs5 = Werder Bremen
| caps5 = 221
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2025–
| clubs6 = Red Star Belgrade
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2011
| nationalteam1 = Switzerland U16
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2012
| nationalteam2 = Serbia U17
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2013–2014
| nationalteam3 = Serbia U19
| nationalcaps3 = 10
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2015
| nationalteam4 = Serbia U20
| nationalcaps4 = 8
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| nationalyears5 = 2014–2017
| nationalteam5 = Serbia U21
| nationalcaps5 = 14
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| nationalyears6 = 2017–
| nationalteam6 = Serbia
| nationalcaps6 = 35
| nationalgoals6 = 1
| club-update = 22:31, 15 March 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 18 November 2024
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's Football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{SRB}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|FIFA U-20 World Cup}}
{{Medal|Gold|2015 New Zealand|U-20 Team}}
{{MedalCompetition|UEFA U-19 Championship}}
{{Medal|Gold|2013 Lithuania|}}
}}
Miloš Veljković ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Милош Вељковић}}, {{IPA|sh|mǐloʃ ʋěːʎkoʋitɕ|pron}}; born 26 September 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Red Star Belgrade. Born in Switzerland, he represents Serbia at international level.
Club career
=Early career=
=Tottenham Hotspur=
Miloš Veljković joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2011 from FC Basel. He made his Premier League debut on 8 April 2014 against Sunderland in a 5–1 home win, replacing Paulinho after 88 minutes. He got a longer run out on 11 May against Aston Villa when he came on for Sandro in the 62nd minute.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/04/07/england/premier-league/tottenham-hotspur-football-club/sunderland-association-football-club/1483785/|title=Tottenham vs. Sunderland - 7 April 2014 - Soccerway|publisher=soccerway.com|access-date=8 April 2014}}
Veljković went on loan to Middlesbrough in the Championship on 16 October 2014 for three months.{{Cite news |date=2014-10-16 |title=Middlesbrough sign Spurs defender Milos Veljkovic on loan |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/29643648 |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} Due to the form of the midfield duo of Grant Leadbitter and Adam Clayton in central midfield, he was limited to a few substitute appearances and his loan was not extended in January.
On 20 January 2015, Veljković joined Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the season.{{Cite news |title=Charlton sign Milos Veljkovic on loan from Tottenham Hotspur |url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/charlton-sign-milos-veljkovic-on-loan-from-tottenham-hotspur-2215590.aspx |publisher=Charlton Athletic F.C |date=20 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120170610/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/charlton-sign-milos-veljkovic-on-loan-from-tottenham-hotspur-2215590.aspx |archive-date=20 January 2015 }} However, he picked a shoulder injury in his third match for Charlton which ruled him out of contention.{{Cite news |title=Milos Veljkovic interview: Tottenham youngster eager to join Harry Kane and Nabil Bentaleb in the Spurs first-team |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/milos-veljkovic-interview-tottenham-youngster-eager-to-join-harry-kane-and-nabil-bentaleb-in-the-spurs-firstteam-10282227.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/milos-veljkovic-interview-tottenham-youngster-eager-to-join-harry-kane-and-nabil-bentaleb-in-the-spurs-firstteam-10282227.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=28 May 2015}}
=Werder Bremen=
Veljković joined Werder Bremen on 1 February 2016, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal, for a reported fee of €300,000.{{cite news|last1=Knips|first1=Björn|title=Noch ein Neuer: Veljkovic kommt|trans-title=Another new boy: Veljkovic joins|url=http://www.kreiszeitung.de/werder-bremen/werder-bremen-holt-milos-veljkovic-tottenham-hotspur-premier-league-6081924.html|access-date=1 February 2016|work=Kreiszeitung|date=31 January 2016|language=de}} On 24 September 2016, he made his first appearance for the first team of the 2016–17 season in a 2–1 victory against VfL Wolfsburg on matchday 5, the club's first win of the season; he played the full 90 minutes as centre-back after Lamine Sané had dropped out with knee problems in the warmup to the match.{{cite web |date=24 September 2016 |title=Werder mit Last-Minute-Tor zum ersten Saisonsieg |trans-title=Werder wins their first season match with a last-minute goal. |url=http://www.sportschau.de/fussball/bundesliga/bremen-wolfsburg-102.html |access-date=25 September 2016 |website=Sportschau |language=de}}
He agreed a contract extension with the club in June 2018.{{cite news |date=8 June 2018 |title=Vorzeitig verlängert: Veljkovic setzt "klares Statement" |trans-title=Extended early: Veljkovic makes a "clear statement." |url=https://www.kicker.de/vorzeitig-verlaengert_veljkovic-setzt-klares-statement-725312/artikel |access-date=9 June 2018 |work=kicker Online |language=de}} In June 2022, after Werder Bremen's return to the Bundesliga in the 2021–22 season, Veljković signed another contract extension with the club, reportedly until 2025.{{cite news |date=11 June 2022 |title=Werder-Profi Milos Veljkovic verlängert Vertrag bis 2025 |trans-title=Werder professional Milos Veljkovic extends contract until 2025. |url=https://www.weser-kurier.de/werder/profis/werder-profi-milos-veljkovic-verlaengert-vertrag-bis-2025-doc7le08x0bi4pa2hm8cjg |access-date=12 June 2022 |work=Weser Kurier |language=de}}
=Red Star Belgrade=
On 11 March 2025, Red Star Belgrade announced that had reached an agreement with Veljković on a three-year deal. Veljković's contract with Werder expired in the summer, which the Serbian club used to acquire him as the first summer reinforcement.{{cite news |date=11 March 2025 |title=Милош Вељковић у Црвеној звезди |trans-title=Miloš Veljković at Red Star. |url=https://www.crvenazvezdafk.com/vesti/milosh-veljkovitsh-u-crvenoj-zvezdi |access-date=11 March 2025}}
International career
Veljković was born in Switzerland to Serbian parents, he initially represented Switzerland U16's before pledging his allegiance to Serbia. He played for the Serbia U19 team which won the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.{{Cite web |title=Luković strike seals first Serbia triumph |url=https://www.uefa.com/under19/news/0252-0ce44a964ab8-bef2de9cfa08-1000--lukovic-strike-seals-first-serbia-triumph/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}} In the summer of 2015, he also won the FIFA U-20 World Cup for Serbia U20's as part of a Golden Generation coming through for the Serbia national team. Veljković played every game as centre back.{{Cite news |title=Milos Veljkovic: Tottenham's Under-20 World Cup winner wants to make impact in the Premier League, but this season about experience |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/milos-veljkovic-tottenhams-under20-world-cup-winner-wants-to-make-an-impact-in-the-premier-league-but-this-season-is-about-experience-10435885.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/milos-veljkovic-tottenhams-under20-world-cup-winner-wants-to-make-an-impact-in-the-premier-league-but-this-season-is-about-experience-10435885.html |archive-date=15 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=3 August 2015}} He made his debut for the Serbia national team on 11 November 2017 in a friendly match against China.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/china-vs-serbia/385644|title=Internationals (Sky Sports)|website=SkySports|language=en|access-date=12 November 2017}} In June 2018, he was included in the final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup,{{Cite news |date=2018-06-01 |title=: Krstajic names Serbia's final 23-man World Cup squad |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/-krstajic-names-serbias-final-23-man-world-cup-squad-idUSKCN1IX5KW/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}} where he appeared in the match against Brazil.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Rory |date=2018-06-27 |title=All Eyes Are on Neymar, but It’s Coutinho Who Is Leading Brazil |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/27/sports/world-cup/brazil-vs-serbia.html |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} In November 2022, he was selected in Serbia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.{{Cite web |last=Kombarov |first=Dmitri |date=2023-01-25 |title=789F |url=https://ukcashtoday.co.uk/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=HEAD-COACH DRAGAN STOJKOVIĆ ANNOUNCES THE LIST OF PLAYERS FOR THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 IN QATAR {{!}} Football Association of Serbia |url=https://fss.rs/en/head-coach-dragan-stojkovic-announces-the-list-of-players-for-the-fifa-world-cup-2022-in-qatar/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |language=en-US}} He played in all three group stage matches, against Brazil,{{Cite web |last=Conti • • |first=Kristen |date=2022-11-24 |title=Richarlison Brings Brazil to Life in the Second Half, Defeats Serbia 2-0 |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/richarlison-brings-brazil-to-life-in-the-second-half-defeats-serbia-2-0/3971175/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=NBC New York |language=en-US}} Cameroon,{{Cite news |last=Sky Sports |date=28 November 2022 |title=World Cup 2022 - Cameroon 3-3 Serbia: Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting goals complete stunning comeback |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/cameroon-vs-serbia/report/462988 |access-date=28 November 2022 |work=Sky Sports |language=en}} and Switzerland.{{Cite news |last=Ames |first=Nick |date=2022-12-02 |title=Switzerland advance and Serbia go out as Freuler finish settles stormy contest |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/dec/02/serbia-switzerland-world-cup-group-g-match-report |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Serbia finished fourth in the group.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-02 |title=World Cup 2022 Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Cameroon, Switzerland schedule, fixtures, rankings |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/world-cup-2022-group-g-brazil-serbia-cameroon-switzerland-rankings-table-standings |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}} Veljković was part of the Serbia squad for UEFA Euro 2024 and started the team's opening match of the tournament against England, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–0 loss.{{Cite web |title=England 1-0 Serbia LIVE: Watch Euro 2024 football score, stats, reaction & analysis |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cz992dxd4xwt |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
Style of play
Veljković has played both as centre back and as a defensive midfielder. He revealed that he prefers to play as a defensive midfielder in club football, and prefers to play as a centre back during international football.
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 15 March 2025}}{{cite news |title=M. Veljkovic |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/milos-veljkovic/218090/ |website=Soccerway |access-date=20 May 2017 }}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup, DFB-Pokal}} !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Tottenham Hotspur
|rowspan="2"|Premier League |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2014–15
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Middlesbrough (loan)
|3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Charlton Athletic (loan)
|Championship |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Werder Bremen II
|rowspan="2"|3. Liga |5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 5 | 0 | ||||
| 2016–17
|3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!8 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="11"|Werder Bremen
|rowspan="6"|Bundesliga |3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17
|26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 26 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18
|30 | 1 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 34 | 2 | |||
| 2018–19
|23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 26 | 1 | |||
| 2019–20
|24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2{{efn|Appearances in Bundesliga relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21
|23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 26 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22
|26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 26 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23
|rowspan="3"|Bundesliga |29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2023–24
|23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 23 | 2 | |||
| 2024–25
|14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!221 | 6 | 18 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | 242 | 7 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!237 | 6 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 259 | 7 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|18 November 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="8"|Serbia
|2017 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 35 | 1 |
:Scores and results list Serbia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Veljković goal.
| class="wikitable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Miloš Veljković | |||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Cap !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"|1 | 19 November 2023 | Dubočica Stadium, Leskovac, Serbia | align=center| 29 | {{fb|BUL}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|2–2 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{soccerway|milos-veljkovic/218090|Miloš Veljković}}
{{Red Star Belgrade squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Serbia squads
| bg = #C6363C
| fg = white
| bordercolor = #0C4076
| list1 =
{{Serbia squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Serbia squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Serbia squad UEFA Euro 2024}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Veljkovic, Milos}}
Category:Swiss people of Serbian descent
Category:Footballers from Basel-Stadt
Category:Swiss men's footballers
Category:Serbian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Serbia men's international footballers
Category:Serbia men's youth international footballers
Category:Switzerland men's youth international footballers
Category:Serbia men's under-21 international footballers
Category:2018 FIFA World Cup players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:UEFA Euro 2024 players
Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players
Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players
Category:SV Werder Bremen players
Category:SV Werder Bremen II players
Category:Red Star Belgrade footballers
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:Swiss expatriate men's footballers
Category:Serbian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Serbian expatriate sportspeople in Germany