Sergej Milinković-Savić - A Detailed Overview
Early Life
Born on 27th February 1995, Sergej Milinković-Savić grew up in the city of Lleida, Spain, while his father, a former footballer, played for the local side. His family later moved back to their homeland, Serbia, where he began his youth career with the local club Vojvodina.
Youth Career
Sergej Milinković-Savić kickstarted his career with Vojvodina where he spent five years in their youth setup. He caught the eye of Europe's elite with his performances in the UEFA Youth League, particularly in a fixture against Bayern Munich. His influential performances led Vojvodina’s youth side to finish second in Serbia’s youth league.
Vojvodina
In 2013, Milinković-Savić made his debut for Vojvodina's senior squad in the Serbian SuperLiga. His performances soon attracted attention from larger European clubs, as he was instrumental in helping the club secure a second-place finish in the league and subsequent European qualification during his first season. It eventually led to a move to Belgian Pro League club, Genk, in 2014.
Genk
Signed by Genk in 2014, Milinković-Savić continued to demonstrate his talents. He quickly became a key man in the team's midfield, using his physical prowess and technical skills to boss the midfield, and he was often the link between defense and attack. His performance propelled Genk to the quarterfinals of the Europa League during the 2014-2015 season.
Lazio
Impressing at Genk, Lazio signed him in 2015. Milinković-Savić has since been a lynchpin at the heart of Lazio's midfield. Over time, he has shown impressive development in his game, proving to be a box-to-box midfielder capable of dictating the game's tempo. He has also been a consistent goal threat for the Biancocelesti, finishing the 2017-2018 season as one of their top scorers despite playing from a deeper position.
Playing Style
Milinković-Savić is known for his imposing physical stature which, combined with his technical skill and footballing intelligence, makes him a complete midfielder. His aerial prowess, coupled with his defensive solidity and attacking instincts, has regularly drawn comparisons with players like Paul Pogba. He's also adept in playing decisive passes and shooting from distance.
International Career
Milinković-Savić has represented Serbia at various age levels before making his senior debut in 2017. He was named in Serbia's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he started in all three games during Serbia's group stage campaign.
Strengths
His physicality and technical skills make him a highly effective presence in midfield. Standing 6ft 3in tall and combining that height with incredible ball control, tact and versatility, as well as an eye for goal, makes him a sought-after asset to many top-tier clubs.
Weaknesses
Despite his many strengths, Milinković-Savić can show inconsistency in his performance levels. He is also sometimes criticized for his lack of discipline, both in terms of picking up unnecessary bookings and occasionally showing a lack of tactical discipline within games.
Achievements and Awards
Since joining Lazio in 2015, Milinković-Savić has won the Coppa Italia in 2018/2019 and two Supercoppa Italiana titles in 2017 and 2019. Individually, he's won Serbian Player of the Year in 2015, been named in the Serie A Team of the Year in 2018 and 2019, and won the Serie A Midfielder of the Year title in 2019.
Personal Life
Milinković-Savić hails from a football-oriented family with his father, Nikola Milinković, being a former professional footballer and his mother, Milana Savić, a former professional basketball player. His older brother, Vanja Milinkovic-Savić, is also a professional footballer, playing as a goalkeeper. Off the pitch, Milinković-Savić is known for his reserved and humble personality.
