Dejan Stanković is a Serbian professional football manager and former player, renowned for his technical ability, vision, and powerful long-range shooting.
As a player, he enjoyed a highly successful career, most notably with Inter Milan, where he won multiple trophies, including five Serie A titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2010.
Stanković also captained the Serbia national team for several years, representing his country from 2007 until his international retirement in 2011. Currently, he serves as the manager of the Russian club Spartak Moscow.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Dejan Stankovic
- Stage Name: Dejan Stankovic
- Born: 11 September 1978
- Age: 48 years old
- Birthplace: Belgrade, Serbia
- Nationality: Serbian, Serbo-Montenegrin, Yugoslavian
- Occupation: Serbian professional football manager and former player
- Height: 1.81 m
- Parent: Borislav Stanković and Dragica Stanković
- Siblings: Siniša Stanković
- Spouse: Ana Ačimovič (m. 2000)
- Children: Filip Stanković, Aleksandar Stanković and Stefan Stanković
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $25 million
Early Life And Education
Dejan Stanković was born on September 11, 1978, in Belgrade, Serbia, to parents Borislav and Dragica, both of whom had footballing careers. Borislav played for OFK Belgrade, while Dragica represented ŽFK Sloga Zemun.
He has one sibling, a brother named Siniša Stanković, who is also involved in football. Though details about Dejan‘s formal education are limited, his development in football is well-documented. He is of Serbian ethnicity, but his religious beliefs remain undisclosed.
Career
Dejan Stanković began his football journey at FK Teleoptik before joining Red Star Belgrade’s youth system at 14. Under the guidance of coach Branko Radović, he progressed through all youth levels, playing alongside future professionals like Nikola Lazetić and Nenad Lalatović.
Stanković made his senior debut for Red Star on February 11, 1995, becoming the club’s youngest debutant. At just 19, he became the youngest captain in Red Star’s history before transferring to Lazio in 1998 for £24 million.
At Lazio, Stanković enjoyed immense success, winning Serie A (1999–2000), the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (1998–99), and the UEFA Super Cup (1999). Despite financial challenges at Lazio, he moved to Inter Milan in 2004, debuting under Alberto Zaccheroni and scoring a memorable goal against Milan.
Over his nine seasons at Inter, Stanković won numerous titles, including five Serie A trophies and the 2010 UEFA Champions League, making 326 appearances and scoring 42 goals. He retired from Inter in 2013 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2019.
Internationally, Stanković debuted for FR Yugoslavia in 1998, scoring twice in a 6–1 victory over South Korea. He represented Yugoslavia at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
After the team became Serbia and Montenegro, he played at the 2006 World Cup and later captained Serbia. Stanković retired from international football in 2011, ending a 13-year career with 103 caps and 15 goals.
After retiring as a player, Stanković transitioned to coaching, beginning with Red Star Belgrade in December 2019. Under his management, Red Star won the Serbian SuperLiga in 2019–20 and went unbeaten during the 2020–21 season. He resigned in 2022 after failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage.
In October 2022, Stanković took over struggling Sampdoria but could not prevent their relegation due to financial issues. He left the club at the end of the season and was appointed head coach of Hungarian club Ferencváros in September 2023.
Despite reaching the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League, he resigned in May 2024 after losing the Magyar Kupa Final.
On May 16, 2024, Stanković signed a two-year contract with Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League. His tenure began with the 2024–25 season, marking a new chapter in his managerial career.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @deki_stankovic
- Facebook handle: Dejan Stankovic
Personal Life
Dejan Stanković is married to Ana Ačimovič, whom he met when he was 19. Ana is the sister of Milenko Ačimovič, a former professional footballer and Stanković‘s teammate at Red Star Belgrade.
The couple married in 2000 and have been together for over two decades. They have three children: Filip, Aleksandar, and Stefan. All three sons were members of the Inter Milan football academy.
Net Worth
Dejan Stanković, a Serbian football manager and former player, has an estimated net worth of around $25 million.
His wealth is primarily attributed to his successful playing career at clubs like Lazio and Inter Milan, along with his managerial roles, including his current position at Spartak Moscow. Throughout his professional career, Stanković has earned approximately $25.7 million in gross earnings.