Veljko Nikitović (Serbian Cyrillic: Beљкo Hикитoвић ; born 3 October 1980) is a Serbian football executive and former professional player who is currently the sporting director of Polish club Motor Lublin. Regarded as one of the most important players in Górnik Łęczna's history,[1][2] he made over 300 appearances for the Zielono-Czarni and held multiple roles within the club after retirement.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Veljko Nikitović | ||
| Date of birth | 3 October 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Motor Lublin (sporting director) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2001 | Mladost Lučani | ||
| 2001 | Górnik Łęczna | ||
| 2001–2002 | Mladost Lučani | ||
| 2002–2003 | Hajduk Beograd | ||
| 2004–2007 | Górnik Łęczna | 71 | (4) |
| 2007 | Vaslui | 1 | (0) |
| 2008–2016 | Górnik Łęczna | 213 | (13) |
| 2018–2019 | Tur Milejów | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Błękit Cyców | 27 | (8) |
| 2024 | LKS Biskupice | 2 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editIn February 2004, Nikitović joined Górnik Łęczna from Hajduk Beograd.[3]
In the summer of 2007, he moved to Vaslui.
In February 2008, Nikitović returned to Górnik Łęczna and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract.[4]
Post-retirement
editShortly after retiring in July 2016, Nikitović joined Górnik Łęczna's staff as an assistant coach and scout.[5] He held the role until 26 April 2017, when he became a board member of the club, and was mainly responsible for coordinating the club's academy and youth systems.[6]
On 17 July 2017, he was appointed chairman of the club.[7] Nikitović stepped down on 13 December 2018, and took on the role of sporting director the following day.[8] On 30 May 2024, he announced on Facebook that he was departing Górnik, after over 20 years as a player, staff and club management member.[9] During his time as an executive, he oversaw Górnik's relegation from the I liga in 2018, as well as their climb back to the top-tier with two consecutive promotions, before Górnik was demoted again after just one year in the Ekstraklasa in 2022.
On 9 June 2024, Nikitović was announced as the new sporting director of fellow I liga club Arka Gdynia.[10] By the end of 2025, he was heavily linked with Motor Lublin, with the club's chairman Zbigniew Jakubas confirming his intent to hire Nikitović as Motor's sporting director.[11] Nikitović left Arka on 5 May 2026.[12]
On 14 April 2026, Nikitović joined Motor Lublin as their new sporting director.[13]
Honours
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Klubowa legenda odchodzi z Górnika Łęczna po 20 latach!". dziennikwschodni.pl (in Polish). 31 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ Smagała, Dominik (30 May 2024). "REKLAMA Szokująca decyzja legendy Górnika Łęczna. Veljko Nikitović żegna się z klubem". tubalecznej.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ Nikitovic i Sobczyk testowani w Górniku Łęczna 5.02.2004, wp.pl
- ↑ Veljko Nikitović wrócił do Górnika Łęczna! 1.02.2008, igol.pl
- ↑ "Veljko Nikitović asystentem trenera Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 3 July 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ "Veljko Nikitović członkiem zarządu Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 26 April 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ "Veljko Nikitović prezesem Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 17 July 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ "Veljko Nikitović dyrektorem sportowym Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 14 December 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ "Veljko Nikitović odchodzi z Górnika Łęczna". 90minut.pl (in Polish). 30 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ Galiński, Tomasz (9 June 2024). "Kluczowa decyzja Arki Gdynia. Legenda innego klubu zajęła ważne stanowisko". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ↑ "Zbigniew Jakubas potwierdza. Veljko Nikitović będzie pracował dla Motoru Lublin". podkarpacielive.pl (in Polish). 2 January 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ "Veljko Nikitović odchodzi z Arki Gdynia" (in Polish). Arka Gdynia. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- ↑ Galiński, Tomasz (14 May 2026). "Wraca do domu. Motor potwierdził ważny transfer". sportowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "III liga 2007/2008, grupa: 4". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ↑ "Keeza Klasa A 2020/2021, grupa: Lublin III". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ↑ "Zawodnik: Veljko Nikitović". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
External links
edit- Veljko Nikitović at 90minut.pl (in Polish)
- Veljko Nikitović at Soccerway
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