Nikola Sekulov

Italian footballer (born 2002)

Nikola Sekulov
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Piacenza, Italy
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Juventus Next Gen
Number 44
Youth career
2007–2012 Piacenza
2012–2015 Parma
2015–2016 Pro Piacenza
2016–2021 Juventus
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Juventus 1 (0)
2020– → Juventus Next Gen[α] (res.) 76 (12)
2023–2024 → Cremonese (loan) 1 (0)
International career‡
2017 Macedonia U17 2 (0)
2018–2019 Italy U17 10 (0)
2019–2020 Italy U18 6 (0)
2021–2022 Italy U20 6 (1)
Medal record
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:25, 30 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:22, 18 April 2022 (UTC)

Nikola Sekulov (Macedonian: Никола Секулов; born 18 February 2002) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie C Group B club Juventus Next Gen. Born in Italy to Macedonian parents, Sekulov represented Macedonia internationally at youth level, before switching to Italy in 2018.

Club career

Born in Piacenza, Italy, to North Macedonian parents, Sekulov began his youth career at Piacenza in 2007, remaining there until 2012 when he moved to Parma.[2] In 2015 he joined Pro Piacenza, before moving to Juventus in 2016.[2]

Sekulov made his Serie C debut for Juventus U23 – the reserve team of Juventus – on 21 October 2020 in a 1–0 defeat to Pro Vercelli.[3] On 22 September 2021, Sekulov scored his first goal in his career in a 2–1 win against Triestina.[4] On 17 October, Sekulov scored a brace in a 2–1 win against Seregno.[5] On 29 October, Sekulov extended his contract with Juventus until 2025.[6]

On 7 December 2022, Sekulov scored Juventus Next Gen's 2–0 in their victory against Padova in Coppa Italia Serie C after carrying the ball from his own half.[7] On 15 July 2023, he joined Serie B side Cremonese on loan.[8] On 12 January 2024, the loan was terminated early.[9]

International career

Sekulov represented North Macedonia internationally at youth level until the under-17s, switching allegiance to Italy in 2018.[2] He represented the under-17s at the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, reaching the final of the competition where Italy lost to the Netherlands.[10]

Style of play

A half-winger (Italian: mezz'ala), Sekulov has been likened to former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio for his technical qualities, movements, and height.[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 March 2024[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coppa Italia Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Juventus Next Gen[α] 2020–21 Serie C 3 0 — 0 0 3 0
2021–22 Serie C 33 4 — 8[a] 0 41 4
2022–23 Serie C 28 4 — 8[b] 2 36 6
2023–24 Serie C 12 4 — — 12 4
Total 76 12 0 0 16 2 92 14
Cremonese (loan) 2023–24 Serie B 1 0 2 0 — 3 0
Juventus 2023–24 Serie A 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
Career total 78 12 2 0 16 2 96 14
  1. ^ Three appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C, five appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in Coppa Italia Serie C

Honours

Italy U17

Notes

  1. ^ a b The team's name was changed from Juventus U23 to Juventus Next Gen in August 2022.[1]

References

  1. ^ "From Under 23 to Next Gen – a new identity at Juventus". Juventus FC. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Attanasio, Christian (3 July 2020). "Juve Primavera: Nikola Sekulov, il talento dai Balcani tra bianconeri e Italia". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Pro Vercelli vs. Juventus II - 21 October 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  4. ^ Ferrero, Giorgio (22 September 2021). "Juventus U23 Triestina 2-1: termina al Moccagatta, decide Akè". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  5. ^ Ferrero, Giorgio (17 October 2021). "Juventus U23 Seregno 2-1: fischio finale, Sekulov ribalta la partita". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  6. ^ JuventusNews24, Redazione (29 October 2021). "Rinnovo Sekulov Juve: è ufficiale! I dettagli per l'attaccante dell'Under 23". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 29 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ JuventusNews24, Redazione (7 December 2022). "Gol Sekulov, una meraviglia dell'attaccante per il 2-0 Next Gen – VIDEO". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 7 December 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ JuventusNews24, Redazione (15 July 2023). "Sekulov alla Cremonese: UFFICIALE il prestito dalla Juventus Next Gen. Il comunicato". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Sekulov rientra alla Juventus" [Sekulov returns to Juventus] (in Italian). Cremonese. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "Nikola Sekulov, l'azzurro dei Balcani fa faville con Juve e Under - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". www.tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  11. ^ Nikola Sekulov at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 February 2024.

External links

  • Nikola Sekulov at Soccerway
  • Nikola Sekulov at Global Sports Archive
  • "Nikola Sekulov". FIGC U18 profile (in Italian).
  • "Nikola Sekulov". FIGC U19 profile (in Italian).
  • v
  • t
  • e
Juventus Next Gen – current squad


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