Marko Lešković (Croatian pronunciation: [mâːrko lěʃkoʋitɕ];[1][2] born 27 April 1991) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.
![]() Lešković with Kerala Blasters in 2021 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Date of birth | (1991-04-27) 27 April 1991 (age 31) | ||
Place of birth | Našice, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Kerala Blasters | ||
Number | 55 | ||
Youth career | |||
2002–2009 | Osijek | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2010–2013 | Osijek | 56 | (5) |
2010–2011 | → Suhopolje (loan) | 14 | (4) |
2013–2016 | Rijeka | 62 | (3) |
2016–2021 | Dinamo Zagreb | 51 | (3) |
2020–2021 | → Lokomotiva (loan) | 17 | (1) |
2021– | Kerala Blasters | 26 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2009 | Croatia U18 | 2 | (0) |
2009–2010 | Croatia U19 | 3 | (0) |
2010–2011 | Croatia U20 | 2 | (1) |
2012–2013 | Croatia U21 | 2 | (0) |
2014–2017 | Croatia | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 November 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:44, 28 March 2017 (UTC) |
Lešković started his career playing at youth level for Osijek, with whom he signed a professional contract in December 2009.
In the first part of the 2010–11 season he was loaned to Druga HNL side Suhopolje where he was featured in 14 games scoring four times.
He returned to Osijek after the winter break and made his debut for the first team as a late substitute in the 2–1 win against Istra 1961 on 5 March 2011. He made one further appearance that season.[3][4][5] In the 2011–12 season, Lešković was much more involved in the first team, making eight starts and eleven appearances off the bench. He scored his first goal in Prva HNL in a 2–2 draw with NK Zagreb on 20 March 2012.[6]
In the 2012–13 season, Marko truly broke out as a player. He made 35 appearances for Osijek, playing in a range of positions including LB, CB and DM. He also scored four goals in the league as his side finished in 8th position.
In the summer of 2013, Lešković finalised a transfer to HNK Rijeka, signing a four-year contract. Lešković managed 25 appearances in his first season. The following season, Marko made 41 appearances as Rijeka qualified for the group stages of the Europa League and finished runners up in the 1. HNL.
In July 2016, after three seasons with Rijeka, Lešković was transferred to Dinamo Zagreb.[7]
In January 2021, Lešković was loaned out to NK Lokomotiva until the end of the season.[8]
On 15 September 2021, Kerala Blasters announced that Lešković had joined the Indian Super League club on a one-year deal.[9][10][11] He made his debut for the club on 19 November in the 2021–22 Indian Super League season opener against ATK Mohun Bagan FC, which they lost 4–2.[12][13] He formed a formidable and successful partnership with Hormipam Ruivah and emerged as one of the best centre back pairs in the league.[14] After a successful individual and collective season, Lešković signed a two-year contract extension for the Blasters until 2024 on 5 May 2022.[15]
Lešković has represented Croatia at all youth national levels from U18 to U21. He made his debut for the senior national team against Argentina in 2014 and earned a total of 4 caps, scoring no goals. His final international was a March 2017 friendly match against Estonia.[16]
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Suhopolje (loan) | 2010–11 | Croatian Second Football League | 14 | 4 | 3 | 0 | – | 17 | 4 | |
Osijek | 2010–11 | Croatian First Football League | 2 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | ||
2011–12 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 0 | – | 25 | 1 | |||
2012–13 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 35 | 6 | ||
Total | 49 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 7 | ||
Rijeka | 2013–14 | Croatian First Football League | 15 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
2014–15 | 27 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 41 | 4 | ||
2015–16 | 20 | 1 | – | 1 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |||
Total | 62 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 87 | 7 | ||
Dinamo Zagreb | 2016–17 | Croatian First Football League | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 17 | 1 | |
2017–18 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
2018–19 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 2 | ||
2019–20 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
Total | 51 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 65 | 3 | ||
Lokomotiva Zagreb (loan) | 2020–21 | Croatian First Football League | 17 | 1 | – | – | 17 | 1 | ||
Kerala Blasters | 2021–22 | Indian Super League | 21 | 0 | – | – | 21 | 0 | ||
Career total | 214 | 16 | 32 | 5 | 23 | 1 | 269 | 22 |
Osijek
Rijeka
Dinamo Zagreb
Kerala Blasters
Mȃrko
Lèšković
Kerala Blasters FC – current squad | |
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