Nikola Vasilj (Bosnian pronunciation: [nǐkola ʋǎsiːʎ]; born 2 December 1995) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for 2. Bundesliga club FC St. Pauli and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
![]() Vasilj with Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 in 2014 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Nikola Vasilj | ||
Date of birth | (1995-12-02) 2 December 1995 (age 26) | ||
Place of birth | Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||
Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | FC St. Pauli | ||
Number | 22 | ||
Youth career | |||
HNK Međugorje | |||
2010–2013 | Zrinjski Mostar | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2013–2017 | Zrinjski Mostar | 17 | (0) |
2014–2015 | → Igman Konjic (loan) | 24 | (0) |
2015–2016 | → Branitelj (loan) | 13 | (0) |
2017–2019 | 1. FC Nürnberg II | 42 | (0) |
2019–2021 | Zorya Luhansk | 20 | (0) |
2021– | FC St. Pauli | 44 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2013–2014 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 | 3 | (0) |
2021– | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 6 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 November 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 September 2022 |
Vasilj started his professional career at Zrinjski Mostar, who loaned him to Igman Konjic in 2014 and to Branitelj in 2015. In 2017, he joined 1. FC Nürnberg II. Two years later, he moved to Zorya Luhansk. He signed with FC St. Pauli in 2021.
A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vasilj made his senior international debut in 2021.
Vasilj started playing football at a local club, before joining youth academy of his hometown club Zrinjski Mostar in 2010.[2] He made his professional debut against Željezničar on 10 April 2013 at the age of 17.[3] In July 2014, he was sent on a season-long loan to Igman Konjic.[4] In July 2015, he was loaned to Branitelj until the end of season.[5]
In July 2017, Vasilj signed with German team 1. FC Nürnberg.[6]
In July 2019, he joined Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk.[7]
In May 2021, he moved to FC St. Pauli.[8]
Vasilj was a member of Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 team under coach Vlado Jagodić.[9]
In March 2021, he received his first senior call-up, for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Finland and France and a friendly game against Costa Rica.[10] He debuted against Costa Rica on 27 March.[11]
Vasilj's father Vladimir was also a goalkeeper, as is his younger brother Filip.[12]
He married his long-time girlfriend Sara in May 2021.[13]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Zrinjski Mostar | 2012–13 | Bosnian Premier League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | 0 | |
2013–14 | Bosnian Premier League | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
2015–16 | Bosnian Premier League | 4 | 0 | – | – | 4 | 0 | |||
2016–17 | Bosnian Premier League | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
Total | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
Igman Konjic (loan) | 2014–15 | First League of FBiH | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 25 | 0 | |
Branitelj (loan) | 2015–16 | First League of FBiH | 13 | 0 | – | – | 13 | 0 | ||
1. FC Nürnberg II | 2017–18 | Regionalliga Bayern | 15 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 0 | ||
2018–19 | Regionalliga Bayern | 27 | 0 | – | – | 27 | 0 | |||
Total | 42 | 0 | – | – | 42 | 0 | ||||
Zorya Luhansk | 2019–20 | Ukrainian Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
2020–21 | Ukrainian Premier League | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
Total | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
FC St. Pauli | 2021–22 | 2. Bundesliga | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 | 0 | |
2022–23 | 2. Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 12 | 0 | ||
Total | 44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 45 | 0 | |||
Career total | 160 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 172 | 0 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
2021 | 4 | 0 | |
2022 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 6 | 0 |
Zrinjski Mostar[14]
FC St. Pauli – current squad | |
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