Marko Nikolić (football manager)

Marko Nikolić (Serbian Cyrillic: Марко Николић; born 20 July 1979) is a Serbian football manager.

Marko Nikolić
Nikolić coaching Lokomotiv Moscow in 2020
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-07-20) 20 July 1979
Place of birth Belgrade, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Shabab Al Ahli (manager)
Youth career
1989–1998 Rad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Rad 0 (0)
1998–1999 → Dorćol (loan)
Managerial career
2008–2011 Rad
2012–2013 Rad
2013 Vojvodina
2013–2015 Partizan
2016 Olimpija Ljubljana
2016–2017 Partizan
2017–2019 Fehérvár
2020–2021 FC Lokomotiv Moscow
2023– Shabab Al Ahli
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Born in Belgrade, Nikolić joined Rad as a trainee in 1989. He played for the club at all youth levels, together with the likes of Ivica Iliev, Milan Martinović, and Nemanja Vučićević, among others. After completing his formation, Nikolić spent some time on loan with third-tier club Dorćol, before retiring from the game due to an injury.

Managerial career

Spells at Rad

In his early 20s, Nikolić worked with Rad's youth teams for many years, before being promoted to the senior squad in 2008. He served as assistant manager to both Mihailo Ivanović and Aleksandar Janjić, eventually replacing the latter one on 26 October 2008, after the club earned just five points from the opening nine fixtures.[1] Three days later, Nikolić became the youngest manager ever in the top flight of Serbian football, recording a 1–0 win over Vojvodina.[2] He ultimately managed to save the club from relegation that season, finishing in ninth place. On 23 May 2011, two rounds before the end of the 2010–11 season, Nikolić secured a spot in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League, but decided to leave the club due to "achieved goals".[3]

On 6 March 2012, Rad appointed Nikolić as manager for the second time. He signed a contract that would keep him at the club until the summer of 2013.[4]

Vojvodina

On 7 June 2013, Nikolić was appointed manager of Vojvodina.[5] He led the club to the play-off round in the Europa League, but lost to Sheriff Tiraspol 2–3 on aggregate. On 9 December 2013, Nikolić parted company with Vojvodina by mutual agreement.[6]

Partizan

On 16 December 2013, Nikolić was appointed manager of Partizan, replacing Vuk Rašović.[7] Some of his first signings included his former Vojvodina players Miroslav Vulićević, Petar Škuletić, and Branislav Trajković. On 22 February 2014, Nikolić made his debut in a goalless draw away at Novi Pazar.[8] He eventually failed to defend the league title in the 2013–14 campaign. In the following 2014–15 season, Nikolić qualified to the group stage of the Europa League,[9] finishing bottom of the table. He was somewhat unexpectedly released by the club on 25 March 2015, leaving Partizan in first place and reaching the cup semi-final.[10]

Olimpija Ljubljana

On 11 January 2016, Nikolić was presented as new manager of Slovenian club Olimpija Ljubljana, penning a two-and-a-half-year contract.[11] He rejoined his countryman Ranko Stojić, the club's director of football, as they previously performed the same roles at Rad.[12] On 10 April 2016, in a league fixture versus Zavrč, Nikolić reportedly called his player, Blessing Eleke, a "black idiot" for elaborately celebrating an injury-time equalizer in an eventual 1–1 draw.[13] He later apologized to the player, club's management, and fans.[14] However, on 14 April 2016, Nikolić received a seven-match ban and was fined €1,500 by the Slovenian FA following the incident.[15] He eventually terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent on 18 April 2016.[16][17]

Return to Partizan

On 4 August 2016, Nikolić returned to Partizan on a two-year deal.[18] His first competitive game back in charge of Partizan ended in a 1–3 home loss to Vojvodina three days later. After recording two wins and two losses in the first four matches, Nikolić ran a streak of 37 consecutive games without a loss in both the league and cup (33 wins), eventually winning the double. On 31 May 2017, Nikolić terminated his contract with Partizan upon his request.[19]

Videoton

On 6 June 2017, Nikolić signed a two-year contract with Hungarian club Videoton.[20] He won the Nemzeti Bajnokság I in his first season in charge.[21]

He managed the club to reach the play-offs of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League. However, the club was defeated by AEK Athens F.C., therefore, the cub was eligible to play in the group stages of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League. Vidi beat PAOK FC twice and they drew with Chelsea F.C. However, in the following year Fehérvár FC was beaten by FC Vaduz in the third round of the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League.

On 25 November 2019, he was dismissed by Fehérvár FC after a 3-1 home defeat at the MOL Aréna Sóstó. The club directors expected that Fehérvár could gain more points in the first half of the 2019–20 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season than their rival Ferencváros since Ferencváros played in the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League. However, on the 12 match day Ferencváros led the championship.

Lokomotiv Moscow

On 14 May 2020, the board of directors of Russian Premier League club FC Lokomotiv Moscow announced the signing of Nikolić, with contract beginning on 1 June 2020.[22] The Russian league was suspended until that date due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. He replaced Yuri Semin. In the 2020–21 season, Lokomotiv won the Russian Cup and qualified for the Europa League, also finishing in 3rd place in the league table. On 21 May 2021, Lokomotiv extended contract with Nikolić for three additional years.[23] He left Lokomotiv by mutual consent on 5 October 2021.[24]

Managerial statistics
As of 20 October 2023
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Serbia Rad 26 October 2008 23 May 2011 86 31 28 27 036.05
Serbia Rad 6 March 2012 7 June 2013 47 20 10 17 042.55
Serbia Vojvodina 7 June 2013 9 December 2013 26 12 10 4 046.15
Serbia Partizan 16 December 2013 25 March 2015 51 34 11 6 066.67
Slovenia Olimpija Ljubljana 11 January 2016 18 April 2016 8 4 4 0 050.00
Serbia Partizan 4 August 2016 31 May 2017 41 35 4 2 085.37
Hungary Fehérvár 6 June 2017 25 November 2019 120 69 27 24 057.50
Russia Lokomotiv Moscow 1 June 2020 5 October 2021 64 31 18 15 048.44
United Arab Emirates Shabab Al Ahli 2 June 2023 present 7 4 1 2 057.14
Total 451 240 114 97 053.22

    Honours

    Manager

    Partizan

    Fehérvár

    Lokomotiv Moscow

    Individual

    References
    1. "Rad smenio trenera" (in Serbian). b92.net. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    2. "JSL: Prva pobeda Rada" (in Serbian). b92.net. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    3. "Trener Nikolić napustio Rad" (in Serbian). b92.net. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    4. "Nikolić na klupi Rada do 2013" (in Serbian). b92.net. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    5. "MARKO NIKOLIĆ TRENER VOJVODINE" (in Serbian). fkvojvodina.rs. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
    6. "RASTALI SE VOJVODINA I NIKOLIĆ" (in Serbian). fkvojvodina.rs. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
    7. "Marko Nikolić novi trener Partizana" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
    8. "Partizan ponovo zaustavljen u Novom Pazaru!" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
    9. "Partizan opet u Ligi Evrope!" (in Serbian). b92.net. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
    10. "Saopštenje Upravnog odbora FK Partizan" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    11. "Na današnji tiskovni konferenci je bil predstavljen novi trener članskega moštva" (in Slovenian). nkolimpija.si. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    12. "Olimpija predstavila novega trenerja, igralskih okrepitev še ne" (in Slovenian). rtvslo.si. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
    13. "Olimpija Ljubljana manager keeps job after calling own player 'black idiot'". telegraph.co.uk. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    14. "Marko Nikolić vređao svog igrača na rasnoj osnovi!" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    15. "Nikolić ne bo smel voditi Olimpije do konca prvenstva" (in Slovenian). rtvslo.si. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    16. "Predsednik NK Olimpija Milan Mandarić pojasnil razloge za prekinitev sodelovanja z Markom Nikolićem" (in Slovenian). nkolimpija.si. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    17. "Epilog Nikolićeve neprimerne opazke: slovo od Olimpije" (in Slovenian). rtvslo.si. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
    18. "Marko Nikolić novi šef struke u Partizanu" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
    19. "Zajedničko saopštenje FK Partizan i Marka Nikolića" (in Serbian). partizan.rs. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
    20. "Marko Nikolic is the new manager of Videoton FC". vidi.hu. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
    21. "Videoton win third Hungarian championship title". mlsz.hu. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
    22. "Решение совета директоров ФК "Локомотив"" (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 14 May 2020.
    23. "Новый контракт Марко Николича" (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 21 May 2021.
    24. "Марко Николич покидает "Локомотив"" (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 5 October 2021.
    25. "Lokomotiv beat FNL champions Krylia to win Russian Cup". Russian Premier League. 12 May 2021.
    26. "SLS: Đurđević igrač sezone, Nikolić najbolji trener!" (in Serbian). rtvbn.com. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
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