Saša Kalajdžić

Saša Kalajdžić (Serbian Cyrillic: Саша Калајџић; born 7 July 1997) is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart and the Austria national team.[1]

Saša Kalajdžić
Kalajdžić with Admira Wacker in 2017
Personal information
Full name Saša Kalajdžić
Date of birth (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997
Place of birth Vienna, Austria
Height 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 VfB Stuttgart
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 SR Donaufeld Wien 18 (7)
2016–2018 Admira Wacker II 33 (13)
2016–2019 Admira Wacker 33 (11)
2019– VfB Stuttgart 51 (21)
National team‡
2017–2019 Austria U21 6 (0)
2020– Austria 13 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:07, 24 April 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:20, 29 March 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Kalajdžić started his career as a professional footballer in Austria for FC Admira Wacker Mödling. Originally playing as a midfielder, he later became a forward.[2] On 5 July 2019, Kalajdžić signed a four-year contract with the German club VfB Stuttgart.[3] Shortly after his arrival, he suffered a torn cruciate ligament during a preseason training camp.[4]

He eventually made his league debut on 28 May 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 78th minute of matchday 28 of the 2019–20 2. Bundesliga season against Hamburger SV. He subsequently scored his first goal for the club in matchday 33 during a 6–0 rout of FC Nuremberg.[5]

In the following season, Kalajdžić frequently lead the line for VfB Stuttgart, finishing the season ranked 6th top scorer in the Bundesliga with 16 goals,[6] helping his team finish 9th in the league.

The next season, Kalajdžić scored the winner in Stuttgart's 3–2 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach on matchday 25.[7]

International career

Kalajdžić made his debut for Austria on 14 October 2020 in a Nations League game against Romania. He came on as a substitute for Michael Gregoritsch in the 90th minute.[8] On 25 March 2021, he scored his first two international goals in a 2–2 away draw with Scotland during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.[9] Kalajdžić was included in the squad for Euro 2020, where he scored a goal in a 2–1 loss after extra-time against Italy in the round of 16.[10]

Style of play

Due to his two-meter stature and relatively slender build, Kalajdžić received comparisons with the English striker Peter Crouch, who similarly to Kalajdžić functioned as an out-and-out target man. During his youth career, Kalajdžić also played as a holding midfielder and referred to Nemanja Matić as an inspiration.[11][12]

Personal life

Born in Austria to the Bosnian War refugee parents, Kalajdžić is of Bosnian Serb descent.[13][14][15]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 24 April 2022[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Admira Wacker Amateure 2016–17 Austrian Regionalliga East 271000—2710
2017–18 Austrian Regionalliga East 3300—33
2018–19 Austrian Regionalliga East 3000—30
Total 331300—3313
Admira Wacker 2017–18 Austrian Bundesliga 18321—204
2018–19 Austrian Bundesliga 15800—158
Total 331121—3512
VfB Stuttgart 2019–20 2. Bundesliga 6100—61
2020–21 Bundesliga 331631—3617
2021–22 Bundesliga 12400—124
Total 512131—5422
Career total 11745520012247

International
As of match played 29 March 2022[16]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Austria 202020
202194
202220
Total134
Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kalajdžić goal.[16]
List of international goals scored by Saša Kalajdžić
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
125 March 2021Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland3 Scotland1–02–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification[17]
22–1
328 March 2021Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria4 Faroe Islands3–13–1[18]
426 June 2021Wembley Stadium, London, England11 Italy1–21–2 (a.e.t.)UEFA Euro 2020[19]

References
  1. Saša Kalajdžić at Soccerway
  2. "Rapid-Stürmersuche: Admiras Kalajdzic soll es richten". kurier.at (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. "VfB sign Sasa Kalajdzic". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  4. "3:2 nach 0:2! VfB kommt zurück und schlägt den HSV". kicker.
  5. "Doppelpacker Gonzalez und Karazor: Stuttgart fertigt Nürnberg ab". kicker.
  6. "Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, Andrej Kramaric and the race to become the Bundesliga's top scorer". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website.
  7. "Der coole Kalajdzic krönt eine famose VfB-Aufholjagd". kicker.de. kicker.de. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  8. "Romania v Austria game report". UEFA. 14 October 2020.
  9. "Scotland 2–2 Austria". BBC Sport. 25 March 2021.
  10. "Sasa Kalajdzic scores as Austria suffer late defeat against Italy". The Athletic. 27 June 2021.
  11. "Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic issues come-and-get-me plea to Liverpool | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  12. "Sasa Kalajdzic: Who is the VfB Stuttgart and Austria striker?". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website.
  13. "SRPSKI DŽIN U DRESU AUSTRIJE – Saša Kalajdžić na meti Kelna, Štutgarta, Lidsa". srbin.info.
  14. "VfB Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic on Peter Crouch comparisons and living the dream in the Bundesliga". bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website.
  15. Hagenauer, Andreas (18 May 2021). "Saša Kalajdžić: Golgeter". Telesport (in Croatian). Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  16. "Kalajdžić, Saša". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  17. "Scotland vs. Austria 2–2: Summary". Soccerway. 25 March 2021.
  18. "Austria vs. Faroe Islands 3–1: Summary". Soccerway. 28 March 2021.
  19. "Italy vs. Austria 2–1: Summary". Soccerway. 26 June 2021.
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