Uroš Račić

Uroš Račić
Урош Рачић
Račić with Red Star Belgrade in 2018
Personal information
Full name Uroš Račić[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-17) 17 March 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Kraljevo, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 West Bromwich Albion
(on loan from Sassuolo)
Number 20
Youth career
Bambi Kraljevo
ŠF Knjaz
Altina Zemun
Sloga Kraljevo
Sloboda Čačak
OFK Beograd
2016–2017 Red Star Belgrade
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Red Star Belgrade 31 (3)
2018 Valencia B 15 (1)
2018–2023 Valencia 59 (1)
2019 → Tenerife (loan) 16 (1)
2019–2020 → Famalicão (loan) 33 (3)
2022–2023 → Braga (loan) 25 (1)
2023– Sassuolo 22 (1)
2024– → West Bromwich Albion (loan) 17 (0)
International career‡
2016 Serbia U18 4 (1)
2016−2017 Serbia U19 14 (2)
2017−2020 Serbia U21 14 (0)
2021– Serbia 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:30, 17 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 September 2023

Uroš Račić (Serbian Cyrillic: Урош Рачић; born 17 March 1998) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL Championship club West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Serie B club Sassuolo. He also plays for the Serbia national team.

Club career

Early years

Born in Kraljevo,[2] Račić started playing football in local football academies "Bambi" and "Knjaz" along with his twin brother Bogdan. After three years paying with Altina football school in Zemun, twins returned to home town and joined Sloga Kraljevo. They also played with Sloboda Čačak before joined OFK Beograd.[3] After two years he spent with youth team, Uroš was also licensed for the first team for the 2015–16 season.[4][5] After he scored a goal for youth team in a match against Red Star Belgrade for 4:1 win, Uroš moved in opponent team with his twin brother and signed a three-year professional contract with Red Star on 13 March 2016.[6]

Red Star Belgrade

Račić made his debut with Red Star Belgrade on 8 May 2016 in a friendly match against Olympiacos.[7][8] On 14 May 2016, he made his SuperLiga debut in away match against Radnik Surdulica, coming on as a substitute for Aleksandar Katai.[9]

During the 2017 summer pre-season, Račić was presented as one of the club's top 10 youth prospects.[10] On 6 July 2017, Račić made his first continental appearance for the club, in the second leg of the first qualifying round for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League, in a 3–3 draw against Floriana.[11] Račić scored his first senior goal for Red Star Belgrade in a 3−1 victory against OFK Bačka on 13 August 2017.[12] On the last day of the 2017 summer transfer window, Račić extended his contract with Red Star to 30 June 2021.[13] He also scored in a 2–1 victory over Mladost Lučani in the 14th fixture of the Serbian SuperLiga campaign.[14] His goal was proclaimed goal of the week in the domestic football competition, after which he won a wristwatch as a reward.[15] On 5 May 2018, Račić was fouled for a penalty kick, which was scored by Dejan Joveljić in 4–0 home victory over Spartak Subotica.[16] He scored and assisted teammate Nemanja Radonjić in the last season match against Voždovac on 19 May 2018.[17]

Valencia

Račić joined Valencia in the summer of 2018 in a €2.2 million transfer from Red Star Belgrade.[18] On 13 June 2018, he signed a four-year contract,[19] but was assigned to the B-team in Segunda División B. A fixed-rate clause of €100 million was inserted in his contract.[20]

2017–18 season

On 4 December 2018, Račić made his debut for Valencia in a 1–0 win over CD Ebro in the Copa del Rey.[21]

Loans to Tenerife and Famalicão

On 14 January 2019, Račić was loaned to Segunda División side CD Tenerife until the end of the season.[22] He was then loaned to Portuguese team FC Famalicão in August 2019.[23]

2020–21 season

On 13 September 2020, Račić came on as a substitute in Valencia's opening game of the 2020–21 La Liga season home against Levante, in a 4–2 win.

Loan to Braga

On 1 September 2022, Račić returned to Portugal after joining Braga on a one-year loan deal.

Sassuolo

On 16 August 2023, Račić moved to Serie A side Sassuolo.[24]

West Bromwich Albion (loan)

On 22 August 2024, Račić completed a move to EFL Championship side West Bromwich Albion on a season long loan. He did turn down wolves for West Brom stating they are the better club. [25][26]

International career

As a member of Serbia national under-18 football team Račić played several matches in 2016 and scored 1 goal against Armenia in a match played 15 March 2016.[27] In August 2016, Račić was called into Serbia U19 squad for memorial tournament "Stevan Vilotić - Ćele", where he debuted in opening match against United States.[28] Račić scored his first goal for U19 national team from a penalty kick, in a friendly match against Georgia, played on 8 October 2016.[29] Račić was also a scorer in the last testing match before elite qualification round for the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9 March 2017.[30] Račić got his first call in Serbian under-21 team by coach Goran Đorović in December 2017.[31] He made his debut for the team in an away friendly against Qatar on 17 December 2017.[32]

In November 2022, he was selected in Serbia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar,[33] but he didn't make any appearance there.

Style of play

"Račić is most similar like Slaviša Jokanović, the real 'six'. He is a defensive midfielder with an extraordinary jump, great game review and incredible intelligence. He will just demonstrate his quality in the future."

—Zvezdan Terzić, general director of Red Star Belgrade, December 2017[34]

Standing at 6-foot-4-inches (1.93 m),[35] Račić is a right-footed footballer.[36] He joined Red Star Belgrade as a successor to Marko Grujić and player who usually plays on central midfield position, being capable of playing both attacking and defensive role equally.[6] Račić also played as a centre-back in a friendly during the Miodrag Božović era.[37] In August 2017, Račić was linked with Juventus, when he was also compared with Sergej Milinković-Savić.[38] Račić emphasized Paul Pogba as his idol.[15]

"I saw him on the Eternal Derby. He is very tall, young and right-footed midfielder, a typical Balkan player with good ball control."

—Predrag Mijatović, former Yugoslav international footballer, June 2018[39]

When Račić's signing with Valencia was announced, former player of the club Predrag Mijatović described Račić in Spanish media. He said he watched him against his former club, Partizan and mentioned Račić's physical characteristics. He also described his mode of play, but emphasized a difference in quality between the Serbian SuperLiga and La Liga.[39]

Career statistics

Club

Račić playing for Red Star Belgrade in a 2018 friendly against Zenit Saint Petersburg
As of match played 17 December 2024[40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
OFK Beograd 2015–16[5] Serbian SuperLiga 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Red Star Belgrade 2015–16 Serbian SuperLiga 1 0 — — 1 0
2016–17 Serbian SuperLiga 8 0 2 0 0 0 10 0
2017–18 Serbian SuperLiga 22 3 2 0 10[b] 0 34 3
Total 31 3 4 0 10 0 45 3
Valencia 2018–19 La Liga 0 0 1 0 — 1 0
2020–21 La Liga 31 1 2 1 — 33 2
2021–22 La Liga 28 0 6 0 — 34 0
Total 59 1 9 1 — 68 2
Valencia B (loan) 2018–19 Segunda División B 15 1 — — 15 1
Tenerife (loan) 2018–19 Segunda División 16 1 — — 16 1
Famalicão (loan) 2019–20 Primeira Liga 33 3 5 0 — 38 3
Braga (loan) 2022–23 Primeira Liga 25 1 5 3 7[c] 0 37 4
Sassuolo 2023–24 Serie A 22 1 1 0 — 23 1
West Bromwich Albion (loan) 2024–25 Championship 17 0 0 0 — 17 0
Career total 218 11 23 4 17 0 258 15
  1. ^ Includes Serbian Cup, Copa del Rey, Taça de Portugal
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of 10 September 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Serbia 2021 3 0
2022 6 0
2023 3 0
Total 12 0

Honours

Red Star Belgrade

Valencia

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Serbia (SRB)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 26. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Близанци из "женске" улице". unijasprs.org.rs (in Serbian). 2 March 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Рачић - Луне ми је други отац". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 5 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Uroš Račić". OFK Beograd official website (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Uroš Račić". srbijafudbal.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Ekspresno završeno: Račići potpisali za Zvezdu!". mondo.rs (in Serbian). 13 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Црвена звезда - Олимпијакос 2:2 (1:1)". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 8 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Урош Рачић - Велика част". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 9 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Радник - Црвена звезда 1:4 (1:2)". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 14 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  10. ^ "ALO! PREDSTAVLJA Top 10 Zvezdinih klinaca za budućnost". Alo! (in Serbian). 31 May 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Флоријана - Црвена звезда 3:3 (1:1)". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 6 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Рачић - Дуго сам сањао овај тренутак". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 13 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  13. ^ ""FUDBAL", vanredni broj 19/17, page 35" (PDF). Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 31 August 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Zvezda spavala i preživela! (VIDEO)". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 22 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Gol kola - Uroš Račić - Dodela sata 10. novembar 2017". soskanal.net (in Serbian). 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  16. ^ "Црвена звезда - Спартак 4:0 (3:0)". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). 5 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Čas je vidiš, čas je ne vidiš: Radonjić i Ben preneli žurku na teren! (VIDEO)". mozzartsport.com (in Serbian). 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Gotovo: Račić u Valensiji, Zvezdi 2.2 miliona evra". N1 (in Serbian). 8 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  19. ^ "Uroš Račić: "Venir al Valencia CF es cumplir un sueño"". Valencia CF official website (in Spanish). 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Comunicado oficial I Uroš Račić". Valencia CF official website (in Spanish). 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  21. ^ "Račić debitovao za Valensiju, Mestalja je oduševljena: Hoćemo još!". Mozzart Sport (in Serbian). 4 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  22. ^ "Official statement | Uroš Račić". Valencia CF. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  23. ^ Dejan Stanković (7 August 2019). "Uroš Račić u Famalisau". Mozzart Sport (in Serbian). Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Il Sassuolo ingaggia dal Valencia il centrocampista serbo Uros Racic" [Sassuolo sign Serbian midfielder Uros Racic from Valencia] (in Italian). US Sassuolo Calcio. 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  25. ^ "GALLERY | Uroš Račić becomes a Baggie 📸 | West Bromwich Albion". www.wba.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Albion welcome Uroš Račić on loan". www.wba.co.uk. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  27. ^ "U18 - Srbi dosta jači od Jermena". sportske.net (in Serbian). 15 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  28. ^ ""Стевaн Ћеле Вилoтић": Србијa – СAД 2:1 (1:1)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 1 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  29. ^ "Реми омладинаца у тесту против Грузије 1:1(0:1)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 8 October 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  30. ^ "Реми омладинаца у реванш мечу са Босном и Херцеговином – 3:3(1:2)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 9 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  31. ^ "Ђоровићев списак за Катар: Играчи из Бајерн Минхена, вечитих ривала, чак и омладинац Јовељић!". Sportski žurnal (in Serbian). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  32. ^ "Никад млађа селекција Србије до 21 године славила у Дохи против Катара -2:1(1:1)". Football Association of Serbia (in Serbian). 17 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  33. ^ "Head-coach Dragan Stojković announces the list of players for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar". Football Association of Serbia. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Zvezdan Terzić, na sasvim drugačiji način: Račić je novi Jokanović, ne bih doveo geja u Zvezdu, ofarbaću se ako budemo u finalu Lige Evrope". mozzartsport.com. Belgrade. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Урош Рачић". Red Star Belgrade official website (in Serbian). Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  36. ^ "GRUJIĆEV NASLEDNIK Uroš Račić za Blicsport: Neću pare, želim da me pamte po igrama u Zvezdi". Blic (in Serbian). 12 February 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  37. ^ "Pobeda Zvezde za kraj: Babunski se istakao". mondo.rs (in Serbian). 8 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  38. ^ "Juventus bi Račića za 6.000.000, ali ne ovog leta?". mondo.rs (in Serbian). 27 August 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  39. ^ a b "Mijatovic: "Racic tiene talento, pero está verde para competir en la Liga"". Levante-EMV. Valencia. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  40. ^ a b Uroš Račić at Soccerway
  41. ^ "Barcelona 1–2 Valencia". BBC Sport. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.