Žan Benedičič (born 3 October 1995) is a Slovenian

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

er who plays as an

attacking midfielder In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in that case known as defensive midfielders. ...

for Triglav Kranj. He represented Slovenia at various youth levels.

Club career

AC Milan

After progressing through the youth ranks at

AC Milan (), commonly referred to as Milan or AC Milan () mainly outside of Italy, is an Italian professional Football club (association football), football club based in Milan, Lombardy. Founded in 1899, the club competes in the Serie A, the top tie ...

, Benedičič broke into the Milan Primavera side. In the 2013–14 season, he made 35 appearances for the Primavera side in all competitions, and also scored 6 goals. During the 2014–15 pre-season, he was called up to the Milan senior team for the tour of the United States by new Milan manager and his former youth coach

Filippo Inzaghi Filippo "Pippo" Inzaghi (; born 9 August 1973) is an Italian professional football manager and former player who played as a striker. He was most recently the head coach of club Pisa. He was nicknamed "Superpippo" (" Super Goof") or "Alta ten ...

, but on 29 July 2014, he flew home from the tour, strengthening speculation that he was preparing to sign on loan for

Leeds United Leeds United Football Club is a professional football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. The team compete in the Premier League, the top tier of the English football league system. Leeds United have won the League Championship th ...

. On 30 July his agent Amir Ružnić confirmed Benedičič was close to a move to Leeds.

Loan to Leeds United

On 4 August 2014, it was confirmed that he had signed for Leeds United on a one-year loan deal, with the option for Leeds to buy at the end of the loan. Leeds head coach David Hockaday described Benedičič as "a versatile, strong and technical midfield player". He made his début for Leeds on 12 August when he came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute in a League Cup game against

Accrington Stanley Accrington Stanley Football Club is a professional association football club based in Accrington, Lancashire, England, that compete in the , the fourth level of the English football league system. They have spent their entire history playing a ...

. Benedičič made his league début for Leeds United on 30 August in a 1–0 victory against

Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers Football Club ( ) is a professional association football, football club based in Horwich, Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in EFL League One, League One, the third level of the Englis ...

Elland Road Elland Road, or Elland Road Stadium, is a football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, which has been the Home (sports), home of Leeds United F.C., Leeds United since the club's formation in 1919. The stadium is the List of foot ...

. Shortly after making his debut, Benedičič picked up a knee injury with would rule him out for the season after he required knee surgery.

Return to Italy

After his loan spell expired at Leeds during the summer of 2015, he returned to Italy, signing for

Como Como (, ; , or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Nestled at the southwestern branch of the picturesque Lake Como, the city is a renowned tourist destination, ce ...

where he made nine appearances before signing for Ascoli, also making nine appearances.

Leyton Orient

On 19 September 2016, Benedičič joined Leyton Orient on a free transfer until January 2017. He left Orient in January after his contract was not renewed.

International career

Benedičič was capped for the

Slovenia national under-21 football team The Slovenia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Slovenia and is governed by the Football Association of Slovenia. Players Current squad The following 23 players were called up for the 2025 UEFA European U ...

, making his debut on 6 September 2013 against Russia U21. He scored his first goal on 19 November 2013 when he scored a goal in Slovenia U21s' 5–1 victory against Bulgaria U21.

Honours

Celje *

Slovenian PrvaLiga The Slovenian PrvaLiga (, ), currently named Prva liga Telemach due to sponsorship reasons, also known by the abbreviation 1. SNL, is the top level of the Slovenian football league system. Contested by ten clubs, it operates on a system of prom ...

: 2019–20

References

External links

* *
Žan Benedičič
at NZS {{DEFAULTSORT:Benedicic, Zan 1995 births Living people Footballers from Kranj Slovenian men's footballers 21st-century Slovenian sportsmen Slovenia men's youth international footballers Slovenia men's under-21 international footballers Men's association football midfielders Slovenian expatriate men's footballers AC Milan players Leeds United F.C. players Como 1907 players Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC players Leyton Orient F.C. players Olbia Calcio 1905 players NK Celje players FC Koper players NK Rogaška players FK Kauno Žalgiris players NK Triglav Kranj players English Football League players Serie B players Serie C players Slovenian PrvaLiga players A Lyga players Slovenian expatriate sportspeople in Italy Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Expatriate men's footballers in England Slovenian expatriate sportspeople in England Expatriate men's footballers in Lithuania Slovenian expatriate sportspeople in Lithuania