Ivan Marić (footballer, born 1994)

Ivan Marić (Serbian Cyrillic: Иван Марић; born 3 August 1994) is a Serbian professional footballer who is playing for Aizawl.

Ivan Marić
Marić with Wong Tai Sin in 2019
Personal information
Full nameIvan Marić
Date of birth (1994-08-03) 3 August 1994 (age 29)
Place of birthČačak, FR Yugoslavia
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)Centre-back, Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Aizawl
Number15
Youth career
Borac Čačak
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012–2013Sloboda Čačak0(0)
2013–2014Zvezdara
2014Polet Ljubić0(0)
2015Sloga Kraljevo10(0)
2015–2016Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje20(0)
2016Lokomotíva Zvolen3(0)
2017Jagodina12(0)
2017–2018Mosta19(1)
2018–2019Wong Tai Sin12(3)
2019–2020King Fung10(4)
2021Valletta4(0)
2022Da Nang1(0)
2022–2023Swadhinata KS10(2)
2023Satdobato13(0)
2023–Aizawl17(0)
International career
2010Serbia U-174(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:00, 5 April 2024 (UTC)

Club career

Early years

Born in Čačak, Marić came through the youth academy of his local side Borac Čačak.[1] He later moved to another local club Sloboda Čačak. In the 2013–14 season, he played for Zvezdara in the Belgrade Zone League.[2]

Professional career

In early 2015, as a young prospect at the age of 20, Marić moved up two tiers to join Serbian First League club Sloga Kraljevo. He would make 10 appearances up to the end of 2014–15 season. After the season,[3] Marić moved abroad to pursue a trial at Macedonian side Mladost Carev Dvor.[4]

After spending the 2015–16 season with Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje in the Montenegrin Second League,[5] Marić moved to Lokomotíva Zvolen, with which he stayed until the end of 2016.[6]

In March 2017, now a professional with foreign experience, Marić returned to his home country Serbia's First League, signing with Jagodina.[7] That summer, Marić took his experience abroad to the Maltese Premier League, joining Mosta.[6]

Asia

In the 2018–19 season, Marić took a leap away from his home continent. Playing in the Hong Kong First Division, he was a registered foreign player for Wong Tai Sin, alongside veteran compatriot Ivan Kurtušić.

In the 2019–20 season, he was invited to join King Fung in the same division. His performances for the club received positive comments from the media, as he went on the scoresheet 4 times despite the season having been shortened by the pandemic.[8]

Back to Europe

In January 2021, Marić became Valletta's defender in the final hours of the January transfer window, as the club's intention was to replace Serbian defender Mihailo Jovanovic, who left the club to return to his homeland on account of family mourning.[9] He left the club again at the end of the season.

Return to Asia

After a trial period, Marić returned to Asia, when he signed with V.League 1 club SHB Da Nang FC on 30 December 2021.[10]

On 21 April 2022, Marić signed for Bangladesh Premier League side Swadhinata KS during the mid season transfer window.[11]

In September 2023, Marić moved to India, signing I-League club Aizawl.[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of 21 January 2018[6]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sloga Kraljevo2014–15First League100100
Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje2015–16[5]Second League20030230
Lokomotíva Zvolen2016–172. Liga301040
Jagodina2016–17First League8080
Mosta2017–18Premier League12110131
Career total53150581

Honours

Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje

References