Dejan DamjanoviÃÂ (, ; born 27 July 1981), also known mononymously as Dejan, is a former Montenegrin professional footballer who played as a forward. Regarded as one of the greatest K League players in history, he is the all-time leading goalscorer of the AFC Champions League.
DamjanoviÃÂ was born in the town of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina (then part of Yugoslavia) on 27 July 1981. He fled from the Yugoslav Wars to Belgrade in Serbia. He joined under-14 team of SinÃÂeliÃÂ Beograd, starting to learn football professionally in Serbia.
Damjanoviàmade his senior debut for the third division team SinÃÂeliàBeograd in 1998, scoring 6 goals in 21 matches in his first season. He moved to à ½eleznik in 2000 and later also played with SremÃÂica, Srem, RadniÃÂki Beograd and Beà ¾anija. He experienced all the first, second, and third division of FR Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro. In December 2006, he and his team Beà ¾anija were in financial trouble. Beà ¾anija wanted to get transfer fees and he also wanted to leave Serbia. He left to Guam, where K League club Incheon United held the off-season training. After tryouts, he succeeded in signing with Incheon, moving to South Korea. He scored 20 goals for a year at Incheon.
Damjanoviàsigned a contract with FC Seoul on 7 December 2007. He was the second highest scorer in 2007, 2008 and 2009 K League. With 23 goals for Seoul in 2011 season, he was crowned the league's top scorer. In July 2009, he managed to score two goals against Manchester United in United's Asian tour. However, FC Seoul lost 3âÂÂ2, United's goals being scored by Wayne Rooney, Federico Macheda and Dimitar Berbatov.
In January 2012, Chinese Super League club Guangzhou R&F offered $5 million to FC Seoul for DamjanoviÃÂ, but it was rejected by Seoul. In the first match of the 2012 K League, Damjanoviàwas substituted out after 22 minutes against Daegu FC. It had been speculated that the FC Seoul manager, Choi Yong-soo, and Damjanoviàhad a rift. Damjanoviàwanted to leave but FC Seoul would not let him. However, as time went on, FC Seoul issued an official statement by Choi saying there was no tension between the two. Damjanoviàscored his 100th career goal with FC Seoul from a penalty goal, along with the 101st in the same match over a 3âÂÂ1 win against his former club Incheon United on 28 May 2012. On 25 July 2012, he became the top foreign goalscorer in the history of the K League by scoring his 105th goal in the match against Daejeon Citizen. The previous record holder is Saà ¡a Drakuliàwho made 104 goals in K League. Afterwards, he scored 31 goals in 40 appearances, thus breaking the record held by Kim Do-hoon in 2002. He finished the 2012 season with many accolades and records broken. He won the league with FC Seoul as well as becoming the Most Valuable Player, top goalscorer, and one of the Best XI. In January 2013, IFFHS ranked Damjanoviàseventh in the world for most goals in a top-division league during a year.
In September 2013, DamjanoviÃÂ scored in both of two legs of the AFC Champions League quarter finals against his former team Al-Ahli. His scoring continued against the first leg of the semi-final against Esteghlal. However, despite scoring in both legs of the 2013 AFC Champions League final against Guangzhou Evergrande, FC Seoul lost on away goals and thus ending the competition as runners-up. At the end of the 2013 season, he became the first player to receive the K League Top Scorer Award for three consecutive seasons.
In December 2013, DamjanoviÃÂ transferred to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Sainty with transfer fee $4.2 million. He agreed to draw an annual salary of $2 million, more than double his salary at Seoul.
On 17 July 2014, DamjanoviÃÂ transferred to fellow Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan. He once again played with Ha Dae-sung, his teammate at Seoul. At Chinese Super League, he scored the fifth and the third highest number of goals in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
On 28 December 2015, DamjanoviÃÂ returned to FC Seoul, signing a two-year contract. On 3 August 2016, he scored his 150th goal in 254th appearance in the K League, setting a record for the quickest player to reach 150 goals in the K League history. He helped Seoul regain the league title for the first time in four years.
However, DamjanoviÃÂ was in conflict with manager Hwang Sun-hong in the 2017 season. He publicly expressed discontent at his reduced playing time. He scored 19 goals at the league, but the club decided not to extend his contract. The next year, he joined Seoul's arch-rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings, and was criticised as a betrayer by Seoul fans. After his retirement, he still expressed his love toward Seoul, whereas he explained his sadness about Seoul's unilateral notice and indifferent farewell. Apart from this, he criticised Hwang's treatment of foreign players and managerial style.
On 4 January 2018, DamjanoviÃÂ signed for Suwon Samsung Bluewings. He scored 10 goals in 13 matches until the semi-finals at the 2018 AFC Champions League.
In the 2019 season, Australian international Adam Taggart became Suwon's main striker instead of DamjanoviÃÂ. He was released in December 2019.
In late December 2019, Daegu FC announced the signing of DamjanoviÃÂ on a free transfer. On June 14, he scored his first goal since moving against Seoul. He had 9 goals and 3 assists in 23 appearances, helping Daegu qualify for the 2021 AFC Champions League.
On 9 January 2021, Kitchee announced the signing of Damjanoviàon a free transfer. He made his debut for Kitchee on 27 February, coming off the bench in the 67th minute in a 2âÂÂ1 win against Southern. On 4 March, He scored his first goal in Hong Kong in just 1 minute after being substituted. In stoppage time, he scores his second to assist the team in a 2âÂÂ0 victory over Pegasus. On 23 May, Kitchee successfully defended their Hong Kong Premier League title after beating Eastern Long Lions 2âÂÂ0, courtesy of two goals by Damjanoviàat the Hong Kong Stadium. On 24 June, he scored a goal in a group stage match against Port F.C. at the 2021 AFC Champions League, making him joint-top goalscorer along with Lee Dong-gook in Champions League history with 37 goals. On 27 June, he scored a goal against Cerezo Osaka to become the sole leader in Champions League's all-time scoring chart. He later scored twice from the penalty spot, one each in two matches against Guangzhou, to reach his 40th goal in the Champions League.
On 1 May 2022, he scored his 42nd goal in the Champions League in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Vissel Kobe in the 2022 edition, which helped Kitchee to reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in their history.
DamjanoviÃÂ's first match as a Montenegrin international was against Italy on 16 October 2008.
DamjanoviÃÂ scored his first two international goals against Cyprus in one of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Damjanoviàplayed as a main striker for Montenegro at the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 16 October 2012, he scored the winning goal in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Ukraine. On 26 March 2013, during a 1âÂÂ1 draw with England, he came on as a substitute for Mitar Novakoviàin the 46th minute, and scored the equaliser thirty minutes later. On 6 September, he provided the only goal for Montenegro again as they tied 1âÂÂ1 with Poland in Warsaw. On 11 October, he scored the only goal for Montenegro in their 4âÂÂ1 defeat to England at Wembley Stadium. Montenegro finished third in the UEFA Group H, failing to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
DamjanoviÃÂ earned 30 caps and 8 goals during his international career. His last international match was a European Championship qualifier against Moldova on 8 September 2015.
DamjanoviÃÂ's daughter and son were born in South Korea.
RadniÃÂki Beograd
Beà ¾anija
Al-Ahli
FC Seoul
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Kitchee
Individual
Records