1. Early Life and Background
Dejan Damjanović's early life was shaped by his birthplace in the former Yugoslavia and the geopolitical events of the time, which led to his displacement and a change in nationality.
1.1. Birth and Early Life
Damjanović was born on 27 July 1981, in the town of Mostar, in what was then the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, part of Yugoslavia. During the Yugoslav Wars, his family was displaced, and he moved to Serbia, initially residing in Pančevo before relocating to Belgrade. It was during this period that he acquired Montenegrin nationality.
1.2. Youth and Early Career
Damjanović began his professional football journey in 1996, joining FK Dinamo Pančevo and later FK Sinđelić Beograd as a youth player. He made his senior debut for the third division team Sinđelić Beograd in 1998, where he scored 6 goals in 21 matches in his first season. He then moved to FK Železnik in 2000 and subsequently had loan spells with FK Sremčica and FK Srem. While playing for Sremčica in the 2001-02 season, he became the best player and the top goalscorer of the third division, netting 10 goals in 21 appearances. He also played for FK Radnički Beograd and FK Bežanija, experiencing all three divisions of the FR Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro. In the 2005-06 season, while on loan to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, he scored 7 goals in 8 appearances. In 2007, he made his move to South Korea, joining Incheon United FC.
2. Club Career
Damjanović's professional club career spanned multiple leagues and countries, where he consistently demonstrated his prowess as a goalscorer, leaving a significant mark, particularly in the K League.
2.1. Serbian and Montenegrin Clubs
Damjanović's early career saw him develop his skills across various clubs in Serbia and Montenegro. He debuted for FK Sinđelić Beograd in 1998, scoring 6 goals in 21 matches in the 1998-99 season. He then moved to FK Železnik in 2000, making 3 appearances in 2000-01 and 10 in 2001-02. During this period, he was loaned to FK Sremčica in 2001-02, where he was the top scorer of the Serbian League Belgrade with 10 goals in 21 games. Another loan spell took him to FK Srem in 2002-03, where he played 8 matches without scoring.
From 2003 to 2007, Damjanović played for FK Bežanija, where he was a key player. He scored 13 goals in 18 appearances in the 2003-04 season, 8 goals in 19 appearances in 2004-05, 11 goals in 24 appearances in 2005-06, and 5 goals in 15 appearances in 2006-07. During his time at Bežanija, he also had a loan stint with FK Radnički Beograd in 2004-05, appearing in 6 matches. He contributed to Bežanija winning the Serbian First League title in the 2005-06 season.
2.2. Saudi Arabia
In the 2005-06 season, Damjanović had a brief loan spell with Saudi Premier League side Al-Ahli Jeddah. During his time there, he made 10 appearances and scored 8 goals. He also contributed to Al-Ahli reaching the final of the Saudi Crown Prince Cup in 2006, where they finished as runners-up.
2.3. South Korean Clubs
Damjanović's time in South Korea marked the most successful and impactful period of his career, establishing him as a legendary figure in the K League.
2.3.1. Incheon United
Damjanović made his debut in the K League with Incheon United FC in 2007. In his first season, he quickly made an impression, scoring 14 goals in 26 league matches, finishing as the third-highest scorer in the league. He also contributed 1 goal in 4 FA Cup matches and 5 goals in 10 League Cup appearances, bringing his total for the season to 20 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions.
2.3.2. FC Seoul
Damjanović joined FC Seoul on 7 December 2007, in a trade deal with Incheon United. His first stint with FC Seoul, from 2008 to 2013, was highly successful. In 2008, he scored 15 goals in 29 league matches, finishing as the second-highest scorer and competing for the K League MVP award. He notably scored a hat-trick against Pohang Steelers on 5 July 2008. In 2009, he again finished second in the K League scoring charts with 14 goals in 23 appearances. He also scored two goals against Manchester United in a friendly match during their Asian tour in July 2009, though FC Seoul lost 3-2. In the AFC Champions League, he scored a hat-trick against Sriwijaya FC, helping his team reach the quarterfinals.
The 2010 season saw Damjanović score 13 goals in 28 league matches, contributing to FC Seoul's K League title and Korean League Cup victory. He was recognized as the K League Players' Player of the Year and the Korean League Cup top goalscorer, also being named to the K League Best XI. In the 2011 season, he was crowned the league's top scorer with 23 goals in 30 appearances, seven goals clear of the second-place finisher, and was again included in the K League Best XI.
The 2012 K League was a landmark year for Damjanović. Despite initial speculation of a rift with manager Choi Yong-soo, he went on to break multiple records. On 28 May 2012, he scored his 100th and 101st career goals for FC Seoul in a 3-1 win against Incheon United, achieving the quickest 100-goal record in K League history. On 25 July 2012, he became the top foreign goalscorer in K League history by scoring his 105th goal against Daejeon Citizen, surpassing Saša Drakulić's record of 104 goals in fewer games (181 vs 271). He finished the season with an astounding 31 goals in 42 appearances, breaking Kim Do-hoon's 2002 record for most goals in a single K League season (28 goals). He led FC Seoul to another K League title and earned the K League Most Valuable Player award, the K League Top Scorer award, and a spot in the K League Best XI. In January 2013, the IFFHS ranked him seventh globally for most goals in a top-division league during a year.
In the 2013 AFC Champions League, Damjanović continued his scoring form, netting goals in both legs of the quarter-finals against his former team Al-Ahli and in the first leg of the semi-final against Esteghlal. He scored in both legs of the final against Guangzhou Evergrande, but FC Seoul ultimately lost on the away goals rule, finishing as runners-up. He was named to the AFC Champions League Dream Team for 2013.
Damjanović returned to FC Seoul on 28 December 2015, signing a two-year contract. On 3 August 2016, he scored his 150th goal in his 254th K League appearance, setting a new record for the quickest player to reach this milestone. He contributed 13 field goals to FC Seoul's K League Classic title in 2016 and was included in the AFC Champions League All-Star Squad. He also finished as a runner-up in the 2016 Korean FA Cup. His contract with FC Seoul concluded after the 2017 season, where he scored 19 goals in 37 league appearances.
2.3.3. Suwon Samsung Bluewings
On 4 January 2018, Damjanović made a high-profile move to Suwon Samsung Bluewings, the arch-rivals of his former club FC Seoul. This transfer generated significant attention and strong reactions from FC Seoul fans. In his debut season with Suwon, he scored his first goal for the club in an AFC Champions League playoff match against FLC Thanh Hóa on 30 January 2018. He also scored his first league goal for Suwon on 31 March 2018 against Jeju United. Despite some initial tactical adjustments under manager Seo Jung-won, Damjanović had a successful season, recording 27 goals and 6 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions. He scored multiple goals against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Champions League, playing a crucial role in the first leg's 3-0 victory. In the 2018 AFC Champions League, he achieved 35 career goals, tying Lee Dong-gook for the most goals in the competition's history. He signed a one-year contract extension with Suwon on 4 December 2018. In the 2019 season, he played 21 league matches, scoring 3 goals, and was part of the squad that won the 2019 Korean FA Cup. He was released by the club in December 2019.
2.3.4. Daegu FC
In late December 2019, Daegu FC announced the signing of Damjanović on a free transfer. He played for Daegu FC during the 2020 K League 1 season, making 23 appearances and scoring 9 goals. Notably, he scored his first goal for Daegu against his former club, FC Seoul, on 14 June 2020.
2.4. Chinese Clubs
In December 2013, Damjanović transferred to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Sainty for a transfer fee of 4.20 M USD. He played 11 league matches for Jiangsu, scoring 5 goals, before moving to another Chinese club mid-season.
On 17 July 2014, Damjanović transferred to fellow Chinese Super League team Beijing Guoan, where he reunited with his former FC Seoul teammate Ha Dae-sung. In the remainder of the 2014 season, he scored 10 goals in 16 league appearances, helping Beijing Guoan finish as runners-up in the Chinese Super League. In 2015, he continued his strong performance, scoring 16 goals in 29 league matches and making 9 appearances in the AFC Champions League, where he scored 2 goals. He was also named to the AFC Champions League All-Star Squad for 2015. In total, he made 45 appearances and scored 26 goals for Beijing Guoan in the Chinese Super League.
2.5. Hong Kong Club
On 9 January 2021, Damjanović signed for Kitchee SC in the Hong Kong Premier League on a free transfer. He made his debut for Kitchee on 27 February 2021 and scored his first goal in Hong Kong just one minute after being substituted on 4 March 2021, eventually scoring twice in a 2-0 victory. On 23 May 2021, he scored two goals at the Hong Kong Stadium to help Kitchee successfully defend their Hong Kong Premier League title. For the 2020-21 season, he was named Hong Kong Footballer of the Year, the Hong Kong Premier League top goalscorer with 17 goals in 14 appearances, and was included in the Hong Kong Premier League Team of the Year.
Damjanović continued to make history in the AFC Champions League with Kitchee. On 24 June 2021, he scored against Port F.C., becoming the joint-highest goalscorer in ACL history with 37 goals, alongside Lee Dong-gook. Just three days later, on 27 June 2021, he scored against Cerezo Osaka to become the all-time ACL top scorer with 38 goals. He later extended his record to 40 goals after scoring two penalties against Guangzhou F.C.. On 1 May 2022, he scored his 42nd goal in the AFC Champions League in a 2-2 draw against Vissel Kobe in the 2022 edition, which was crucial in helping Kitchee reach the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in their history. In the 2022-23 season, he scored 17 goals in 15 league appearances, again becoming the Hong Kong Premier League top goalscorer. He also helped Kitchee win the Hong Kong Premier League, the Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield, and the Hong Kong FA Cup in the same season.
3. International Career
Damjanović represented the Montenegro national football team from 2008 to 2015, earning 30 caps and scoring 8 goals. His K League performances earned him his first call-up to the Montenegro national team in September 2008 for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ireland and Bulgaria.
He made his international debut for Montenegro on 16 October 2008, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Italy in Lecce. His first international goals came on 6 June 2009, when he scored two goals against Cyprus in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Larnaca, a match that ended in a 2-2 draw. He scored his third international goal on 16 October 2012, the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Ukraine in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match in Kyiv.
On 26 March 2013, during a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against England, Damjanović came on as a substitute and scored his fourth international goal twenty minutes later, securing a 1-1 draw. On 6 September 2013, he scored the only goal for Montenegro in a 1-1 draw against Poland in Warsaw during another 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. His sixth international goal was scored on 11 October 2013, in Montenegro's 4-1 defeat to England at Wembley Stadium in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He added his seventh goal in a friendly match against Ghana on 5 March 2014, which Montenegro won 1-0. His eighth and final international goal was scored on 14 June 2015, in a 1-3 loss to Sweden during the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying. His final international appearance was in September 2015, in a European Championship qualification match against Moldova.
4. Playing Style
Dejan Damjanović possessed an ideal physique at 74 in (187 cm) tall and 179 lb (81 kg) in weight. He was known for his exceptional flexibility, skillful footwork, and individual technique. His strengths included excellent ball-keeping, dribbling ability, clinical finishing, and strong penetration into the opposition's defense. A notable aspect of his playing style was his high work rate, often actively participating in defensive efforts, which was considered one of his key advantages. While he was sometimes noted for his relatively slow speed and a heading ability that was considered less dominant despite his height, he effectively compensated for these perceived weaknesses with his proficiency using both feet and his tireless work ethic on the field.
5. Honours and Records
Dejan Damjanović's career was marked by numerous team trophies and individual accolades, solidifying his status as one of the most decorated players in Asian football history, particularly in the K League and AFC Champions League.
5.1. Team Honours
- Radnički Beograd
- Second League of Serbia and Montenegro: 2003-04
- Bežanija
- Serbian First League: 2005-06
- Al-Ahli
- Saudi Crown Prince Cup runner-up: 2006
- FC Seoul
- K League 1: 2010, 2012, 2016
- Korean FA Cup runner-up: 2016
- Korean League Cup: 2010
- AFC Champions League runner-up: 2013
- Suwon Samsung Bluewings
- Korean FA Cup: 2019
- Kitchee
- Hong Kong Premier League: 2020-21, 2022-23
- Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield: 2022-23
- Hong Kong FA Cup: 2022-23
5.2. Individual Honours
- Serbian League Belgrade Player of the Season: 2001-02
- Serbian League Belgrade top goalscorer: 2001-02
- K League Players' Player of the Year: 2010
- Korean League Cup top goalscorer: 2010
- K League 1 Best XI: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
- K League 1 top goalscorer: 2011, 2012, 2013
- K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2012
- K League FANtastic Player: 2012
- AFC Champions League Dream Team: 2013
- AFC Champions League All-Star Squad: 2016, 2018
- Hong Kong Footballer of the Year: 2020-21
- Hong Kong Premier League top goalscorer: 2020-21, 2022-23
- Hong Kong Premier League Team of the Year: 2020-21
5.3. Records
- AFC Champions League all-time top goalscorer: 42 goals
- K League all-time foreign top goalscorer (105 goals, breaking Saša Drakulić's record)
- K League single-season top goalscorer record (31 goals in 2012, breaking Kim Do-hoon's 28 goals)
- Quickest player to reach 150 goals in K League history (in 254 appearances)
- K League top goalscorer for three consecutive seasons (2011, 2012, 2013)
6. Personal Life
Dejan Damjanović is married, and his daughter and son were both born in South Korea during his playing career there. He held his wedding ceremony in Serbia on 31 May 2009.
7. Legacy and Assessment
Dejan Damjanović is widely regarded as one of the most influential and greatest foreign players in the history of the K League. His consistent goal-scoring prowess and leadership played a pivotal role in the successes of FC Seoul, where he became a club legend. His record-breaking achievements, particularly his multiple K League Golden Boots and MVP award, cemented his status as a dominant force in South Korean football for over a decade. Beyond his statistics, Damjanović's charismatic personality and passionate play endeared him to fans across the league. His return to FC Seoul in 2016 and subsequent move to rival Suwon Samsung Bluewings further highlighted his significant presence and impact on the league's narrative. He also left an indelible mark on the AFC Champions League, becoming the competition's all-time leading scorer, a testament to his longevity and quality at the highest level of Asian club football. His enduring influence is reflected in his nickname "Boske" and the FC Seoul catchphrase "Champion, Like Always," which he inspired.
8. Retirement
Dejan Damjanović announced his retirement from professional football on 16 August 2023, via his Instagram account, concluding a distinguished career spanning 25 years. His retirement marked the end of an era for one of Asian football's most prolific and celebrated strikers.
9. Career statistics
9.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
| Sinđelić Beograd | 1998-99 | Serbian League Belgrade | 21 | 6 | - | - | 21 | 6 | ||||||||
| 1999-2000 | Serbian League Belgrade | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Total | 21 | 6 | - | - | 21 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Železnik | 2000-01 | First League (FRY) | 3 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2001-02 | First League (FRY) | 10 | 0 | - | - | 10 | 0 | |||||||||
| Total | 13 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sremčica (loan) | 2001-02 | Serbian League Belgrade | 21 | 10 | - | - | 21 | 10 | ||||||||
| Srem (loan) | 2002-03 | Second League (SCG) | 8 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 | ||||||||
| Radnički Beograd (loan) | 2003-04 | Second League (SCG) | 12 | 4 | - | - | 12 | 4 | ||||||||
| Bežanija | 2003-04 | Second League (SCG) | 18 | 13 | - | - | 18 | 13 | ||||||||
| 2004-05 | Second League (SCG) | 19 | 8 | - | - | 19 | 8 | |||||||||
| 2005-06 | Serbian First League | 24 | 11 | - | - | 24 | 11 | |||||||||
| 2006-07 | Serbian SuperLiga | 15 | 5 | - | - | 15 | 5 | |||||||||
| Total | 76 | 37 | - | - | 76 | 37 | ||||||||||
| Radnički Beograd (loan) | 2004-05 | First League (SCG) | 6 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | ||||||||
| Al-Ahli (loan) | 2005-06 | Saudi Premier League | 10 | 8 | - | 10 | 8 | |||||||||
| Incheon United | 2007 | K League | 26 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 5 | - | 40 | 20 | |||||
| FC Seoul | 2008 | K League | 29 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 34 | 15 | |||||
| 2009 | K League | 23 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 36 | 19 | |||||
| 2010 | K League | 28 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 6 | - | 36 | 19 | ||||||
| 2011 | K League | 30 | 24 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 42 | 32 | |||||
| 2012 | K League | 42 | 31 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 44 | 31 | |||||||
| 2013 | K League Classic | 29 | 19 | 2 | 1 | - | 13 | 7 | 44 | 27 | ||||||
| Total | 181 | 116 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 31 | 17 | 236 | 143 | ||||||
| Jiangsu Sainty | 2014 | Chinese Super League | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 5 | ||||||
| Beijing Guoan | 2014 | Chinese Super League | 16 | 10 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 18 | 11 | ||||||
| 2015 | Chinese Super League | 29 | 16 | 2 | 1 | - | 9 | 2 | 40 | 19 | ||||||
| Total | 45 | 26 | 4 | 2 | - | 9 | 2 | 58 | 30 | |||||||
| FC Seoul | 2016 | K League Classic | 36 | 13 | 4 | 1 | - | 11 | 5 | 51 | 19 | |||||
| 2017 | K League Classic | 37 | 19 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 3 | 43 | 22 | ||||||
| Total | 73 | 32 | 6 | 1 | - | 15 | 8 | 94 | 41 | |||||||
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2018 | K League 1 | 33 | 13 | 4 | 4 | - | 13 | 10 | 50 | 27 | |||||
| 2019 | K League 1 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 24 | 3 | |||||||
| Total | 54 | 16 | 7 | 4 | - | 13 | 10 | 74 | 30 | |||||||
| Daegu FC | 2020 | K League 1 | 23 | 9 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 25 | 9 | ||||||
| Kitchee | 2020-21 | Hong Kong Premier League | 14 | 17 | - | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 21 | |||||
| 2021-22 | Hong Kong Premier League | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 15 | |||||
| 2022-23 | Hong Kong Premier League | 15 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 25 | |||||
| Total | 33 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 61 | 61 | ||||||
| Career total | 613 | 321 | 37 | 14 | 37 | 26 | 79 | 43 | 766 | 404 | ||||||
9.2. International
Scores and results list Montenegro's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Damjanović goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 June 2009 | Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca | Cyprus | 1-2 | 2-2 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 2-2 | |||||
| 3 | 16 October 2012 | Olympic Stadium, Kyiv | Ukraine | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 26 March 2013 | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica | England | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 6 September 2013 | National Stadium, Warsaw, Warsaw | Poland | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 11 October 2013 | Wembley Stadium, London | England | 1-2 | 1-4 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 5 March 2014 | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica | Ghana | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly |
| 8 | 14 June 2015 | Friends Arena, Solna | Sweden | 1-3 | 1-3 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying |