Aleksandar Stanković : Magnetic Midfielder – Player Scouting Report

A scouting report on Stanković’s player profile and how his inclined rise has put him on the pedestal of a young underrated midfielder in Europe

Career Overview

A product of Inter Milan’s youth setup, albeit never making his competitive first team debut. In the summer of 2024, he moved away to the Swiss League to play for Luzern, further garnishing his rhythm physically and tactically.

End of the season he was rewarded a place in the Super League (Switzerland) TOTS. The next season (2025) saw him join yet another blue and black giant, Club Brugge for a fee of €10M with a buy back clause involved. The breakout has been ever so present since then.

The surname carries weightage for the Serbian talent and unsurprisingly, football has been historically part of his DNA. Aleksandar comes from a footballing family, being the son of as former Serbian captain, Inter and Lazio midfielder Dejan Stankovic.

Positioned as a technical director ahead of the defence, Aleksandar Stanković fabricates progressive passes and controls tempo with composure. Efficient in screening def. actions, contesting in duels and mitigating 1v1 threat with matureness on display.

Often been deployed as a deep lying playmaker for Club Brugge, the Serbian can offer versatile skillsets as a hybrid box to box. Moreover, he’s adept to tuck in as a centre back when called upon this season cautiously covering for teammates.

Firstly, let’s look at his player profile:
Age: 20
Club: Club Brugge
Position: DM/CM/CB
Foot: Right
Nationality: Serbian
Value: €15
Height: 6’1
Avg SofaScore rating: 7.16

Similar Player – Chema Andrés

Player Profile – IP

Stankovic orchestrates the build up phase with his effective and varied passing range; capable of progressing play through short circulation and longer diagonals. The composure in tempo setting, clean first touch timing of switching play makes him elite.

He’s got a fancy distribution technique on long balls where he positions his body into a ‘cross body technique.’ These passes can break lines in a 180° angle and pick players on the opposite flank to switch play, a cheeky but handy method.

The Serbian is capable of evading the first line of press through his immaculate understanding of spaces, prior scanning and awareness. Adding to that as previously mentioned, his first touch aids him to open his body well and continue the next action.

Additionally, he’s not the type who’d break lines with dribbles but rather passes. Not the kind to drive forwards with the ball; offers minimal progression through carries, primarily advances play with his distribution rather than dribbling.

As a hybrid midfielder, at times deployed in a double pivot he gets the chance to add a utilitarian spirit of goal threat to the team’s playstyle. With over 10 G/A this season, Stankovic’s has moulded his game as a box crasher, whilst notably impressing with his long shot taking ability.

Player Profile – OOP

Positional discipline is something you can expect in his game, rarely caught wandering out of structure whilst anticipating passing lanes. He’s also adept in covering for aggressive teammates, especially fullbacks who maraud forwards.

Ball recovery in defensive actions gets a lot easier for due to his ability to disseminate passes with his tall frame + long legs, sweeps actions with his hands and body to outdo opponents and shield the ball. Doesn’t go to ground often to challenge, positionally mature OOP.

Calculative approach in intercepting play, hardly sees players dribble past him but might not always be the case when he tries to contest a duel. Can look scrappy with his approach where you’d question his conviction to win the ball – intention > execution.

The physical presence exemplifies when you look at Stankovic’s numbers aerially. 2.08 aerial duels won per90 with a 62% aerial duels won %, he’s in the top echelon vs his competitors increasing his profiles benefits, allowing his defensive awareness to leap boundaries.

That’s a trait useful in both halves of the pitch, considering his towering presence and involvement in the offensive third. Another aspect that transcends well on both sides of the pitch is his mentality, stamina and quick decision making.

In situations where he’s to anticipate a runner, he tends to use his body/hands in order to win the ball back in a fair manner. The tall frame he naturally possesses is an additional boost to his opportunities to explore out of possession.

Areas to Improve:

There’s a trade off on the athleticism wise where he’s not the most dynamic over longer distances, indirectly means covering large spaces defensively can be a task at times. This somewhat limits his ceiling as a box to box due to the demands.

He’s also more technical rather than combative in his game, more of a reader rather than a hunter. Less aggressive in tackles, not the most dominant in second balls and overall relies on positioning over tackling – not bad aspects, but can refine his game.

Potential Suitors

Inter Milan for now seems like the most obvious option considering the tempting buy back clause involved at Brugge. Fits in perfectly well alongside Sucic, Zielenski and Diouf, that is if the likes of Hakan, Fratessi and Mkhitaryan chose the exit route.

Arsenal have also been recently linked to the Serbian, as what would look like quality youthful depth in midfield. Might not directly dismiss Zubimendi + Rice but would confidently compete for that #8/10 role in the centre of the park + set pieces.