The Slovakian top tier is not yet at the level where it consistently produces players who transfer to top leagues every year, but from time to time, there are players who have a future at the highest level. This season, Adrian Zeljković has been delivering performances for FC Spartak Trnava that suggest he could soon be due for a step up.

The Slovakian Niké Liga is not considered the highest-quality league in the region, but it still occasionally develops talents who earn contracts in top leagues. This potential opportunity is available not only to domestic players but also to talents from neighboring countries looking for a breakthrough. In recent years, players such as Polish defender Jakub Kiwior, Slovenian forward Andraž Šporar, Montenegrin striker Nikola Krstović, and Hungarian international midfielder András Schäfer have all made moves from the league.

Adrian Zeljković aims to follow a similar path. He left the Slovenian league in the summer of 2023 to join FC Spartak Trnava, where he quickly became a key player. In his first season with the club, he spent nearly 4,000 minutes on the pitch, with head coach Michal Gašparík testing him in multiple positions in central midfield. He performed well even then, but this season, he has taken his game to the next level, making him one of the best midfielders in the league.

DEFENSIVE CONTRIBUTIONS

Spartak aims to play modern football off the ball, with team-wide defensive efforts starting from the forwards. The high-pressing system assigns a key role to the two wingers, who apply pressure on opposing defenders with curved runs, while the striker drops deeper to nullify the opposition’s playmaking defensive midfielder. Consequently, the midfielders push higher up the pitch to maintain compactness—except for the defensive midfielder, Zeljković. His primary responsibility is dealing with long balls, which suits his attributes well. He is the epitome of a "physical monster" in the best sense of the term. Standing at 192 cm tall with a mesomorphic build and excellent athletic qualities, he is an imposing presence on the pitch, making opponents hesitant to challenge him in duels.

Spartak boasts the league’s best defensive record, making their off-ball play undoubtedly elite. They have conceded the fewest goals and allowed the fewest shots. The key to their defensive approach is closing down central areas, a task in which Zeljković plays a crucial role as the holding midfielder.

• Defensive Intensity – 80th percentile
• Tackles – 80th percentile
• Interceptions – 76th percentile
• Ball recoveries – 69th percentile
• Aerial duels won (defensive) – 76th percentile

His statistics reflect a high level of defensive performance. Additionally, his spatial awareness and tactical intelligence allow him to position himself effectively, often solving situations through positioning alone. He constantly scans his surroundings, assesses his position relative to teammates, and can cover large areas when teammates misposition themselves or fail to shift correctly.

ON-BALL CONTRIBUTIONS

Last season, one of Zeljković’s weaknesses was a lack of progressive play. While he participated in passing sequences, he primarily played safe, low-risk passes. In contrast, in the 2024-25 season, he has become a central figure in Spartak’s buildup play. Due to their high-pressing approach, Spartak often wins possession in advanced areas, leading to frequent transitions. However, when they build from the back, they avoid central progression and instead look to advance the ball down the flanks. This requires a midfielder who can dictate play, switch the ball efficiently, and deliver progressive passes toward the wings. This season, Zeljković has embraced this role, resulting in significant improvements in his statistics.

• Touches per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 95,54/90 – (64th percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 107,52/90 – (87th percentile)
• Touches in the final third per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 17,02/90 – (21st percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 26,07/90 – (53rd percentile)
• Touches inside the box per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 3,11/90 – (68th percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 4,13/90 – (78th percentile)

With more touches, he is also passing more frequently. While the improvement is not drastic, he has become significantly better at initiating attacks and progressing the ball. Importantly, the increase in volume has not come at the cost of efficiency.

• Passes per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 41,36/90 – (68th percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 47,12/90 – (89th percentile)
• Pass accuracy
  • 2023-24 – 89% – (92nd percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 88% – (91st percentile)
• Progressive passes per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 6,66/90 – (38th percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 10,44/90 – (87th percentile)
• Progressive pass accuracy
  • 2023-24 – 78% – (91st percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 82% – (96th percentile)
• Passes into the final third per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 5,61/90 – (51st percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 8,79/90 – (93rd percentile)
• Accuracy of passes into the final third
  • 2023-24 – 77% – (94th percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 81% – (93rd percentile)
• Passes into the box per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 1,01/90 – (13rd percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 1,65/90 – (29th percentile)

A visualization of his progressive passes highlights Spartak’s tactical approach of attacking primarily via the flanks. Thanks to Zeljković’s improved involvement in possession play, the team moves the ball to wide areas more effectively, occasionally allowing him to arrive in the box. Consequently, his passing in these areas has improved, though it is not a defining aspect of his game.

• Key passes per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 0,07/90 – (28th percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 0,18/90 – (53rd percentile)
• Shot-creating passes per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 0,25/90 – (9th percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 0,71/90 – (53rd percentile)
• Expected assists per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 0,01/90 – (11th percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 0,07/90 – (58th percentile)
• Assists per 90 minutes
  • 2023-24 – 0,00/90 – (1st percentile)
  • 2024-25 – 0,06/90 – (62nd percentile)

As the visualization suggests, his influence is mostly limited to the middle and neutral zones, making him less of a direct goal threat. He takes only one shot per match, typically from outside the penalty area.

SUMMARY

As far as it is known, there was already interest in Zeljković’s potential transfer during the winter, but Spartak did not want to let him go mid-season. This season clearly proves that he is ready for the next step, especially if he can maintain his development trajectory in a higher-level league. He will need to continue improving, but since he is only 22 years old, he has every chance to become a top-league footballer in the future.