Reims
In a sentence
Much in-vogue Serbian keeper, rated
the best custodian in Ligue1 last season
and a brilliant penalty-saving specialist.
What they say
“He has the big size and I’m not
over-exaggerating when I say he
reminds me of Bayern and Germany’s
Manuel Neuer. He has the same attitude
and posture. He is comfortable with
both feet and exudes assurance and
personality.”
Sebastien Hamel,
Reims goalkeeper coach.
“He’s a young keeper with huge
potential. As a person, he is very
open and wants to listen. He already
has tremendous mental toughness.
He really imposes himself in his
penalty area.”
David Guion,
Reims head coach.
The story so far
Grew up in Negotin, eastern Serbia, with
a former goalkeeper for a father, coach
and mentor. Rajkovic senior, first name
Sasa, used to play in goal in the third
and fourth tiers of the domestic
pyramid for Hajduk Veljko, where
Predrag began his youth career.
After seven years he moved to FK
Jagodina, making his professional debut
against Partizan Belgrade at the age of
- That same year, 2013, he helped
Serbia triumph at the European U19
Championship, saving two penalties in
a shoot-out victory over Portugal in the
semi-finals. Two years later, he came
up trumps at the U20 World Cup too,
skippering the side to victory and
winning the Golden Glove as the
tournament’s best goalkeeper.
After spending two seasons with Red
Star Belgrade, he surprisingly moved
to Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2015,
where he gained Champions League
experience, played196 games over four
seasons, and won a domestic league
and cup double in 2018-19.
French side Reims paid€5m for him
a year ago, and he quickly delivered in
Champagne land, keeping12 Ligue1
clean sheets, saving four out of five
penalties and marshalling the meanest
back line in the French top flight (only
conceding18 goals in 27 outings).
Since making his senior international
debut against Colombia in August 2013,
he has competed with Eibar’s Marko
Dmitrovic for Serbia’s No.1 jersey.The next step
Despite rumours of a big-money move
this summer (to PSG, Milan or Sevilla),WordsNick Bidwell
Predrag RAJKOVIC
he seems happy to remain at the Stade
Auguste-Delaune for one more season.
Reims presidentJean-Pierre Caillot is
thought to want at least€20m for
Rajkovic, who still has three years
left on his current deal.Strengths
His commanding presence, sensational
reflexes and ability to stand tall and
wide in one-on-one situations. Good
sweeper-keeper instincts and very
positive when coming for crosses.Weaknesses
Occasionally lets his latent eccentricity
bubble to the surface, and must be more
accurate in his long-kicking game.“I’m not over-exaggerating when I
say he reminds me of Bayern and
Germany’s Manuel Neuer”
Sebastien Hamel, Reims goalkeeper coach3
THINGS YOU
DIDN’T KNOW
ABOUT RAJKOVIC●Rajkovic skippered former club Red Star
Belgrade in his first full-season as a starter
(2014-15), at the age of just19.
●His role model is the former Real Madrid
and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
●He turned down three other French clubs- Montpellier, Bordeaux and Monaco – to
sign for Reims in the summer of 2019.
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