Željko Samčović scouting report: a 1.98 m penalty hunter and the window an expiring contract opens
| Mevki | Goalkeeper |
|---|---|
| Kulüp | Mladost Lučani |
| Uyruk | Serbia |
| Yaş | 23 |
| Doğum | 12.09.2002 |
| Boy | 1.98 m |
| Ayak | Right |
| Piyasa Değeri | €1.2M |
| Sözleşme | 30.06.2026 (renewal unconfirmed) ⚠ |
| Rol | Modern Sweeper-Keeper |
Overview
Željko Samčović, born 12 September 2002 in Kragujevac, is a 1.98 m keeper — the squad’s most valuable player at €1.2M. A Mladost academy product, he was loaned to Novi Pazar in January 2025, the loan was extended, and he played 2025-26 in full: 33 games, 2,970 minutes, 9 clean sheets, a 63.2% save rate.
The shining data point is penalties: 3 saves from 5 faced (60%). With 28 high claims and 18 sweeper actions, the profile is a modern sweeper-keeper. He returned to Lučani in June 2026 — Novi Pazar held no buy option.
Structural note: the contract record reads 30.06.2026 — its final year. The 41-year-old Stamenković’s extension to 2027 signals both the internal hierarchy and a sale scenario. A hand fracture before January 2025 was reported fully healed.
Data and Assessment
| İstatistik | Değer | Persentil |
|---|---|---|
| Apps | 33 | — |
| Minutes | 2970 | — |
| Clean sheets | 9 | — |
| Save rate | 63.2 | 63 |
| Penalty saves | 3/5 | 60 |
| Rating | 6.74 | 67 |
| Strengths | Development Areas |
|---|---|
| A 1.98 m frame + 23 + full-season proof | 52.5% passing — the footwork can grow |
| 3 of 5 penalties saved — an elite signal | 49 conceded (behind a weak defence) |
| Sweeper-keeper action data | The Stamenković hierarchy — minutes uncertainty |
| A final-year contract — a low-fee window | The U20 list stayed capless |
Verdict
A full-season-proven, 1.98 m, penalty-saving 23-year-old keeper on a final-year contract: this combination is rarely on the market at once.
Verify the contract immediately; if short, move at pre-agreement level without waiting for the winter window.
FAQ
Who is Željko Samčović?
A 1.98 m keeper born 12 September 2002 in Kragujevac; played 33 games on loan at Novi Pazar in 2025-26, back at Lučani since July 2026.
What does the penalty data say?
He saved 3 of the 5 penalties he faced in 2025-26 — an exceptional 60%.
Sources
GEGEN SCORE blends technical (20%), tactical (20%), mental (20%), physical (15%), potential (15%) and risk (10%, inverse-weighted) components into one editorial rating; it is a comparison tool, not a transfer decision by itself. Bio data verified against independent open sources. Last updated: 27 July 2026.
