Randjelovic adds to the list of Serbians to play in blanquiazul

Last Saturday saw Lazar Randjelovic produce the winning goal for C.D. Leganés in their encounter with S.D. Amorebieta. It was also his starting debut for the club, but he also became the fourth Serbian national to score in an official fixture for the pepineros.

Randjelovic arrived at the Butarque this season from Olympiacos F.C. but he is the fourth player from Serbia to play in an official competition with the club. 

Gudelj, the first Serbian national to wear blanquiazul

Shortly after the introduction of the so-called 'Bosman Law', which stopped players from EU member states from being considered foreigners for quota purposes, Nebojsa Gudelj, father of current Sevilla F.C. player Nemanja Gudelj, became the first Serbian to play at C.D. Leganés.

Born in the Bosnian town of Trebinje, thus holding a dual Bosnian-Serbian nationality, Gudelj arrived in Spain with C.D. Logroñés. He remained attached to the side for half of the 1996/7 season, scoring twice in 17 games under Luis Sánchez Duque, against Lleida at the old Municipal stadium and against Toledo at the Salto del Caballo.

Randjelovic's neighbour Stojiljkovic and Brasanac were the next to play for Leganés

The following year, Goran Stojiljkovic, joined Leganés. Curiously enough, he was born in the same town of Leskovac in southern Serbia as Randjelovic. Stojiljkovic arrived in Spain to play for Getafe C.F., then went on to play for R.C.D. Mallorca and signed for Leganés ahead of the 1997/98 season. Wearing number '20' on his shirt, he played 29 games under Pedro Braojos, including the very first at the Butarque on 14th February 1998 against Xerez, and scored three goals against Badajoz, Hércules and Toledo in his time at the club.

It would take no less than twenty years to see another Serbian in blanquiazul. Darko Brasanac is the only Serbian national so far to play for the pepineros in Primera, a midfielder who arrived from Real Betis in the 2017/18 season and played 28 games under Asier Garitano, with a two goals against Villarreal and Real Madrid (photo). After a loan spell at Deportivo Alavés, he is currently in his third season with C.A. Osasuna.