A ‘special goal machine’: meet Slovenia’s dangerous man

Euro 2024 is set to become a tournament for young stars – Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko will do anything to burst into this party.

Spokesperson for the traditional ‘number nine’, Sesko is one of the most exciting young strikers in Europe and will have already seen the likes of Lamine Yamal, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz make an impression in Germany.

On Tuesday, the 21-year-old is at the center of Slovenia’s ambitions to reach the last 16 of a major tournament for the first time – knowing that a victory against England would ensure their qualification.

He failed to score in Slovenia’s first two matches at Euro 2024, draws against Denmark and Serbia, but Gareth Southgate’s men will know the RB Leipzig striker poses a huge threat.

“No one knew he was so special”

A nation’s hopes may rest on his shoulders, but in his young career he has had no problem with pressure.

Last season he scored 14 goals in 31 matches and became a fan favorite in his first season at Leipzig, after leaving Red Bull Salzburg.

His form saw a number of major European clubs, including Chelsea and Arsenal, register interest before signing a new deal in June to silence speculation.

Miran Zore, Slovenian journalist from Nogomania.com, said: “He left Slovenia very young, at 16, when he was transferred from Domzale to Salzburg. His talent was already there.

“His success was sort of expected, but no one knew he was so special, except for his agent, Elvis Basanovic, who tried to convince people of his potential. He used to send messages to scouts and managers saying, “He’s the next goal machine.”

“When he was struggling at Salzburg at the beginning, people asked his agent: ‘where is this goal machine’. Now everyone laughs about it.”

World-class players are not really common in Slovenia, so expectations are high.

Miran Pavlin, former manager of the Slovenian national and international team, said: “He is very modest, he comes from a small town and knows how to manage all things.

“He became a big star from a young age, but he remained a normal guy and I’m sure he will remain that in the future as well.”

Pavlin, a former Porto and Freiburg midfielder, played in two major tournaments for Slovenia – Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup – and knows the expectations weighing on Sesko’s shoulders.

“(The pressure) is good for him,” he added. “Even if he has to face it as a young person. At the federation we try to take the pressure off.

“People expect him to score in every game, but that’s not possible in football. In the first two games he worked for the team and was very good. We will be happy ‘He scores against England.’

‘Comparisons with Haaland are lazy’

Sesko’s meteoric rise has led to comparisons with Manchester City’s prolific Norwegian Erling Haaland.

He previously said he was studying Haaland’s game on YouTube and, after playing against him in an international friendly in September 2022, he made sure he was the one swapping jerseys.

Sesko is 6-foot-4, but that doesn’t limit him when it comes to mobility and speed, just like Haaland. “Such comparisons motivate me and give me energy,” he said.

“Haaland is a finisher, but Sesko is a different type of player,” Zore said. “He chases defenders everywhere, is strong in the air, is a great finisher and can also shoot from outside the box.

“The comparison with Haaland is due to his similar height and career path. But I think Haaland is a penalty box player, while Sesko is much more so. He can also be a playmaker in attack , by opening spaces.”

If Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak is the most recognizable Slovenian player, Sesko is undoubtedly their biggest threat.

He scored his first international goal at the age of 18 and one day and became the team’s top scorer in Euro 2024 qualifying, making five appearances in nine.

“He can be one of the best in the world”

The sudden fame did not deter him, however.

“He has the greatest marketing potential among all Slovenian players, but he is very modest,” Zore said.

“He always takes photos with the kids after the matches, sometimes it can last more than 30 minutes. He’s a kind of national hero, but very humble and open.”

Sesko still has this passion for football, the sport he fell in love with while growing up in Radece, a small town in southeastern Slovenia. He also played basketball and didn’t choose football until he was 15.

It turned out to be a life-changing decision for him, as he now appears on the radar of Europe’s top clubs.

His agents have had conversations with Serie A and Premier League clubs and he even received an offer from Saudi Arabia.

Ultimately, he chose to stay at least one more season at Leipzig and signed a new contract until 2029.

However, Sesko is still destined for a big change in the coming seasons.

“He needs to focus on playing well and the transfer will happen, if not this year, then at least in one or two years. He definitely has the potential to become a top 10 striker in the world,” Pavlin said.