Slovenian · Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina · Born 29 January 1988Josip Iličić, nicknamed 'The Professor' by Italian media, is a Slovenian footballer renowned for his creativity and long-range shooting, most famous for scoring four goals in a single Champions League match for Atalanta.
On the night of 19 February 2020, Josip Iličič scored all four of Atalanta's goals in a 4-3 away win over Valencia in the Champions League round of 16, one of the most extraordinary individual European performances in years — and afterwards donated the match ball to medical staff at a Bergamo hospital fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. He came through the youth ranks at Triglav Kranj and Britof, and began his professional career with Bonifika before earning a call from Slovenian giants Maribor's football director, Zlatko Zahovič, at a moment when he had nearly given up on football. Iličić moved to Italy in 2010, joining Palermo, and built his reputation over four seasons before signing for Fiorentina in 2013, where he spent four more years developing into one of Serie A's most creative attacking midfielders. He joined Atalanta in 2017, and it was there that he produced the finest football of his career, becoming a key figure in the club's unprecedented run to the Champions League quarterfinals. Iličić's signature moment came in the 2019-20 Champions League round of 16 second leg against Valencia, where he scored all four of Atalanta's goals in a 4-3 away win, one of the most remarkable individual European performances of the season; he donated the match ball to a Bergamo hospital's medical staff to honour their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was named Slovenian Footballer of the Year in 2019, and left Atalanta in 2022 having scored 47 goals in 136 appearances. He returned to Maribor before joining Koper in 2025, and made his long-awaited return to the Slovenian national team at Euro 2024, finishing his international career with 86 caps and 17 goals, third on Slovenia's all-time scoring list.
Scoring four goals in a single Champions League match for Atalanta in 2020
How They Played
Creative attacking midfielder renowned for vision, dribbling, and powerful long-range shooting with his left foot
Lasting Impact
Widely regarded as one of Slovenia's greatest-ever footballers, known for exceptional left-footed creativity and long-range shooting
Career Honours
- Scored four goals in a UEFA Champions League match (2020)
- Slovenian Footballer of the Year (2019)
- Slovenia's third-highest all-time goalscorer
- Nicknamed 'The Professor' by the Italian media
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Bonifika | 2007–2008 | — |
| Interblock | 2008–2010 | — |
| Maribor | 2010–2010 | — |
| Palermo | 2010–2013 | — |
| Fiorentina | 2013–2017 | — |
| Atalanta | 2017–2022 | — |
| Maribor | 2022–2025 | — |
| Koper | 2025–present | — |
Slovenian Athletes