Vasilije Kostov – Serbia’s Shiniest & Coveted Young Jewel
Although failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Serbia has every reason to be hopeful for the future. Despite the generation that won the 2015 U20 World Cup on the cusp of entering their 30s, there is a new crop of youngsters able to take on the mantle to revitalise the fortunes of a national team that in the past has flattered to deceive after crashing out of the group stages in the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 respectively.
Those hopes have been raised with the emergence of young players such as Andrija Maksimović, Mihajlo Cvetković and Veljko Milosavljević who all play in Europe. In addition, their exciting “2007” generation has resulted in their U19 national team impressively reaching the Euros this summer ahead of England – beating them 2-0 in a side that included Max Dowman – a game where Cvetković scored.
However, one youngster this season has excelled tremendously this year in Serbia – a midfielder who has been linked with Europe’s top clubs and comfortably is the jewel in their new crop of youngsters – Vasilije Kostov. Born in Belgrade in May 2008, it did not take long for football to be part of Kostov’s life, as the youngster mentioned in an interview to Serbian outlet Kurir back in January: “My mom told me when I was two years old that I enjoyed kicking the ball with my dad. I also have some photos. And that’s how I fell in love with football.”
From kicking a ball at just two years old, he joined his local academy SF Royal at the age of six. In an interview with Serbian sports daily Sportski žurnal, the youth coaches Dejan Jović and Dušan Trpevski were quick to notice Kostov’s innate talent: “Vasa already had the qualities that made you realize he would be a player. These were a sense of space (he is born with it), the power of reasoning, the speed of reaction and memory. He also impressed with his technique, he quickly learned every exercise.”
It didn’t take long for Red Star Belgrade to be aware of Kostov’s capabilities and would be snapped up to play for their youth academy. Rising up the grades of the club’s age groups, it would be as a 15-year-old during the 2023-24 season where Kostov’s talents would be noticed outside of the Red Star bubble. Playing as a 15 year old for the club’s U17 side in Serbia’s Kadetska Liga, Kostov would score 11 goals and create nine assists – six of those goals were match winners and be a key cog in the U17 side winning the youth league.
On the international stage, Kostov would be on the radar of scouts in the 2024 U17 Euros, as his performances from midfield (that included two goals) helped Serbia reach the semi finals and propel Kostov to be part of UEFA’s official team of the tournament. Note that team of the tournament included talents such as Rodrigo Mora, Mattia Liberali, Francesco Camarda and Geovany Quenda.
Unsurprisingly, Kostov would be promoted to the U19 side for the 2024-25 season. Despite playing against opponents and teammates two-three years older than him, it took only a couple of weeks into the season for Kostov to show his precocious talents against their arch rivals Partizan – scoring the opener as he beautifully curled the ball from outside the box into the top corner and set the stage for a 3-0 win.
He continued his excellent form in the first half of the 2024-25 season – 12 goals in 22 league games for the youth side. His talents were showcased to a wider audience in the UEFA Youth League – scoring a panenka vs Barcelona, the equaliser vs Stuttgart and in the 3-1 win vs AC Milan. It did not take long for Kostov’s panenka to result in him being linked with Barcelona.
Despite being knocked out of the UEFA Youth League group phase, Kostov’s performances in midfield led to the club under then coach Vladan Milojevic to promote him to the first team at the beginning of 2025. Knowing they had a precocious talent, Red Star were cautious in the second half of the season with a mixture of putting him in the match day squad with and playing for the youth side.
Although he made his senior debut in the league with a small stint in April, it was in March in the reverse fixture in the U19s vs Partizan where Kostov shined in the most dramatic style. With the scores level at 1-1 entering the 92nd minute, Kostov received the ball after possession was won in midfield and began bearing down on goal. Cutting inside, he displayed the confidence of a person beyond his age by curling a shot into the net and wheeling away in jubilant celebration.
During the off season last summer, Red Star made the call to incorporate Kostov as a fully fledged member of the first team squad. Since then, Kostov has exploded during the 2025-26 campaign. Playing in midfield and on the right this season, Kostov has been sensational domestically, as well as in the Europa League, scoring 14 goals and 7 assists this season.
Able to primarily play as a 8, 10 or on the right in his early days with the first team, Kostov is technically assured – comfortable with both feet, wielding an excellent short to long passing range that can break defences. His aforementioned statistics this season highlights his composure in front of goal – he has been a boon to Red Star.
The youngster readily unfazed at every test put in front of him whether it’s playing at a higher age grade, playing in the domestic league or in the Europa League. Take the panenka vs Barcelona in the UEFA Youth League as a example – Kostov’s mindset behind the decision after the game showed his maturity beyond his young age: “I am guided by the idea of freeing myself from pressure and playing without strain,”
When Kostov scored his first senior goal in Europe in the Europa League defeat to Porto back in October last year, then coach Vladan Milojevic was glowing in his praise and stated that Kostov was: “…..one of the greatest talents in Serbian football lately. It is up to him to keep quiet, work, be diligent, and it is up to us to support him and he will justify it and I have no doubt about that.”
The mesmeric rise of Kostov in the last 18 months (which included making his senior international debut for Serbia in October at the age of 17) has predictably seen the now 18 year old linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs – ranging from Barcelona, Inter, PSG and most recently Arsenal. Kostov has two years remaining on his contract, but when speaking with Kurir in January, Kostov was unfazed by the transfer talk:
“It’s not the first time something like that has been written, it’s happened before. I don’t pay attention to all that. I see it when one of my friends shows me. I’m not thinking about any transfer. My wish is to stay as long as possible at Red Star and leave my mark here. I’ve made up my mind and Red Star is my priority.”
With 14 goals and 7 assists in 46 appearances already this season, culminating in winning the league and cup double with Red Star, the future is bright for Kostov and Serbia. All signs point to him playing a crucial role for Serbia as they look to qualify for Euro 2028 — the only question is, will it be as a Red Star player or at a different club?
By: Yousef Teclab / @TeclabYousef
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Srdjan Stevanovic / Getty Images