Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Elif Elmas | ||
Date of birth | 24 September 1999 | ||
Place of birth | Skopje, Macedonia | ||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder, winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | RB Leipzig | ||
Number | 6 | ||
Youth career | |||
2004–2013 | FK Vardar | ||
2013–2015 | Rabotnički | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
2015–2017 | Rabotnički | 44 | (7) |
2017–2019 | Fenerbahçe | 34 | (4) |
2019–2024 | Napoli | 143 | (14) |
2024– | RB Leipzig | 14 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
Macedonia U17 | 2 | (0) | |
2015–2018 | Macedonia U19 | 13 | (2) |
2016–2017 | Macedonia U21 | 9 | (1) |
2017– | North Macedonia | 60 | (12) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:56, 21 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:09, 10 June 2024 (UTC) |
Elif Elmas ( Macedonian: Елиф Елмас; born 24 September 1999) is a Macedonian professional footballer who plays for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and the North Macedonia national team. A versatile player, Elmas can be deployed as a central midfielder, right midfielder, winger or forward.
Elmas started his career at FK Rabotnički in his native Macedonia. After a stand-out season in which he scored six league goals and led Rabotnički to a third-place finish in the Macedonian First Football League in 2016–17, he joined Turkish giants Fenerbahçe on a deal until 2022, with Fenerbahçe paying the former €300,000 for his services. [1] The attacking midfielder went on to score four goals in over 40 appearances for the Yellow Canaries in all competitions before moving to Italy in July 2019. [1]
On 24 July 2019, Serie A side S.S.C. Napoli announced the signing of Elmas from Fenerbahçe. [2] The deal was worth a reported €16 million, which could rise to €19 million in total with bonuses – including a €1.5 million sell-on fee clause. [1] He was disciplined by his new club after speaking to reporters while away on international duty in November 2019 for breaching a club media blackout. [3]
Elmas scored his first Napoli goal on 3 February 2020 to help the club to a 4–2 victory over Sampdoria, and secure their third win in a row in all competitions. [4]
On 19 December 2021, Elmas scored the winner for Napoli in a narrow away win against AC Milan, taking over second place in Serie A. [5]
Elmas went on to win the Scudetto with Napoli in 2023, the club's third title, and the first claimed outside of the Diego Maradona era. [6]
On 27 December 2023, Bundesliga club RB Leipzig announced that Elmas would join the club on 1 January 2024, upon the opening of the winter transfer window, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract. [7] The transfer fee paid by the Germans was reported as €23 million by German sports magazine Kicker. [8]
Elmas was born in Macedonia (now North Macedonia) to a family of Turkish descent. [9] [10] [11] In July 2017, it was reported that then-coach of the Turkey national football team, Fatih Terim, had tried to call him up, but Elmas decided to represent his birth country. [12]
Elmas was also included in the Macedonia U21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Poland, and he was in fact the youngest one in the 23-player squad. [13]
On 11 June 2017, at the age of 17, Elmas debuted for the Macedonian senior squad in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Spain by coming in at halftime as a substitute for Ostoja Stjepanović. [14]
On 31 March 2021, he scored the winning goal for North Macedonia in a 2–1 away win over Germany during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. [15] The same year in November 2021, Elmas scored a brace in a 3–1 victory against Iceland, helping team secure a runners-up spot in Group J, leading North Macedonia to a World Cup play-off. [16]
Club | Season | League | National cup [a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Rabotnički | 2015–16 | Macedonian First League | 11 | 1 | — | – | — | 11 | 1 | |||
2016–17 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 35 | 7 | |||
Total | 44 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 46 | 8 | |||
Fenerbahçe | 2017–18 | Süper Lig | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
2018–19 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 [b] | 0 | — | 40 | 4 | |||
Total | 34 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 47 | 4 | |||
Napoli | 2019–20 | Serie A | 26 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 [c] | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | |
2020–21 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 6 [b] | 0 | 1 [d] | 0 | 44 | 3 | ||
2021–22 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 [b] | 4 | — | 46 | 7 | |||
2022–23 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 [c] | 0 | — | 47 | 6 | |||
2023–24 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 [c] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | ||
Total | 143 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 189 | 19 | ||
RB Leipzig | 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 14 | 0 | — | 2 [c] | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
Career total | 234 | 25 | 15 | 1 | 46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 297 | 31 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
North Macedonia [a] | |||
2017 | 3 | 0 | |
2018 | 5 | 0 | |
2019 | 10 | 4 | |
2020 | 4 | 0 | |
2021 | 15 | 5 | |
2022 | 9 | 0 | |
2023 | 10 | 3 | |
2024 | 4 | 0 | |
Total | 60 | 12 |
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 March 2019 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 9 | Latvia | 2–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
2 | 3–1 | ||||||
3 | 10 October 2019 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 15 | Slovenia | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
4 | 2–0 | ||||||
5 | 28 March 2021 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 24 | Liechtenstein | 4–0 | 5–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6 | 31 March 2021 | MSV-Arena, Duisburg, Germany | 25 | Germany | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
7 | 1 June 2021 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 26 | Slovenia | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
8 | 14 November 2021 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 37 | Iceland | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
9 | 3–1 | ||||||
10 | 23 March 2023 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 47 | Malta | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
11 | 16 June 2023 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 49 | Ukraine | 2–0 | 2–3 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
12 | 12 September 2023 | National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta | 52 | Malta | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
Napoli
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Elif Elmas | ||
Date of birth | 24 September 1999 | ||
Place of birth | Skopje, Macedonia | ||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder, winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | RB Leipzig | ||
Number | 6 | ||
Youth career | |||
2004–2013 | FK Vardar | ||
2013–2015 | Rabotnički | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
2015–2017 | Rabotnički | 44 | (7) |
2017–2019 | Fenerbahçe | 34 | (4) |
2019–2024 | Napoli | 143 | (14) |
2024– | RB Leipzig | 14 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
Macedonia U17 | 2 | (0) | |
2015–2018 | Macedonia U19 | 13 | (2) |
2016–2017 | Macedonia U21 | 9 | (1) |
2017– | North Macedonia | 60 | (12) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:56, 21 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:09, 10 June 2024 (UTC) |
Elif Elmas ( Macedonian: Елиф Елмас; born 24 September 1999) is a Macedonian professional footballer who plays for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and the North Macedonia national team. A versatile player, Elmas can be deployed as a central midfielder, right midfielder, winger or forward.
Elmas started his career at FK Rabotnički in his native Macedonia. After a stand-out season in which he scored six league goals and led Rabotnički to a third-place finish in the Macedonian First Football League in 2016–17, he joined Turkish giants Fenerbahçe on a deal until 2022, with Fenerbahçe paying the former €300,000 for his services. [1] The attacking midfielder went on to score four goals in over 40 appearances for the Yellow Canaries in all competitions before moving to Italy in July 2019. [1]
On 24 July 2019, Serie A side S.S.C. Napoli announced the signing of Elmas from Fenerbahçe. [2] The deal was worth a reported €16 million, which could rise to €19 million in total with bonuses – including a €1.5 million sell-on fee clause. [1] He was disciplined by his new club after speaking to reporters while away on international duty in November 2019 for breaching a club media blackout. [3]
Elmas scored his first Napoli goal on 3 February 2020 to help the club to a 4–2 victory over Sampdoria, and secure their third win in a row in all competitions. [4]
On 19 December 2021, Elmas scored the winner for Napoli in a narrow away win against AC Milan, taking over second place in Serie A. [5]
Elmas went on to win the Scudetto with Napoli in 2023, the club's third title, and the first claimed outside of the Diego Maradona era. [6]
On 27 December 2023, Bundesliga club RB Leipzig announced that Elmas would join the club on 1 January 2024, upon the opening of the winter transfer window, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract. [7] The transfer fee paid by the Germans was reported as €23 million by German sports magazine Kicker. [8]
Elmas was born in Macedonia (now North Macedonia) to a family of Turkish descent. [9] [10] [11] In July 2017, it was reported that then-coach of the Turkey national football team, Fatih Terim, had tried to call him up, but Elmas decided to represent his birth country. [12]
Elmas was also included in the Macedonia U21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Poland, and he was in fact the youngest one in the 23-player squad. [13]
On 11 June 2017, at the age of 17, Elmas debuted for the Macedonian senior squad in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Spain by coming in at halftime as a substitute for Ostoja Stjepanović. [14]
On 31 March 2021, he scored the winning goal for North Macedonia in a 2–1 away win over Germany during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. [15] The same year in November 2021, Elmas scored a brace in a 3–1 victory against Iceland, helping team secure a runners-up spot in Group J, leading North Macedonia to a World Cup play-off. [16]
Club | Season | League | National cup [a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Rabotnički | 2015–16 | Macedonian First League | 11 | 1 | — | – | — | 11 | 1 | |||
2016–17 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 35 | 7 | |||
Total | 44 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 46 | 8 | |||
Fenerbahçe | 2017–18 | Süper Lig | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
2018–19 | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 [b] | 0 | — | 40 | 4 | |||
Total | 34 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 47 | 4 | |||
Napoli | 2019–20 | Serie A | 26 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 [c] | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | |
2020–21 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 6 [b] | 0 | 1 [d] | 0 | 44 | 3 | ||
2021–22 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 [b] | 4 | — | 46 | 7 | |||
2022–23 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 [c] | 0 | — | 47 | 6 | |||
2023–24 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 [c] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | ||
Total | 143 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 189 | 19 | ||
RB Leipzig | 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 14 | 0 | — | 2 [c] | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
Career total | 234 | 25 | 15 | 1 | 46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 297 | 31 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
North Macedonia [a] | |||
2017 | 3 | 0 | |
2018 | 5 | 0 | |
2019 | 10 | 4 | |
2020 | 4 | 0 | |
2021 | 15 | 5 | |
2022 | 9 | 0 | |
2023 | 10 | 3 | |
2024 | 4 | 0 | |
Total | 60 | 12 |
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 21 March 2019 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 9 | Latvia | 2–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
2 | 3–1 | ||||||
3 | 10 October 2019 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 15 | Slovenia | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
4 | 2–0 | ||||||
5 | 28 March 2021 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 24 | Liechtenstein | 4–0 | 5–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
6 | 31 March 2021 | MSV-Arena, Duisburg, Germany | 25 | Germany | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
7 | 1 June 2021 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 26 | Slovenia | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
8 | 14 November 2021 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 37 | Iceland | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
9 | 3–1 | ||||||
10 | 23 March 2023 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 47 | Malta | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
11 | 16 June 2023 | Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia | 49 | Ukraine | 2–0 | 2–3 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
12 | 12 September 2023 | National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta | 52 | Malta | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualification |
Napoli