Biography
Who is Jan Oblak?
Early life and career beginnings
Jan Oblak was born in Kranj, Slovenia, and grew up in the Upper Carniolan town of Škofja Loka. He started playing football at a very young age for his local team Ločan before moving to the Olimpija youth academy. During his youth development, the original club faced dissolution, leading him to join the newly formed setup that eventually became Olimpija Ljubljana.
At the age of sixteen, Jan made his professional debut for Olimpija Ljubljana in the Slovenian Second League during a match against Mura 05. His performances helped the club earn promotion to the top tier for the following season, where he established himself as the primary goalkeeper and only missed three league matches.
Move to Benfica and Portugal
In June 2010, Jan signed a contract with the Portuguese club Benfica. To gain experience, the club sent him out on loan to several other teams in the top division, including Beira-Mar and Olhanense during his initial spell in the country.
He later joined União de Leiria on loan for another campaign. Following financial struggles at Leiria where most of the squad rescinded their contracts, Jan continued to play before eventually returning to Benfica. During the 2013-14 campaign, he stepped into the starting lineup following a series of mistakes by the previous goalkeeper, helping the team secure a domestic treble and reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League.
Success with Atletico Madrid
In July 2014, Jan transferred to Spanish club Atletico Madrid for a substantial fee, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in La Liga history at that time. He arrived as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois and steadily became a crucial defensive pillar for the squad under manager Diego Simeone.
Over the following seasons, Jan achieved numerous clean sheet records and won the prestigious Ricardo Zamora Trophy multiple times for conceding the fewest goals in the league. He also helped Atletico Madrid win the La Liga title in the 2020-21 season and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League, earning widespread recognition as one of the best goalkeepers in world football.
International career and personal life
Jan made his senior international debut for the Slovenia men's national football team in 2012. Prior to that, he represented his country across various youth levels ranging from the under-15 team up to the under-21 side. He later took on the role of team captain and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2024.
Throughout his career, Jan has been named Slovenian Footballer of the Year on numerous occasions. Standing at a height of 186 centimeters, he shares his athletic background with his sister Teja Oblak, who is also a professional sportsperson.
Birthday and age
Jan Oblak was born on January 7, 1993, which makes Jan 33 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Jan shares the date with 63 other famous people.
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