The Legacy of Jovan Stankovic at Mallorca

Jovan Stankovic arrived during the Christmas season of 1995, at a time when Spain was still using pesetas. He would go on to become a towering figure in the history of RCD Mallorca, which spans 109 years. Stankovic, born in Pirot in 1971, signed with the Mallorca team while they played in the Segunda División, transferring from the esteemed Estrella Roja of Belgrade. His legacy remains vibrant among Mallorca fans to this day.

Stankovic made his debut on January 7, 1996, in a match against Hércules, where he started as the primary player. The following week, he played at the Lluís Sitjar stadium, where he scored the last official goal for the first team, finding the net in a 1-1 draw with Leganés.

During the 1995/96 season, Mallorca was unable to secure promotion to the Primera División. However, the subsequent year brought a change in management, and under coach Tomeu Llompart, they achieved promotion, with Stankovic providing the crucial assist to Carlitos, who scored the goal that secured the team’s return to the top flight, marking the beginning of their longest stint in the league: 16 consecutive seasons.

Known for his distinctive left foot, Stankovic dominated the left wing at the old Sitjar stadium, delivering assists, executing set pieces, and demonstrating exceptional ball striking.

In 1998, Mallorca reached the Copa del Rey final but lost to FC Barcelona in a penalty shootout after finishing the match with only nine players. Stankovic tragically missed his penalty during the shootout. Later that year, Mallorca won the Supercopa de España by defeating Barcelona in a two-legged final, marking the club’s first official trophy. In 1999, they reached the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup but lost 2-1 to a formidable Lazio side.

Stankovic also had the honor of scoring the last goal for Mallorca at the Lluís Sitjar stadium during a crucial league match against Celta de Vigo, a stunning free-kick that confirmed the team’s qualification for the Champions League.

As the new millennium approached, Stankovic continued to make significant contributions, scoring goals and providing assists. Mallorca played in the UEFA Cup after failing to progress from the Champions League qualifiers against Norway’s Molde. In the UEFA Cup, he achieved a historic hat-trick against Monaco, a match held at the new Son Moix stadium, which ended in a 4-1 victory.

Reflecting on his career, Stankovic expressed his disappointment regarding a contentious Euro 2000 match between Yugoslavia and Spain, where he believed the match was unfairly decided against his team due to late goals from Spain.

Stankovic began the 2000/01 season with Mallorca but transferred to Olympique de Marseille in January, where he struggled for playing time despite the hefty transfer fee of 1.1 billion pesetas (approximately 6.6 million euros).

In the summer of 2001, he returned to Spain to join Atlético de Madrid, aiding their promotion back to the Primera División following a difficult relegation. After two seasons at Atlético, he returned to Mallorca, concluding his tenure with the team in the top division and impressive statistics: 219 appearances and 29 goals. Even 30 years after his arrival on the island, jerseys bearing Stankovic’s iconic number 11 continue to be seen, a testament to his eternal legacy.