Draft:Aleksa Bogićević

Aleksa Bogićević (Алекса Богићевић, born 25 May 2003) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder in Greece.

Graduating from various youth systems in Serbia, such as FK Partizan, FK Čukarički and OFK Beograd. Bogićević moved to United States to play football for Wingate University, where he won two SAC Regular Season Championships,  and made multiple NCAA Championship Appearances.

Early years
Born in Belgrade, Aleksa started playing Football, in DIF Football School, where he competed mostly with older players. After several years he joined FK Partizan.

Education
In June 2022, Bogićević earned a degree of Completed Secondary Level of Education, by graduating in Sports Gymnasium in Belgrade.

While playing football at Wingate University he completed two years of college, majoring in Business Management.

Currently, he is studying at American College of Thessaloniki, at Thessaloniki, Greece, majoring in Entrepreneurial Management and working towards Bachelor's degree.

FK Partizan U15
In summer 2017, he joined FK Partizan youth system, aged 15. First season 2017-18 he spent at Partizan, where the team finished as vice champions in Belgrade U15 league. Season 2018/19 he was loaned out to FK Teleoptik until the end of season. He made numerous apperances, at defensive midfielder and center back position.

FK Čukarički U17
In January 2019, Bogićević made a transfer to FK Čukarički, to play under coach Nikica Klinčarski. Bogićević made his debut against FK Sindjelić in March, scoring the first goal of the game in a 4:0 win. In March 2019, Bogićević scored an injury time game winning goal against OFK Beograd, helping the team to complete the comeback as they were trailing down 1:0 at the half time. Bogićević lifted the trophy with FK Čukarički at the end of the season, winning the U16 Belgrade league, while he started every game for the team.

The upcoming season 2019/20 was shortened due to Covid-19 Pandemic, but Bogićević made 19 appearances for the club in the U17 Serbian league, playing the majority of the games as a left back. The club finished at 3rd place, behind FK Crvena Zvezda and Partizan.

OFK Beograd U19
With season 2019/20 being postponed due to Pandemic, the preparations for the new season began in May after the end of lockdown. In July 2020, Bogićević transferred to OFK Beograd, where he was supposed to play for U19 squad. He made 28 appearances, and in the second half of the season he was named captain by the coach. Bogićević led OFK Beograd to 12th place in the U19 Serbian league and after being in the relegation zone for the majority of the championship, helping the, to avoid relegation, scoring a crucial equalizer against FK Brodarac in the 36th round to draw the game.

In August the season 2021/22 started and Bogićević spent the first half of the season in OFK Beograd, captaining the team and making 15 appearances, all as a starter.

In January 2021, Bogićević decided to part ways with OFK Beograd.

FK Zemun U19
In January 2022, Bogićević made a transfer to FK Zemun, where he spent the second half of the 2021/22 season. Bogićević made 8 apperances for FK Zemun U19 in the U19 Serbian League, and at the end of the season he left the club as free agent, spending only 5 months in the club.

Wingate University
In August 2022, Aleksa Bogićević left Serbia and signed a 1-year contract with Wingate University, where he played football (soccer) as student-athlete in the NCAA Division II, South Athlantic Conference.

In his first season for Wingate, Bogićević featured in all 26 games his team played, playing a big part and helping the team to win SAC Regular Season Title, after the team missed the playoffs the year before. Despite losing the Conference Tournament, Wingate still punched the ticket for NCAA championship. They beat Converse University in the first round and Lenoir Rhyne University in the second round. They fell short in the round of 16, where they lost to Barry University. At the end of the season, Bogićević signed a new 1-year deal with Wingate.

Next season, 2023/24, Bogićević featured in only 3 games for Wingate, due to ankle injury. The team won SAC Regular Season Title for the second year in a row.

Style of play
Bogićević plays as a central or defensive midfielder, but can play on both full back positions. He is known for his technique, passing, vision, positioning and relentlessness. He excels in breaking the passing lines, short-range and long-range passing and dribbling in tight spaces. Bogićević is also known as a hard-working midfielder that covers a lot of ground and fulfills a lot of defensive duties.

As a left back, he is involved in play as an inverted full back.