

A commanding Serbian midfielder whose early promise at Liverpool led to a successful career as a linchpin in Portugal and Greece.
Marko Grujić stands as a symbol of a specific era at Liverpool—the first signing of the Jürgen Klopp reign, a tall, technically sound midfielder bought from Red Star Belgrade. The anticipation was high, but breaking into a rapidly improving Liverpool midfield proved difficult. Strategic loans, however, showcased his true value: at Cardiff City, he was instrumental in securing promotion to the Premier League, and at Porto, he evolved into a dominant, box-to-box presence in Portugal. His permanent move to Porto and later to AEK Athens confirmed his status as a player who thrives on responsibility. For Serbia, his physicality and passing range have made him a fixture in the heart of the midfield, a key figure in their recent World Cup appearances.
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Marko was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
The world at every milestone
Dolly the sheep cloned
September 11 attacks transform the world
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
His father was also a professional footballer in Serbia.
He is a licensed pilot and has expressed a strong interest in aviation.
He scored on his debut for Liverpool in a pre-season friendly against Fleetwood Town in 2016.
“I was Klopp's first signing, and that's a story I'll tell my grandchildren.”