Richairo Živković
Curaçaoan footballer (born 1996)
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Richairo Juliano Živković (Serbian: Ришаиро Жулијано Живковић/Rišairo Žulijano Živković; born 5 September 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Thai League 1 club Bangkok United. Born in the Netherlands, he represents the Curaçao national team.
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Živković playing for Lion City Sailors in 2024. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richairo Juliano Živković[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 September 1996[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Assen, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bangkok United | ||
| Number | 30 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2007 | FVV Foxhol | ||
| 2007–2012 | Groningen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2014 | Groningen | 33 | (10) |
| 2014–2017 | Ajax | 7 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | → Jong Ajax | 40 | (27) |
| 2015 | → Willem II (loan) | 16 | (2) |
| 2016–2017 | → Utrecht (loan) | 34 | (9) |
| 2017–2019 | Oostende | 50 | (12) |
| 2019–2021 | Changchun Yatai | 30 | (15) |
| 2020 | → Sheffield United (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2020 | → Guangzhou R&F (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2021–2022 | Red Star Belgrade | 9 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Emmen | 36 | (6) |
| 2023–2024 | Lion City Sailors | 7 | (6) |
| 2024– | Bangkok United | 34 | (13) |
| International career | |||
| 2013 | Netherlands U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Netherlands U19 | 10 | (4) |
| 2015–2016 | Netherlands U20 | 6 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Netherlands U21 | 9 | (4) |
| 2023 | Curaçao | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18 October 2025 | |||
Club career
FC Groningen
Born in Assen, Živković began playing football at FVV from Foxhol. He was noticed early on due to his agility and speed, and at the age of 11 he left for the youth academy of FC Groningen where he progressed. He brought more attention to himself due to his performance for the reserves team, and by the end of 2012 he signed a three-year contract with the club.[4]
On 2 December 2012, Živković came on as an 84th-minute substitute in the first team's 2–0 win over Heracles Almelo,[5] making him the youngest debutant in the history of the club.[6] On 3 August 2013, the first match day of the 2013–14 Eredivisie season, he scored his first regular season goal for the club, thereby relieving Arjen Robben as the youngest to have ever scored for Groningen.[7] His talent did not go unnoticed, with 11 top football clubs enquiring about him by November 2013,[8][9] including the likes of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.[10]
Ajax
On 17 March 2014, Živković agreed to sign for Ajax, taking a three-year contract starting 1 July 2014.[11] FC Groningen also received Ajax forward Danny Hoesen, as well as a percentage of Živković's transfer fee should Ajax sell the player before the expiration of his contract, hereby following in the footsteps of Luis Suárez who had transferred from Groningen to Ajax before him.[12] On 5 June 2014, Živković made his debut for Ajax in a friendly match against Wacker Innsbruck concluding the club's pre-season training camp in Austria. He scored the final goal in the 46th minute of the 5–1 victory.[13] He made his competitive debut for the reserves team Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie season opener, a North Holland derby match which resulted in a 3–0 win at home against SC Telstar.[14] He scored his first goal for the reserves in his second appearance from a penalty kick in the 55th minute against Fortuna Sittard, which resulted in a 2–0 win.[15] He made his third appearance for the reserves team in another North Holland derby match against neighbouring FC Volendam. The game ended in a 5–0 loss at home. Živković was sent off receiving a red card in the 59th minute following the ejection of Ajax goalkeeper Peter Leeuwenburgh in the 35th minute of the match.[16]
On 28 October 2014, Živković made his regular season debut in the first team, playing in the third round KNVB Cup away match against SV Urk. Coming on as 46th-minute substitute for Arkadiusz Milik, he scored the final goal in the 89th minute of the 4–0 victory.[17] Scoring on his debut for the first team, Živković became the 50th Ajax player to do so since the introduction of professional football in the Netherlands.[18]
Willem II (loan)
On 22 June 2015, Živković was sent on loan at Willem II, together with Lesly de Sa and Ruben Ligeon. On 1 July 2015, he scored the first four goals in a friendly game against Jong Brabant which ended 0–12. Lesley de Sa also added a goal in that game.[19] However, he already returned to Ajax in February 2016, as his loan at Willem II did not turn out to be a success.[20]
FC Utrecht (loan)
Živković started the 2016–17 season with Jong Ajax for which he scored three times in two matches. Especially after the arrival of Bertrand Traoré at Ajax, his prospects for playing time with the first team of Ajax decreased. On 16 August 2016, he was sent on loan to FC Utrecht until the end of the season.[21]
KV Oostende
On 16 June 2017, Živković signed for Belgian Pro League club KV Oostende on a four-year contract. The transfer fee was not announced, however FC Groningen would receive 10% of the amount received by Ajax in the transfer.[22]
Changchun Yatai
On 18 February 2019, Živković moved to second tier Chinese club Changchun Yatai for the 2019 China League One season.[23] On 4 May 2019, he bagged his first senior hat-trick in a league match against Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard in a 3–4 away win.
Sheffield United (loan)
On 31 January 2020, Živković signed for English Premier league club, Sheffield United on a six-month loan until the end of the 2019–20 Premier League season, with the deal including an option to buy.[24]
Emmen
On 25 July 2022, Živković joined Emmen for one year with an option for a second.[25]
Lion City Sailors
On 11 July 2023, Živković joined Singapore Premier League outfit, Lion City Sailors on a one-year contract. He donned the no.34 jersey in tribute to his former Ajax teammate, Abdelhak Nouri who still suffered from a cardiac arrhythmia back in 2017 and in still recovering in the process. On 16 July 2023, Živković scored his first goal for the club in a match against Albirex Niigata (S). On 25 September 2023, he scored first club hat-trick and providing two assist in the 2023 Singapore Cup fixtures against Balestier Khalsa in a 7–0 home win. On 4 October 2023, Živković scored his first AFC Champions League goal in a 2–1 away win against Hong Kong side, Kitchee. On 8 November 2023, Živković scored a brace against Korean giant, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors helping the club to another historic win. On 9 December 2023, he scored a penalty from the spot which ended up as a 3–-1 win against Hougang United which saw him lifting the 2023 Singapore Cup with the club. Živković left the club on 30 May 2024.[26]
Bangkok United
On 9 July 2024, Živković moved to Thai League 1 club Bangkok United.
International career
Through his parents' respective origins, Živković is eligible to represent Serbia, Montenegro, Curaçao or the Netherlands.[27]
Following his first Eredivisie goal earlier in the month, Živković was called up to the Netherlands under-19 team on 22 August 2013.[28] He has also represented the Netherlands at under-20 and under-21 level.[29]
In March 2023, Živković received his first call-up to the Curaçao senior national team for the CONCACAF Nations League A fixtures in which he make his debut against Canada. On 29 March 2023, He make his second appearances in a friendly against Argentina at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades.[30]
Personal life
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental[a] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Groningen | 2012–13 | Eredivisie | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | 33 | 11 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 35 | 11 | |||
| Total | 37 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 11 | ||
| Ajax | 2014–15 | Eredivise | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| Jong Ajax | 2014–15 | Eerste Divisie | 25 | 18 | — | — | — | 25 | 18 | |||
| 2015–16 | 13 | 6 | — | — | — | 13 | 6 | |||||
| 2016–17 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | |||||
| Total | 40 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 27 | ||
| Willem II (loan) | 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 16 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 | |
| Utrecht (loan) | 2016–17 | Eredivisie | 34 | 9 | 4 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | 38 | 12 | |
| Oostende | 2017–18 | Belgian First Division A | 29 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 31 | 11 | |
| 2018–19 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 5 | |||
| Total | 50 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 16 | ||
| Changchun Yatai | 2019 | China League One | 25 | 15 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 15 | ||
| 2021 | Chinese Super League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 30 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 15 | ||
| Sheffield United (loan) | 2019–20 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Guangzhou R&F (loan) | 2020 | Chinese Super League | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 8 | 4 | ||
| Red Star Belgrade | 2021–22 | Serbian SuperLiga | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| Emmen | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 29 | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 34 | 7 | ||
| Lion City Sailors | 2023 | Singapore Premier League | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | — | 4 | 3 | 13 | 12 | |
| 2024–25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 12 | ||
| Bangkok United | 2024–25 | Thai League 1 | 27 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 [b] | 5 [c] | 40 | 15 |
| 2025–26 | Thai League 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 [d] | 0 | 11 | 4 | |
| Total | 34 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 51 | 19 | ||
| Career total | 304 | 102 | 30 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 8 | 358 | 130 | ||
- Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
- Includes one appearance in AFC Champions League Elite playoff and seven appearances in AFC Champions League Two
- Includes one goal in AFC Champions League Elite playoff and three goals in AFC Champions League Two
- Includes one appearance in AFC Champions League Elite playoff and three appearances in AFC Champions League Two
Honours
Red Star Belgrade
Lion City Sailors
