| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Other Name | Marco |
| Profession | Footballer |
| Physical Stats | |
| Height (approx.) | 6' 1" (185 cm) |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Hair Colour | Medium Blonde |
| Football | |
| International Debut | 20 January 2024 for Slovenia against USA (friendly match) |
| Jersey Number | #14 (Slovenia) #14 (Al Ain) |
| Club(s) | Youth career • Mura 05 (2013) • Mura (2013-2017) • Maribor (2017-2018) • Olimpija Ljubljana (2018-2021) Senior career • Olimpija Ljubljana (2021-2025) • Al Ain (2025) |
| Position | Defender |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 23 December 2003 (Tuesday) |
| Age (as of 2024) | 21 Years |
| Birthplace | Slovenia |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | Slovenian |
| School | Osnovna šola Tišina, Slovenia |
| Tattoo(s) | On right arm |
| Social Media | • Instagram |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Marcel Ratnik
- Marcel has represented Slovenia at the international level since 2017, playing at all youth levels from under-15 to under-21.
- Marcel’s senior football career started in the Slovenian PrvaLiga with the Olimpija Ljubljana club. He signed his first contract with the club in March 2021. He made his debut for the club in July 2021 against NK Radomlje in a 1-1 draw.
- Marcel made his UEFA Europa Conference League debut in the 2021-22 season against Santa Clara.
- Marcel’s first goal for Olimpija Ljubljana came against Bravo FC in a 1–0 home victory in July 2022. Throughout the 2022-23 season, Marcel performed consistently and made 31 appearances in the league. He won the league and the Slovenian Cup that season.
- Marcel is a versatile player who typically plays as a defender, but at his coach’s advice, he has also played as a forward in a match against NK Maribor during the 2022-23 season.
- In the 2023-24 season, Marcel made 49 appearances, of which 34 were in the league and 14 in European competitions. He scored his career best, 5 goals throughout the season and also guided the club to their first ever European group stage appearance.
Photo of Marcel Ratnik while playing in the Conference League playoff round match
- In December 2024, Marcel became the youngest ever player in Olimpija’s history to appear in 100 matches in the Slovenian top division at the age of 20 years and 350 days.
- Marcel won the league title as captain with the Olimpija Ljubljana club during the 2024-25 season, making 43 appearances in all competitions for the club during the season.
Photo of Marcel Ratnik (holding the trophy) celebrating with his teammates after winning the league
- Marcel signed a four-year contract with Al Ain football club in June 2025. He was sold to Al Ain for a transfer fee of €2.2 million.
- As of June 2025, Marcel has 4.1k followers on Instagram.
