Ilija Vukotić

Ilija Vukotić (born 7 January 1999) is a Montenegrin professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club Boavista.

Ilija Vukotić

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	Cetinje, Montenegro, FR Yugoslavia
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Boavista
Number	18
Youth career
2014–2015	Lovćen
2015–2017	Grbalj
2017	Vitória Setúbal
2017–2018	Benfica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Grbalj	15	(1)
2017–2022	Benfica B	52	(4)
2021–2022	→ Boavista (loan)	20	(0)
2022–	Boavista	67	(4)
International career‡
2014–2016	Montenegro U17	13	(3)
2015	Montenegro U18	2	(0)
2015–2018	Montenegro U19	14	(2)
2017–2020	Montenegro U21	16	(6)
2021–	Montenegro	3	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 3 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 June 2023

Club career

Vukotić began his competitive football career at the age of 12.^[1] On 21 March 2015, he scored against Berane in his debut for Grbalj, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Montenegrin First League at age 16.^[1]

In the summer of 2017, Vukotić moved to Portugal, joining Benfica's youth setup.^[2]

On 17 August 2021, Vukotić signed a new contract with Benfica and was immediately loaned to Primeira Liga club Boavista for two seasons.^[3] In the summer of 2022, Vukotić permanently joined Boavista as part of the deal that sent Petar Musa to Benfica. Benfica retained 50% of Vukotić's economic rights and a buy-back option.^[4]

International career

He debuted for Montenegro on 13 November 2021 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against the Netherlands.^[5] He came on as a substitute in the 69th minute, with Montenegro trailing 2–0, and scored in the 82nd minute to bring the score to 2–1, contributing to the eventual 2–2 final result.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 February 2019^[6][7]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Grbalj	2014–15	Montenegrin First League	2	1	0	0	—		2	1
	2015–16	Montenegrin First League	5	0	0	0	—		5	0
	2016–17	Montenegrin First League	8	0	3	0	—		11	0
	Total		15	1	3	0	—		18	1
Benfica B	2017–18	LigaPro	1	0	—		—		1	0
	2018–19	LigaPro	7	0	—		—		7	0
	2019–20	LigaPro	18	0	—		—		18	0
	2020–21	Liga Portugal 2	24	3	—		—		24	3
	2021–22	Liga Portugal 2	2	1	—		—		2	1
	Total		52	4	—		—		52	4
Boavista (loan)	2021–22	Primeira Liga	20	0	1	0	2	0	23	0
Boavista	2022–23	Primeira Liga	13	0	1	0	0	0	14	0
	2023–24	Primeira Liga	8	1	1	0	1	0	10	1
	Total		41	1	3	0	3	0	47	1
Career total			108	6	6	0	3	0	117	6

International

As of match played 7 June 2022

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Montenegro	2021	2	1
	2022	1	0
Total		3	1

As of match played 7 June 2022

Scores and results list Montenegro goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vukotić goal.

List of international goals scored by Ilija Vukotić

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	13 November 2021	Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro	1	Netherlands	1–2	2–2	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification