11 Impressive Facts About Benjamin Šeško From Youth Days
- Think Football Ideas
- Jun 13
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Date of Birth: 31 May 2003
Place of Birth: Radeče, Slovenia
Height: 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Position: Forward
Current Club: Manchester United
Jersey Number: 30
In an era where the classic No. 9 is slowly fading into myth, Benjamin Šeško feels like a throwback with a turbocharger. Towering, rapid, and ice-cold in front of goal, the Slovenian striker is now set to showcase those qualities on the biggest stage of all.
On 9 August 2025, Manchester United unveiled Šeško as their newest signing, handing him a five-year contract that runs until 2030, and making him the first Slovenian to ever represent the club.
From comparisons to Erling Haaland to his knack for delivering in pressure moments, Šeško arrives at Old Trafford with both history and expectation on his shoulders. So, what makes this towering talent worth all the buzz? Let’s dive into the story behind United’s newest No. 9.
As Europe’s top clubs circle and Slovenia dreams big, the big question looms: Is Šeško the next elite striker we've all been waiting for? Let’s rewind the tape and find out what makes this rising giant tick.
Here Are 11 Interesting Facts About Benjamin Šeško - The Slovenian Gem
1. Šeško Began His Career At His Hometown Club Radeče
Every journey starts somewhere, and for Benjamin Šeško, it began in the small Slovenian town of Radeče. Born on May 31, 2003, he first laced up his boots with the local club while still in first grade.
Hard to believe this lofty striker was once a tiny kid darting around pitches in a town in the Lower Sava Valley in eastern Slovenia. But even then, there was a spark, Radeče was the cradle of the storm.
2. He Had An Adventurous Youth Career
Šeško's youth career was a proper tour across Slovenian academies. After starting at Radeče, he took a short detour to Rudar Trbovlje for a spell with their under-11s, before zipping back to Radeče again.
In 2016, he moved to Krško, where he caught serious attention, most notably by scoring 59 goals in 23 games for the under-15 side during the 2017–18 season. That’s not a typo. Then came a one-season stint at Domžale in 2018. Talk about a teenage long wander, all before he could legally drive!
3. He Started Playing As A Centre-Back
Benjamin Šeško, the goal machine, actually started out in defence. The now-lethal striker once donned the No. 5 vibes, patrolling the backline. However, there was one minor issue: he couldn’t stop trying to score goals.
“I always took the ball and tried to score,” he said. It’s like putting a lion on a leash in a butcher’s shop. Eventually, the coaches wised up as they realised this kid was born for the final third, not the backline, a positional shift many today are thankful for.
4. He Signed His First Professional Contract With Red Bull Salzburg
On June 3, 2019, at the tender age of 16, Šeško put pen to paper on his first professional deal, a three-year contract with Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg, and it was a big moment!
This wasn’t a job offer, this was an invitation to enter Europe’s most efficient footballing conveyor belt, the same machine that had churned out Haaland. It was a bold move. He was still technically a kid, but Salzburg already saw him as the next big boom.
5. His Loan Spell At FC Liefering Was Fruitful
Liefering, Salzburg’s in-house finishing school, where wonderkids become stars. After signing for Salzburg, Šeško was immediately loaned to FC Liefering in Austria’s Second Division. And, he did make it rain in goals.
In the 2020–21 season, he notched 21 goals in 29 appearances, finishing as the second-highest scorer in the league. Thirteen of those came in the final seven matches. It was clear: this kid was outgrowing the “academy” level fast.
6. RB Leipzig Came Calling Following His Success At FC Liefering
By August 2022, RB Leipzig had seen enough. They pulled the trigger on signing Šeško, announcing a deal that would see him officially join on July 1, 2023. The fee was around €24 million, which clearly isn't pocket change.
Despite serious interest from the likes of Manchester United (and who wouldn’t be interested at that point?), Šeško chose the Red Bull pipeline over the Premier League lights. He was still 19, but already the future of Leipzig’s attack.
7. He Became The Youngest Ever To Score in 7 Consecutive Bundesliga Games
Benjamin Šeško etched his name into Bundesliga history books by becoming the youngest player ever to score in seven straight league games. He achieved the feat at 20 years and 353 days, just shy of his 21st birthday.
Talk about consistency. That kind of streak is rare even for seasoned pros, and here was this young Slovenian doing it like it was the norm. That number didn’t merely reflect performance as it signalled a warning - he was on his way.
8. Šeško is A Towering Striker, Standing At 6ft 4in
Some see him on the pitch and think: “Wait, did they clone Haaland?” At 6ft 4in, Šeško is a proper modern-day gladiator. Lean, fast, and built like a basketball forward, which, funny enough, he considered becoming (more on that in a sec).
He openly admired Haaland’s height and similar movement early on, even saying as the Guardian quoted: “I wanted to be like him… but then I wanted to be myself.” That’s big talk, and the best part? He’s actually backing it up. One word: unit.
9. As Slovenia's Youngest Ever Senior Debutant, Šeško Was Eligible To Play For Bosnia & Herzegovina (Via His Mother)
Benjamin Šeško’s international journey began long before the world really knew his name. A product of Slovenia’s youth system from the U15s onward, his rapid rise saw senior coach Matjaž Kek hand him a debut on June 1, 2021, a day after his 18th birthday, making him the youngest player to ever feature for the national team.
Four months later, on October 8, he found the net in a World Cup qualifier against Malta, etching his name into the record books again as Slovenia’s youngest goalscorer. Yet, things could have turned out differently.
With his mother from Doboj, Šeško had the option to represent Bosnia & Herzegovina. But his choice was clear. Slovenia was home, and he’s been repaying that faith ever since — one milestone at a time.
10. Benjamin Sesko Has A Strong Passion For Basketball
Benjamin Šeško’s love for football is well known, but away from the pitch, another sport quietly tugs at his heart - basketball. He has the perfect frame for the game, and he’s never hidden the fact that if life had taken a different turn, the NBA might have been his stage.
“I play a lot of basketball, especially on days off,” he shared in his first interview as a Manchester United player. “It’s been a passion of mine since I was young. When football wasn’t happening, there was basketball. It relaxes me.”
Whether he’s shooting hoops in his downtime or watching Luka Dončić, his favourite player, light up the court, Šeško finds in basketball the same rhythm, precision, and joy that fuels his football career.
11. His Father, Aleš, Was A Goalkeeper And Wanted Šeško To Be A Goalkeeper
The classic father-son dynamic, and in this case, it was literally about who gets to wear the gloves between the sticks. Aleš Šeško, Benjamin’s dad, was a goalkeeper back in their hometown of Radeče, and naturally tried to pass the torch.
But young Benjamin had other plans. “It’s boring!” he told his dad. Aleš was the same height as him (tall genes, clearly), and the two played footy together constantly.
Bonus - Benjamin Sesko's Football Idol is Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Benjamin Šeško’s face lights up when Zlatan Ibrahimović’s name comes up. At 6ft 5in, the comparisons are natural, but for him, it’s about admiration, not likeness. “He’s been my role model since I’ve been small,” Šeško told Man Utd's official site, recalling how he watched “every single YouTube video” of the Swede.
It’s the joy Zlatan brought to the pitch, rather than his off-field persona, that inspires him. Already blending flashes of Zlatan’s high kicks and power strikes into his game, Šeško also draws from Old Trafford icons like Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, but meeting Ibrahimović remains the dream.
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