Club career Leon Benko

1 club career

1.1 varteks
1.2 nürnberg
1.3 standard liège
1.4 k.v. kortrijk
1.5 slaven belupo
1.6 rijeka
1.7 dalian aerbin
1.8 sarajevo
1.9 olimpija ljubljana

club career
varteks

benko signed first professional contract youth club, nk varteks, in july 2003, , continued play club in following 3 seasons under coaches miroslav blažević (2003–05) , zlatko dalić (2005–06). in second season @ varteks established himself 1 of club s key players, appearing in 26 matches in croatian first league.

in summer of 2005, performed varteks in uefa intertoto cup, scoring 4 goals in 4–1 victory on dinamo tirana brace included winning goal in 4–3 victory on inter turku. finished 2005–06 season club s top scorer, scoring 14 goals in 27 league appearances, , instrumental in club s 2005–06 croatian cup campaign in reached final before losing rijeka on away goals rule. excellent performances @ varteks earned him 2005 hope of year award croatia s best young player.

nürnberg

on 23 may 2006, announced benko has signed german bundesliga side 1. fc nürnberg on three-year contract optional one-year extension. made bundesliga debut on 12 august 2006, playing substitute in last 5 minutes of club s first league match of 2006–07 season, 3–0 away victory @ vfb stuttgart. finished first bundesliga season 7 appearances, having missed entire second part of season due injury problems.

he scored first goal nürnberg on 29 november 2007 in uefa cup group match against eventual winners of competition, zenit saint petersburg, securing team 2–2 away draw. made total of 4 appearances nürnberg in 2007–08 season of uefa cup.

standard liège

on 4 august 2008, benko moved belgian side standard liège undisclosed fee, signing one-year contract optional extension. made debut club on 16 august 2008 in 3–1 away win @ fcv dender in first round of 2008–09 jupiler league, coming on late substitute. in season club made 14 league appearances due injury problems. managed win belgian first division title club.

k.v. kortrijk

on 30 june 2009, k.v. kortrijk signed croatian forward standard liège until june 2010.

slaven belupo

on 29 january 2011, benko signed one-and-a-half-year contract slaven belupo. in first game slaven, scored goal in 2–1 loss against rnk split. end of season made ten more appearances club , scored 8 goals in process. opened new season scoring goal against nk zagreb on matchday 1 in july 2011. scored 7 goals in croatian first league , added 3 assists end of mid-season when transferred saudi professional league club al-faisaly.

rijeka

in june 2012, announced benko joining hnk rijeka. given number 19 shirt.

benko made debut new club against nk zadar @ end of july, , scored first goal on matchday 4 of season against lokomotiva zagreb. in first season club fulfilled expectations of club officials , fans 2012–13 prva hnl league s top scorer 18 goals in 30 appearances. @ end of season, awarded sn yellow shirt award, best football player in 2012–13 prva hnl, based on post-match ratings awarded sports journalists on course of season. club finished third in 2012–13 prva hnl standings , secured spot in europa league qualifications.

benko started new 2013–14 season in strong fashion, netting 11 goals in first 11 appearances. scored 5 goals in 2013–14 uefa europa league qualifying phase, including 2 goals against vfb stuttgart in europa league play-off round. goals helped rijeka reach first ever europa league group stage drawn in group olympique lyonnais, real betis , vitória s.c.. on 28 september, scored spectacular volley against rijeka s greatest rivals hajduk split in adriatic derby. month later, on matchday 2 of 2013–14 europa league, benko scored volley goal against real betis give team 1–0 lead on stadion kantrida. match finished 1–1.

dalian aerbin

on 24 february 2014, benko reportedly signed chinese super league team dalian aerbin undisclosed fee.

on 28 april 2015, benko filed lawsuit @ hong kong high court against holding company of dalian aerbin unpaid wages , image rights. benko claimed contract dalian worth 1.02 million euros. however, 4 months contract, paid 36,000 euros. has terminated contract dalian since then.

sarajevo

on 12 september 2014, benko reportedly signed bosnian premier league club fk sarajevo free agent.

during first half of 2014–15 premier league, scored 9 goals in 14 appearances. in next season, sarajevo ranked third in league , benko league top goalscorer 17 goals. @ beginning of 2016–17 season benko got suspended drinking alcohol before match against rival club zrinjski.

olimpija ljubljana

after falling out sarajevo on suspension, benko signed two-year contract slovenian club olimpija ljubljana on free transfer on 30 august 2016.

during mid-season, on 15 december 2016, club announced benko departing club due poor performances. in end, benko stayed @ club, scoring 14 goals in 34 appearances club in competitions. appeared in final of 2017 slovenian football cup, olimpija lost 1–0 domžale.