Peeking out from behind Andrija Bulatović was RC Lens’s history. The trophy cabinet with the silverware positioned just in sight. It served as a reminder that the collection has only grown since the teenage midfielder joined them in 2025 from Budućnost Podgorica, a club situated in his home nation of Montenegro. In May, the Coupe de France was added, while the Trophée des Champions soon followed in August. 

With a backwards glance, he pointed out a piece of that history: the 1997/98 Division 1 trophy. For now, it remains the only Ligue 1 title that the club has won. Unlike so many of the other young faces that have emerged for Lens in these last couple of seasons, Bulatović was not from the academy; he was not “Made in Gaillette.” He was a product of his own country’s youth system, but still, he was linked to that trophy, won 28 years ago, and long before the 19-year-old was born. 

Bulatović’s cousin, Anto Drobnjak, was an accomplished striker and a cult legend in France. He played for SC Bastia, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, and finished his career at FC Martigues, but it was at Lens that he was most successful. He spent just one year with Les Sang et Or, scoring 14 in the 97/98 campaign ot help them secure their first and only title. “He won the biggest trophy in France,” Bulatović said with a laugh, “But I’ve won two!” 

Opportunity knocks for Andrija Bulatović

Bulatović comes from footballing stock. Not only was his cousin a footballer, but his father, Oleg, had a career as a player before becoming a coach, while his older brother Uros plays back in Montenegro for FK Jezero. And it was family that steered the teenager to leave Montenegro and join the Ligue 1 side: “I spoke with my cousin a lot before I signed with Lens, because it was a big step for me.” 

“It’s a league that’s very good for young players; a lot of clubs give chances to them. I only spoke with Lens, but they give a lot of opportunities. You saw that last season, seven or eight young players played a lot of games. It’s a beautiful club for a young player,” Bulatović explained. In his first season, he made 22 appearances, while this campaign he’s come off the bench in all four of Lens’s fixtures, including the Trophée des Champions victory over Paris Saint-Germain. 

“PSG are an unbelievable team; the best team in the world. But we gave 100% to win, and we deserved to win. The feeling of playing against Vitinha and Ousmane Dembélé was unbelievable. I came on, and I gave my best. I provoked Achraf Hakimi a little bit, and he got a yellow card,” he said with a smile that couldn’t hide his pride in the moment. And it spoke of something that became abundantly clear: he has a joyous competitive streak. 

A competitive streak

“My idol is Lionel Messi because my older brother likes Cristiano Ronaldo, so I took the opposite side,” he laughs. “But for my position, I watch a lot of Rodrí’s games or, before him, N’Golo Kanté. I like those two players, but I watch every, every centre-midfielder because I play there and I want to learn from their games.” You can certainly see elements of those two midfielders in how he approaches his position. 

There’s an almost metronomic quality to his passing game. From his role situated just in front of the defence, he looks to set the tempo and control the match. However, he’s not afraid to get stuck into the uglier side of the game; he has a biting tackle and a willingness to work hard without the ball. When asked to describe his playstyle in his own words, he picked two qualities in particular that stood out: “100% effort” and “aggressive.” 

It feels as if this season could be the breakthrough campaign that the teenager is looking for. Lens’s success last season earned them a runners-up spot in Ligue 1 and, with it, a return to Europe after a year’s absence as they secured automatic qualification to the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. With Les Sang et Or fighting on multiple fronts, rotation will become a necessity, and so even more opportunities should come Bulatović’s way. 

Lens ready for the Champions League; ‘I’ll be like a kid again’

Lens start their European campaign tonight with a trip to Serbia to face SK Slavia Prague. “I’ve been waiting for the first game,” he said. “My dream ever since I was a kid was to play in the Champions League. The first time I hear the anthem, I think I’ll be like a kid again.” As he spoke, he gestured to imaginary goosebumps on his arm. 

He may not have to wait too long for that dream to become reality or for those goosebumps to appear. An injury to Yacine Titraoui in the Saturday afternoon defeat to FC Lorient could open a spot in the starting line-up for the young midfielder for the match in Serbia. A game which would pit him against one of his cousin’s former teams. 

He admits that his team have landed a “difficult draw,” but with it there’s a definite sense of excitement. One match in particular stands out to him, and to Lens supporters alike: “Of course, Liverpool at Anfield. I watched them as a kid.” The trip in the new year won’t be the only Premier League opposition that Lens will face this season, with Manchester City arriving in France the week before on the 20th of January. 

A hidden gem ready to shine bright?

Montenegro was never too far from his mind, and it was clear that he was fiercely proud of his home country. Already, he’s become a full international for the nation, earning his first cap in June 2025 during a 2-2 draw with Armenia. Since then, he has gone on to represent his country a further eight times. 

If he weren’t a footballer, what would he have done? “I know only football!” He laughs, “I would have finished school and worked in my country, because my country is very beautiful. I would have worked in my city, Kolašin. It’s a beautiful city for tourism. I’m not sure what I would have done. Maybe worked as a ski instructor!” 

Football was always the goal, and for a player with his mix of determination and skill set, there looked to be no alternative to that goal taking him to the top. There’s a real sense that Lens know they have a hidden gem on their hands, a young talent that looks ready to take a significant step this year. If he shines with the chances that he’s given, it’ll be very hard for him to remain hidden for much longer. 

Andrija Bulatović sat down with Get French Football News in an interview facilitated by the LFP Media’s international department.