Frank Juric Explained

Frank Juric
Fullname:Frank Juric
Birth Date:1973 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Melbourne, Australia
Height:1.95 m
Currentclub:Brisbane Roar (Goalkeeper coach)
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthyears2:1990–1991
Youthclubs2:AIS
Years1:1992–1996
Clubs1:Melbourne Knights
Caps1:68
Goals1:0
Years2:1996–1997
Clubs2:Collingwood Warriors
Caps2:25
Goals2:0
Years3:1997–1999
Clubs3:Fortuna Düsseldorf
Caps3:36
Goals3:0
Years4:1999–2004
Clubs4:Bayer Leverkusen
Caps4:11
Goals4:0
Years5:2001–2004
Clubs5:Bayer Leverkusen II
Caps5:17
Goals5:0
Years6:2004–2008
Clubs6:Hannover 96
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Years7:2008–2009
Clubs7:Perth Glory
Caps7:4
Goals7:0
Totalcaps:162
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:1993
Nationalyears2:1994–1996
Nationalcaps2:15
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1995–2001
Nationalteam3:Australia
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0
Manageryears1:2009–2010
Managerclubs1:Perth Glory (Goalkeeper coach)
Manageryears2:2012–2016
Managerclubs2:Melbourne Knights (Assistant coach)
Manageryears3:2017–2019
Managerclubs3:Adelaide United (Goalkeeper coach)
Manageryears4:2019–2021
Managerclubs4:Western United (Goalkeeper coach)
Manageryears5:2023–
Managerclubs5:Brisbane Roar (Goalkeeper coach)

Frank Juric (Croatian: Frank Jurić, pronounced as /jǔːritɕ/; born 28 October 1973) is an Australian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Born in Melbourne, Juric began his professional career in the former Australian national league with Melbourne Knights, where he won two league titles, before moving to the newly formed Collingwood Warriors (also based in Melbourne). The club struggled financially though and was unable to go on beyond this solitary season, in which they finished second bottom.

The goalkeeper took this as his cue to move to Europe, although the transfer was a protracted affair, as Collingwood Warriors – no longer technically in existence – still demanded a fee from Fortuna Düsseldorf. Eventually, this was resolved by the German club paying $30,000 and Juric was free to move for the 1997–98 season.

His first season in Germany was relatively successful as Fortuna Düsseldorf finished seventh in the 2. Bundesliga. However, the following year they suffered relegation to the Regionalliga-West. However, Juric had been spotted by Bundesliga team Bayer 04 Leverkusen and he signed for the high-flying club in summer 1999.

Juric was used as a backup keeper here, behind the likes of Adam Matysek and Hans-Jörg Butt but still managed 11 Bundesliga appearances as the club enjoyed a series of strong performances both domestically, and notably in the 2002 Champions League, where they reached the final. Juric himself appeared twice in the UEFA Champions League in 2002–03, against Olympiacos and Manchester United.

In June 2004, he joined fellow Bundesliga side Hannover 96 as second choice keeper behind Robert Enke. His time with the Reds has been blighted by persistent knee problems, limiting to just a single appearance in his first three seasons there, playing in a 2–2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach on 6 May 2006.

In May 2008, it was announced that Juric was to return to his native Australia for the 2008–09 A-League season, with Perth Glory. He competed for the number one jersey alongside Olyroo Tando Velaphi, while Jason Petkovic was retained as a backup and advisor to the youth team. Juric's poor run of form led to the goalkeeping position given to Tando Velaphi.

In May 2009, Juric retired as a player and joined Glory as goalkeeping coach, when they signed Aleks Vrteski as the club's second goalkeeper.[1]

International career

Juric made two full appearances for the Australian national team, making his debut on 10 November 1995 in a 1996 OFC Nations Cup match against New Zealand which finished goalless, and also appearing on 10 February 1996 in a 1–4 friendly defeat to Japan.

He also competed in the 1996 Olympics in the football competition and was an unused squad member in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, where they achieved third place. However, the likes of Mark Schwarzer, Zeljko Kalac and Mark Bosnich had severely limited his hopes of international football.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[2] [3] [4] [5]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Melbourne Knights1992–93National Soccer League30000030
1993–9450000050
1994–952705000320
1995–963300000330
Knights total6805000730
Collingwood Warriors1996–97National Soccer League2500000250
Fortuna Düsseldorf1997–982. Bundesliga70000070
1998–992902000310
Fortuna Düsseldorf total3602000380
Bayer 04 Leverkusen1999–2000Bundesliga40000040
2000–0160000060
2001–0200000000
2002–0310102040
Bayer total1101020140
Bayer 04 Leverkusen II2001–02Regionalliga Nord60000060
2002–0310000010
2003–04Oberliga Nordrhein1000000100
Bayer II total1700000170
Hannover 962004–05Bundesliga00000000
2005–0610000010
2006–0700000000
2007–0800000000
Perth Glory2008–09A-League40200060
Career total1620100201740

Honours

Club

Melbourne Knights

Bayer Leverkusen

International

Australia

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vrteski back in Glory fold . https://web.archive.org/web/20090811003956/http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=4&ContentID=143785 . dead . 11 August 2009 . Shayne . Hope . thewest.com.au . 25 May 2009 . 25 May 2009 . dmy-all .
  2. Web site: Frank Juric. OzFootball.net. 30 April 2020.
  3. Web site: Frank Juric. ALeagueStats.com. 30 April 2020.
  4. Web site: Frank Juric. kicker. 30 April 2020.
  5. Web site: 1994-95 Season Cup Matches. OzFootball.net. 30 April 2020.