Martin Erlić Explained

Martin Erlić
Full Name:Martin Erlić[1]
Birth Date:24 January 1998[2]
Birth Place:Zadar, Croatia
Height:1.92 m[3]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Bologna
Clubnumber:5
Youthyears1:2008-2010
Youthclubs1:Raštane
Youthyears2:2010–2012
Youthclubs2:Dinamo Zagreb
Youthyears3:2012–2014
Youthclubs3:Rijeka
Youthyears4:2014–2015
Youthclubs4:Parma
Youthyears5:2015–2017
Youthclubs5:Sassuolo
Years1:2017–2019
Clubs1:Sassuolo
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2017–2018
Clubs2:Südtirol (loan)
Caps2:30
Goals2:1
Years3:2018–2019
Clubs3:Spezia (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2019–2021
Clubs4:Spezia
Caps4:50
Goals4:3
Years5:2021–2024
Clubs5:Sassuolo
Caps5:60
Goals5:1
Years6:2021–2022
Clubs6:Spezia (loan)
Caps6:30
Goals6:2
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Bologna
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2015
Nationalteam1:Croatia U17
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2015
Nationalteam2:Croatia U18
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2016
Nationalteam3:Croatia U19
Nationalcaps3:11
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2022–
Nationalteam4:Croatia
Nationalcaps4:9
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:23:22, 26 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:32, 3 June 2024 (UTC)

Martin Erlić (pronounced as /hr/;[4] [5] born 24 January 1998) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Italian club Bologna and the Croatia national team.

Club career

Early career

Hailing from the village of Tinj, Erlić started training football at NK Raštane in a nearby village. At the age of 12 he was noticed by GNK Dinamo Zagreb scouts and brought to their academy, where he would spend two years before moving on to NK Rijeka. Erlić moved abroad at the age of 16, to Parma.[6]

Sassuolo

After Parma's bankruptcy, in 2015, Erlić went to Sassuolo.[7]

Loan to Südtirol

On 31 August 2017, Erlić was signed by Serie C side Südtirol on a season-long loan deal. On 8 October he made his Serie C debut for Südtirol, as a substitute replacing Filippo Sgarbi in the 70th minute of a 3–1 away defeat against Padova.[8] On 15 October he played his first entire match for Südtirol, a 5–0 home win over Santarcangelo.[9] On 8 November, Erlić scored his first professional goal for Südtirol in the 81st minute of a 1–0 away win over Sambenedettese.[10] Erlić ended his season-long loan to Südtirol with 30 appearances, 1 goal and 1 assist.[11]

Loan to Spezia

On 10 July 2018, Erlić was loaned to Serie B club Spezia on a season-long loan deal.

Spezia

After missing most of the 2018–19 season through the injury, he rejoined Spezia on a permanent basis on 15 July 2019.[12]

Return to Sassuolo

On 16 August 2021, Erlić's rights were sold to Sassuolo, who then loaned him back to Spezia for the 2021–22 season.[13]

Bologna

On 2 August 2024, Erlić signed with Bologna in Serie A.[14]

International career

Erlić made his debut for the Croatia national team on 6 June 2022, in a 1–1 draw with France in the Nations League. As he confessed, he missed his brother's wedding in order to play the match.[15] On 9 November 2022, Erlić was named in Zlatko Dalić's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup,[16] where he remained an unused substitute as Croatia finished third.[17]

Personal life

Erlić is a fan of Hajduk Split.[18]

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueCoppa ItaliaEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Südtirol (loan)2017–18Serie C30100301
Spezia (loan)2018–19Serie B001010
Spezia2019–20Serie B2300040270
2020–21Serie A27310283
Total503100040553
Spezia (loan)2021–22Serie A30221323
Sassuolo2022–23Serie A28000280
2023–24Serie A32110331
Total601100000611
Career total17075100401798

International

[19]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Croatia202240
202330
202420
Total90

Honours

Croatia

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Croatia (CRO) . . 8 . 15 November 2022 . 15 November 2022.
  2. Web site: Martin Erlić Croatia UEFA Nations League . 13 June 2013 . UEFA.
  3. Web site: Martin Erlić. US Sassuolo Calcio. 2 September 2022.
  4. Web site: Màrtin1. Màrtin. Hrvatski jezični portal. 19 March 2018. sh.
  5. Web site: jèrlija. Ȇrlić. Hrvatski jezični portal. 19 March 2018. sh.
  6. https://zadarski.slobodnadalmacija.hr/zadar/sport/martin-erlic-je-zbog-treninga-svakog-dana-pjeske-isao-od-tinja-do-rastana-a-sada-igra-u-talijanskoj-serie-a-i-za-reprezentaciju-hrvatske-1094957 Martin Erlić je zbog treninga svakog dana pješke išao od Tinja do Raštana, a sada igra u talijanskoj Serie A i za reprezentaciju Hrvatske!
  7. Web site: 20 August 2020. Finale playoff: da Gyasi a Nzola, gli (altri) talenti da seguire in Spezia-Frosinone. 20 August 2020. La Gazzetta dello Sport. it.
  8. Web site: Soccerway. Game Report by Soccerway. 8 October 2017.
  9. Web site: Südtirol vs. Santarcangelo - 15 October 2017 - Soccerway. Soccerway. en. 30 November 2017.
  10. Web site: Sambenedettese vs. Südtirol - 8 November 2017 - Soccerway. Soccerway. en. 30 November 2017.
  11. Web site: Croatia - M. Erlić - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. Soccerway. en. 13 July 2018.
  12. Spezia. Mercato: Martin Erlic ancora in maglia bianca. 15 July 2019. Italian.
  13. Web site: Spezia. MARTIN ERLIC A TITOLO DEFINITIVO AL SASSUOLO. 16 August 2021. 2 July 2022. it.
  14. Web site: Bologna. Martin Erlic joins Bologna. 2 August 2024. 16 August 2024.
  15. Web site: 6 June 2022 . Erlić: Brat mi se ženio, a ja nisam otišao na vjenčanje zbog Hrvatske . 7 June 2022 . . hr.
  16. Web site: Dalić objavio popis za Svjetsko prvenstvo u Kataru . . 2022-12-18 . 2022-11-09 . hr.
  17. Web site: Pet igrača Hrvatske nije dobilo ni minutu na Svjetskom prvenstvu . . 2022-12-17 . 2022-12-18 . hr.
  18. Comunicato ufficiale: Martin Erlić. Spezia. 24 October 2020. 25 October 2020.
  19. Web site: Martin Erlić profile. EU-Football.info. 6 June 2022.
  20. Web site: Smyth . Rob . 17 December 2022 . Croatia 2-1 Morocco: World Cup 2022 third-place playoff – as it happened . 17 December 2022 . the Guardian.