Rade Krunić Explained

Rade Krunić
Birth Date:7 October 1993
Birth Place:Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height:1.84 m[1]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Fenerbahçe
Clubnumber:33
Youthyears1:2006–2011
Youthclubs1:Sutjeska Foča
Years1:2011–2013
Clubs1:Sutjeska Foča
Caps1:15
Goals1:3
Years2:2013–2014
Clubs2:Donji Srem
Caps2:40
Goals2:4
Years3:2014–2015
Clubs3:Hellas Verona
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2014
Clubs4:Donji Srem (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:1
Years5:2015
Clubs5:Borac Čačak
Caps5:13
Goals5:2
Years6:2015–2019
Clubs6:Empoli
Caps6:116
Goals6:13
Years7:2019–2024
Clubs7:Milan
Caps7:101
Goals7:1
Years8:2024
Clubs8:Fenerbahçe (loan)
Caps8:12
Goals8:0
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Fenerbahçe
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2013–2014
Nationalteam1:Bosnia and Herzegovina U21
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2016–
Nationalteam2:Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nationalcaps2:33
Nationalgoals2:4
Club-Update:17 August 2024
Nationalteam-Update:21 March 2024

Rade Krunić (pronounced as /sr/; born 7 October 1993) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Krunić started his professional career at Sutjeska Foča, before joining Donji Srem in 2013. In 2014, he moved to Hellas Verona, who loaned him back to Donji Srem later that year. He switched to Borac Čačak in 2015. Later that year, Krunić signed with Empoli. In 2019, he was transferred to Milan, who sent him on loan to Fenerbahçe in 2024, with whom he signed permanently later that year.

A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Krunić made his senior international debut in 2016, earning over 30 caps since.

Club career

Early career

Krunić came through the youth setup of his hometown club Sutjeska Foča, which he joined in 2006. He made his professional debut in 2011 at the age of 17.[2] On 6 November, he scored his first professional goal against Modriča, which secured the victory for his team.[3]

In January 2013, he signed with Serbian side Donji Srem.[4]

In the summer of 2014, Krunić moved to Italian outfit Hellas Verona, who loaned him back to Donji Srem.[5]

In January 2015, he switched to Borac Čačak.[6]

Empoli

In July, Krunić joined Empoli on a three-year deal.[7] He made his official debut for the squad against Sassuolo on 4 October.[8] On 24 October, he scored his first goal for Empoli in a triumph over Genoa.[9]

In October 2017, he extended his contract with the team until June 2021.[10]

Krunić was an important piece in Empoli's conquest of the Serie B title, his first trophy with the club, which was sealed on 28 April 2018 and earned them promotion to the Serie A just one season after being relegated. He had an impact of 5 goals and 10 assists.[11]

On 1 December, he played his 100th game for the side against SPAL and managed to score a goal.[12]

Milan

In July 2019, Krunić was transferred to Milan for an undisclosed fee, speculated to be in the region of €8 million.[13]

2019–20 season

He made his competitive debut for the team on 29 September in a loss to Fiorentina.[14] On 3 November, he started his first match for Milan against Lazio.[15]

In February 2020, he suffered a foot injury, which was diagnosed as a broken foot and was ruled out for at least a month. Over four months after the injury, on 4 July, he returned to the pitch.[16]

2020–21 season

Krunić debuted in the season on 21 September against Bologna.[17] On 22 October, he scored his first goal for Milan in a UEFA Europa League tie against Celtic.[18] Four months later, he scored his first league goal against his former squad Hellas Verona.[19]

2021–22 season

Krunić played his first fixture of the campaign in a defeat of Sampdoria on 23 August 2021.[20]

On 19 October, he debuted in the UEFA Champions League away at Porto.[21]

He won his first title with the club on 22 May 2022, when they were crowned league champions after 11 years.[22]

2022–23 season

Krunić appeared in his first game of the season against Udinese on 13 August.[23]

In September, he signed a new three-year deal with Milan.[24]

He made his 100th appearance for the side against Dinamo Zagreb on 25 October.[25]

On 2 November, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal in a victory over Red Bull Salzburg.[26]

2023–24 season

Krunić made his season debut on 21 August against Bologna.[27]

He appeared in his 100th match for Milan in the Serie A against Lecce on 11 November.[28]

Fenerbahçe

In January 2024, Krunić was sent on a six-month loan to Turkish outfit Fenerbahçe, which included a buy option.[29] He debuted officially for the club on 17 January in a Turkish Cup fixture against Adanaspor.[30] A week later, he made his league debut against Samsunspor.[31]

In July, Fenerbahçe signed Krunić on a three-year contract.[32]

International career

Krunić was a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 team under coach Vlado Jagodić.[33]

In November 2015, he received his first senior call-up, for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying play-offs against Republic of Ireland,[34] but had to wait until 3 June 2016 to make his debut in a 2016 Kirin Cup tie against Denmark.[35]

On 23 March 2019, in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against Armenia, Krunić scored his first senior international goal.[36]

Personal life

Krunić married his long-time girlfriend Ivana in May 2022. Together they have a son named Andrej.[37]

Career statistics

Club

[38]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sutjeska Foča2011–12First League of the RS9292
2012–13First League of the RS612081
Total15320173
Donji Srem2012–13Serbian SuperLiga132132
2013–14Serbian SuperLiga27230302
Donji Srem (loan)2014–15Serbian SuperLiga11110121
Total51540555
Borac Čačak2014–15Serbian SuperLiga132132
Empoli2015–16Serie A15110161
2016–17Serie A32210332
2017–18Serie B36500365
2018–19Serie A33510345
Total116133011913
Milan2019–20Serie A15030180
2020–21Serie A25110121382
2021–22Serie A2803040350
2022–23Serie A23000111341
2023–24Serie A1000040140
Total1011703121393
Fenerbahçe (loan)2023–24Süper Lig1203030180
Fenerbahçe2024–25Süper Lig10003040
Total1303060220
Career total3092419037236526

International

[39]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
201610
201720
201850
201951
202051
202150
202240
202352
202410
Total334

Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Krunić goal.

List of international goals scored by Rade Krunić
scope=colNo.scope=colDatescope=colVenuescope=colCapscope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetition
123 March 2019Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina91–02–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
28 October 2020Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina141–01–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs
323 March 2023Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina281–03–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
42–0

Honours

Empoli[38]

2017–18

Milan[38]

2021–22

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rade Krunic. fenerbahce.org. 1 February 2024. Turkish.
  2. News: Ponosni roditelji reprezentativca BiH Radeta Krunića: I da nije otišao u Milan, on je nama promijenio život. avaz.ba. 19 June 2019. 22 June 2019. Bosnian.
  3. News: Sloga iz Doboja jesenji prvak. sportsport.ba. 6 November 2011. 6 November 2011. Bosnian.
  4. News: Ko je Rade Krunić? Igra u veznom redu, nesuđeni je igrač Crvene Zvezde. klix.ba. 3 November 2015. 3 November 2015. Bosnian.
  5. News: Verona Krunića posudila Donjem Sremu. sportsport.ba. 5 September 2014. 7 September 2014. Bosnian.
  6. News: Bomba kraj Morave: Rade Krunić potpisao za Borac!. mozzartsport.rs. 30 January 2015. 1 February 2015. Serbian.
  7. News: Mladi reprezentativac BiH Rade Krunić novi fudbaler Empolija. reprezentacija.ba. 1 July 2015. 1 July 2015. Bosnian.
  8. News: Empoli minimalno savladao Sassuolo, Krunić debitovao. sportsport.ba. 4 October 2015. 6 October 2015. Bosnian.
  9. News: Rade Krunić postigao svoj prvi gol u Serie A. oslobodjenje.ba. 24 October 2015. 27 October 2015. Bosnian.
  10. News: Krunić produžio ugovor s Empolijem do 2021. godine. fokus.ba. 24 October 2017. 27 October 2017. Bosnian.
  11. News: Rade Krunić s Empolijem osigurao povratak u Serie A. klix.ba. 29 April 2018. 1 May 2018. Bosnian.
  12. News: Krunićev eurogol i sjajna asistencija, ali Empoliju samo bod. sportsport.ba. 1 December 2018. 1 December 2018. Bosnian.
  13. News: Zvanično: Rade Krunić postao novi igrač Milana. klix.ba. 8 July 2019. 11 July 2019. Bosnian.
  14. News: Krunić debitovao za Milan u teškom porazu od Fiorentine, Giampaolo na ivici otkaza. klix.ba. 29 September 2019. 1 October 2019. Bosnian.
  15. News: Rade Krunić prvi put zaigrao u startnoj postavi Milana. reprezentacija.ba. 3 November 2019. 3 November 2019. Bosnian.
  16. News: Milan razbio Lazio na Olimpicu, u Torinu se hladi šampanjac za novi Scudetto. sportsport.ba. 4 July 2020. 7 July 2020. Bosnian.
  17. News: Rade Krunić igrao u prvoj pobjedi Milana ove sezone. reprezentacija.ba. 21 September 2020. 22 September 2020. Bosnian.
  18. News: Milan slavio na Celtic Parku, Rade Krunić postigao prvi gol u dresu Rossonera. sportsport.ba. 22 October 2020. 22 October 2020. Bosnian.
  19. News: Eurogol Krunića u pobjedi Milana u Veroni, Gojaku 13 minuta u porazu Torina od fenjeraša. klix.ba. 7 March 2021. 7 March 2021. Bosnian.
  20. News: Milan pobjedom nad Sampdoriom otvorio novu sezonu, Krunić odigrao svih 90 minuta. oslobodjenje.ba. 23 August 2021. 23 August 2021. Bosnian.
  21. News: Stigli sastavi: Za svoje timove počinju Džeko i Krunić. avaz.ba. 19 October 2021. 22 October 2021. Bosnian.
  22. News: Milan nakon 11 godina osvojio titulu prvaka Italije, Kruniću prvi naslov u karijeri. klix.ba. 22 May 2022. 22 May 2022. Bosnian.
  23. News: Milan pobjedom nad Udineseom krenuo u odbranu titule, blistali Rebić i Díaz. scsport.ba. 13 August 2022. 13 August 2022. Bosnian.
  24. News: Krunić nagrađen za neizmjeran doprinos šampionskoj tituli Milana novim i poboljšanim ugovorom. klix.ba. 8 September 2022. 11 September 2022. Bosnian.
  25. News: Rade Krunić odigrao jubilarni 100. meč za Milan. reprezentacija.ba. 25 October 2022. 27 October 2022. Bosnian.
  26. News: Krunić s Milanom u osmini finala, Dinamo završio evropsku avanturu. avaz.ba. 2 November 2022. 3 November 2022. Bosnian.
  27. News: Milan krenuo sa pobjedom, Krunić među boljim na terenu. reprezentacija.ba. 21 August 2023. 22 August 2023. Bosnian.
  28. News: Rade Krunić odigrao 100. susret za Milan u Serie A. reprezentacija.ba. 11 November 2023. 11 November 2023. Bosnian.
  29. News: Fenerbahçe zvanično predstavio Radeta Krunića. reprezentacija.ba. 13 January 2024. 13 January 2024. Bosnian.
  30. News: Rade Krunić debitirao u visokoj pobjedi Fenerbahçea. avaz.ba. 17 January 2024. 17 January 2024. Bosnian.
  31. News: Fener neočekivano kiksao, Džeko zamijenjen, Krunić u 96. minuti propustio veliku šansu. reprezentacija.ba. 21 January 2024. 22 January 2024. Bosnian.
  32. News: Fenerbahçe otkupio Krunićev ugovor. scsport.ba. 1 July 2024. 1 July 2024. Bosnian.
  33. News: Rade Krunić: Dobar je znak što imamo mlade igrače u reprezentaciji. reprezentacija.ba. 23 March 2017. 23 March 2017. Bosnian.
  34. News: Baždarević objavio spisak za dvomeč s Irskom, novo ime Rade Krunić. klix.ba. 3 November 2015. 3 November 2015. Bosnian.
  35. News: Đurić poništio vodstvo Danaca, BiH preko penala do finala. sportsport.ba. 3 June 2016. 6 June 2016. Bosnian.
  36. News: Zmajevi pobjedom otvorili kvalifikacije za EP: Žilava Armenija kapitulirala na Grbavici. scsport.ba. 23 March 2019. 23 March 2019. Bosnian.
  37. News: Bh. reprezentativac Rade Krunić postao otac. radiosarajevo.ba. 19 April 2023. 22 April 2023. Bosnian.
  38. Web site: R. Krunić. soccerway.com. 17 August 2024.
  39. Web site: Rade Krunić. eu-football.info. 22 March 2024.