Romeo Jozak | |
Birth Date: | 11 October 1972 |
Birth Place: | Rijeka, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia |
Years1: | –1994 |
Clubs1: | Orijent |
Manageryears1: | 2001–2002 |
Managerclubs1: | Dinamo Zagreb (assistant) |
Manageryears2: | 2003–2004 |
Managerclubs2: | Libya (assistant) |
Manageryears3: | 2004–2005 |
Managerclubs3: | Dinamo Zagreb (assistant) |
Manageryears4: | 2005–2006 |
Managerclubs4: | Libya (assistant) |
Manageryears5: | 2006–2008 |
Managerclubs5: | Osijek (assistant) |
Manageryears6: | 2008–2013 |
Managerclubs6: | Dinamo Zagreb Academy |
Manageryears7: | 2013–2017 |
Managerclubs7: | Croatia (technical director) |
Manageryears8: | 2017 |
Managerclubs8: | Dinamo Zagreb (sporting director) |
Manageryears9: | 2017–2018 |
Managerclubs9: | Legia Warsaw |
Manageryears10: | 2018–2019 |
Managerclubs10: | Kuwait U23 |
Manageryears11: | 2018–2019 |
Managerclubs11: | Kuwait |
Manageryears12: | 2021– |
Managerclubs12: | Saudi Arabia (technical director) |
Romeo Jozak (born 11 October 1972) is a Croatian football manager and former player who most recently managed the Kuwait national team.
Jozak grew up in a family of mathematics and physics teachers. He ended his football career early due to a serious injury at the age of twenty-two while playing at the club NK Orijent Rijeka.[1] During the Croatian War of Independence, he stayed in Zagreb. Soon after he was awarded a scholarship to the United States, where he also worked as an instructor at youth summer camps. After returning, he started training with Ilija Lončarević, assisting him as an assistant at Dinamo Zagreb (2001–2002 and 2004–2005), the Libya team (2003–2004 and 2005–2006) and NK Osijek (2006–2008).[2] At the same time, he completed his doctorate education at the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Zagreb.
He parted ways with the Croatian Football Federation in March 2017. Then returning to Dinamo Zagreb as a sports director, but he only staying there for four months. After the dismissal of Dinamo Zagreb's head coach, Ivaylo Petev, Jozak hinted at taking over for the vacant head coach position. The board replaced Petev with Mario Cvitanović and Jozak soon after decided to resign.
On 13 September 2017, Jozak was hired as the manager of Polish club Legia Warsaw.[3] On 14 April 2018, after his team lost 0–1 to Zagłębie Lubin, he was fired and replaced by his assistant Dean Klafurić.[4] [5]
On 27 July 2018, Romeo Jozak was hired as Kuwait national team head coach. On 12 September 2019, Romeo Jozak was fired following a home defeat to Australia.[6]
Columbus Blast FC Soccer Academy
Romeo Jozak made a significant investment and became the majority owner of Columbus’ Blast FC Soccer Academy in Columbus, Ohio, which is the longest running youth soccer program in Central Ohio.[7]
On 22 July 2021, Romeo Jozak was hired as Saudi Arabia Technical Director.[8]
As of 30 June 2021
Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
Legia Warsaw | 13 September 2017 | 14 April 2018 | ||||||
Kuwait | 27 July 2018 | 11 September 2019 | ||||||
Total |