Željko Sopić Explained

Željko Sopić
Fullname:Željko Sopić
Birth Date:26 July 1974
Birth Place:Zagreb, Republic of Croatia
Height:1.88 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Rijeka (manager)
Years1:1994–1998
Clubs1:NK Zagreb
Caps1:94
Goals1:3
Years2:1998–2000
Clubs2:Borussia Mönchengladbach
Caps2:52
Goals2:3
Years3:2000–2005
Clubs3:LR Ahlen
Caps3:126
Goals3:20
Years4:2005–2006
Clubs4:NK Zagreb
Caps4:20
Goals4:0
Years5:2006–2008
Clubs5:Slaven Belupo
Caps5:62
Goals5:2
Years6:2008–2011
Clubs6:Lokomotiva
Caps6:87
Goals6:9
Totalcaps:441
Totalgoals:37
Nationalyears1:1998–1999
Nationalteam1:Croatia B
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2012–2015
Managerclubs1:Rudeš
Manageryears2:2015–2016
Managerclubs2:Dinamo Zagreb II
Manageryears3:2016
Managerclubs3:Dinamo Zagreb (caretaker)
Manageryears4:2017–2019
Managerclubs4:Al-Ain B
Manageryears5:2019
Managerclubs5:Al-Ain (caretaker)
Manageryears6:2019–2020
Managerclubs6:Sabah
Manageryears7:2022–2023
Managerclubs7:Gorica
Manageryears8:2023–
Managerclubs8:Rijeka

Željko Sopić (born 26 July 1974) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Croatian Football League club Rijeka.

Club career

Sopić started his professional career with NK Zagreb in 1994 and spent four years with the club's first team before leaving for Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1998. He made 23 appearances and scored two goals in his only season in the German top flight. He went on to spend another season with Mönchengladbach in the 2. Bundesliga, following their relegation from the first division in 1999, before moving to league rivals LR Ahlen in the summer of 2000. He played for Ahlen until 2005, bringing his record in the 2. Bundesliga to a total of 155 appearances and 21 goals. He then returned to NK Zagreb for the 2005–06 season, before joining to NK Slaven Belupo, in the summer of 2006. In 2008 he came back to Zagreb but he has played for NK Lokomotiva Zagreb in the Croatian First Football League.

International career

He also won two international caps for the Croatian B national team, against Romania in 1998 and France in 1999.[1]

Managerial career

Sopić started as a manager with NK Rudeš in 2012. He managed a club to 2015, and in 2016 he was named the caretaker manager for Dinamo Zagreb, after Zoran Mamić had left. Before that, Sopić worked as the manager for Dinamo Zagreb II in the Croatian Second Football League, and after as the assistant manager for Ivaylo Petev in Dinamo Zagreb. On 30 January 2017, Sopić became the assistant for Zoran Mamić in Al-Ain, but two years later, on 30 January 2019, Mamić left Al-Ain and Sopić became the manager for club.[2]

On 26 November, Sabah announced the appointment of Sopić on an 18-month contract.[3] He was named manager of Gorica in November 2022, replacing Igor Angelovski.[4]

Personal life

Sopić is the father of the German-born footballer Leon Sopić.[5]

Managerial statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecord
Dinamo Zagreb II22 September 201530 June 2016
Dinamo Zagreb (caretaker)19 September 201629 September 2016
Sabah FK27 November 20193 July 2020
Gorica28 November 202222 August 2023
Rijeka23 August 2023Present
Career total

Notes and References

  1. https://www.rsssf.org/tablesk/kroa-b-intres.html Croatia National Team – "B" Internationals
  2. https://nogometplus.net/zoran-mamic-napustio-al-ain-prema-informacijama-sportnewsa-klupu-preuzima-zeljko-sopic/ Zoran Mamić napustio Al-Ain, prema informacijama Sportnewsa klupu preuzima Željko Sopić
  3. Web site: “SABAH” FK-DA YENİ BAŞ MƏŞQÇİ . sabahfc.az/ . Sabah FC . 26 November 2019 . Azerbaijani . 26 November 2019.
  4. https://www.hnk-gorica.hr/vijesti/zeljko-sopic-novi-je-trener-gorice-ispadanje-nije-opcija/1768 Željko Sopić novi je trener Gorice: 'Ispadanje nije opcija!'
  5. Web site: Welkom, Leon Sopić!.