Zlatko Junuzović Explained

Zlatko Junuzović
Full Name:Zlatko Junuzović[1]
Birth Date:26 September 1987
Birth Place:Loznica,[2] SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:1.72 m
Position:Midfielder[3] [4]
Youthyears1:1994–1999
Youthclubs1:Kühnsdorf
Youthyears2:1999–2005
Youthclubs2:Grazer AK
Years1:2005–2007
Clubs1:Grazer AK
Caps1:70
Goals1:9
Years2:2007–2009
Clubs2:Austria Kärnten
Caps2:57
Goals2:3
Years3:2009–2012
Clubs3:Austria Wien
Caps3:82
Goals3:21
Years4:2012–2018
Clubs4:Werder Bremen
Caps4:188
Goals4:21
Years5:2018–2022
Clubs5:Red Bull Salzburg
Caps5:81
Goals5:9
Totalcaps:478
Totalgoals:63
Nationalteam1:Austria U19
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2007
Nationalteam2:Austria U20
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:4
Nationalyears3:2005–2008
Nationalteam3:Austria U21
Nationalcaps3:15
Nationalgoals3:3
Nationalyears4:2006–2017
Nationalteam4:Austria
Nationalcaps4:55
Nationalgoals4:7
Manageryears1:2022–
Managerclubs1:Liefering (assistant)

Zlatko Junuzović (pronounced as /de/; born 26 September 1987) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. From 2006 to 2017 he played for the Austria national team. He was known as a free-kick specialist.[5] [6]

Early life

Junuzović moved with his parents to Austria when he was five years old. Before his 12th birthday, they went on to Graz, where he soon played for the youth teams of Grazer AK.

Club career

Aged 17, Junuzović made his debut for Grazer AK in the Austrian Bundesliga in spring 2005. In 2006, he was called up to play for the Austria national team and became a regular starter for Grazer AK. In summer 2007, Junuzović moved to Austria Kärnten before joining Austria Wien in summer 2009.

In 2010, Junuzović was awarded two awards for his performances with Austria Wien and the national team: the managers of the Austrian Bundesliga voted him Austrian Footballer of the Year[7] and the country's supporters voted him "Player of the Year"[8] in the annual award awarded by the Kronen Zeitung.

In January 2012, Junuzović joined Bundesliga club Werder Bremen, signing a contract which lasted until 30 June 2015. In February 2015, it was announced that his contract had been extended until June 2018.[9]

Having completed the 2014–15 season with six goals and 15 assists, third in the Bundesliga behind Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Müller, Junuzović was voted as "Player of the Season" by Werder's fans.[10]

On 18 March 2017, he scored his second goal of the 2016–17 season in a 3–0 win against Leipzig, a match that saw all three of Werder Bremen's Austrian players score in the club's highest win of the season.[11] [12]

In April 2018, Junuzović announced he would leave Werder Bremen after six and half years at the club.[13] [14] He went to FC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga. In 2022, he ended his career and became assistant coach of FC Liefering.[15]

International career

Junuzović played for the Austria U20 national team at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup where they claimed fourth place. He made his debut for the senior team in a March 2006 friendly match against Canada.

He represented the Austria senior national team at the UEFA Euro 2016.[16]

In October 2017, after the conclusion of the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup during which Austria failed to reach qualification, Junuzović announced his retirement from the national team.[17]

Personal life

Junuzović was born in the Serbian town of Loznica to a Bosnian Muslim family.[18]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[19]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Grazer AK2004–05Austrian Bundesliga4040
2005–063241041385
2006–0734530375
Total70940417810
Austria Kärnten2007–08Austrian Bundesliga282282
2008–0929111302
Total5731100584
Austria Wien2009–10Austrian Bundesliga3062180407
2010–1133931313911
2011–1219621120337
Total82217323111225
Werder Bremen2011–12Bundesliga150150
2012–1330310313
2013–1426210272
2014–1533620356
2015–1630430334
2016–1730411315
2017–1824220262
Total188211010019822
Red Bull Salzburg2018–19Austrian Bundesliga21441101356
2019–202334170344
2020–212515091392
2021–221212010151
Total81915227212313
Career total4786337754457074

International

Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Junuzović goal.

List of international goals scored by Zlatko Junuzović
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 7 October 2011 4–1 4–1 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2 1 June 2012 Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria 1–0 3–2 Friendly
3 11 September 2012 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–2 1–2 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 22 March 2013 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 4–0 6–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 27 March 2015 4–0 5–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
6 5 September 2015 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
7 29 March 2016 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 1–0 1–2 Friendly

Honours

Red Bull Salzburg

2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22

2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22

Individual

2010[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players . FIFA . 2 . 5 July 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000046/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2007/pdf/FWYC_2007_SquadLists.pdf . 31 December 2013.
  2. [Austrian Football Association]
  3. Web site: Zlatko Junuzović. worldfootball.net. 6 November 2015.
  4. Web site: Z. Junuzović. Soccerway. 13 September 2015.
  5. Web site: Fahim. Oisin. Top six players with highest free-kick conversion rate. Squawka. 6 November 2015. 2 June 2015.
  6. Web site: Dead-ball specialist. SV Werder Bremen. 6 November 2015. 10 June 2015.
  7. News: Liga-Trainer wählen Junuzovic zum "Spieler des Jahres". League coaches vote Junuzovic "Player of the Year". 6 November 2015. Kronen Zeitung. 20 December 2010. de.
  8. News: Siege für Junuzovic, Krejc und Pacult. Wins for Junuzovic, Krejc und Pacult. 6 November 2015. Kronen Zeitung. 7 February 2011. de.
  9. Web site: Junuzovic pens Bremen extension. bundesliga.com. Bundesliga. 26 May 2015. 13 February 2015.
  10. Web site: Junuzovic voted "Player of the Season. Werder Bremen. 29 October 2015. 27 July 2015.
  11. News: Knips. Björn. Der Ösi-Tag: Werder feiert Kaiserschmarrn-Sieg. 18 March 2017. Kreiszeitung. 18 March 2017. de.
  12. News: Werder Bremen - RB Leipzig 3:0, 1. Bundesliga, Saison 2016/17, 25.Spieltag - Spielbericht. 18 March 2017. kicker Online. 18 March 2017. de.
  13. Web site: Butler . Dylan . Report: SV Werder Bremen midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic primed for MLS move . 2 July 2018 . MLSsoccer.com . 25 April 2018.
  14. Web site: Thank you Zladdi and all the best for the future . SV Werder Bremen . 2 July 2018 . 23 April 2018.
  15. https://www.redbullsalzburg.at/de/aktuelles/news/karriereende-junuzovic-bleibt-salzburger Sladdi bleibt Salzburger
  16. Web site: Austria-Hungary Line-up UEFA Euro . UEFA. com . 5 December 2020.
  17. News: Junuzovic beendet Nationalmannschaftskarriere. 13 October 2017. kicker Online. 13 October 2017. de.
  18. Web site: Radio Sarajevo. https://web.archive.org/web/20150502201317/http://radiosarajevo.ba/novost/184411/kako-se-osjeca-bosanac-iz-loznice-pred-utakmicu-protiv-svojih. 2 May 2015.
  19. Web site: Zlatko Junuzović. worldfootball.net. 13 September 2015.