Ante Vukušić

Ante Vukušić

Personal information
Date of birth	4 June 1991
Place of birth	Sinj, Croatia
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 9 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current team	Greuther Fürth
Youth career
2000–2007	Junak Sinj
2007–2009	Hajduk Split
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2009–2012	Hajduk Split	84	(36)
2012–2016	Pescara	23	(1)
2014	→ Lausanne-Sport (loan)	13	(4)
2014–2015	→ Waasland-Beveren (loan)	15	(3)
2016–	Greuther Fürth	0	(0)
National team^‡
2009	Croatia U18	6	(2)
2009–2010	Croatia U19	7	(1)
2010–2012	Croatia U21	11	(3)
2012	Croatia	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 November 2015. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 August 2012

Ante Vukušić (born 4 June 1991) is a Croatian footballer who plays as a striker for Greuther Fürth.

Club career

Vukušić started his career playing at youth level for his hometown club Junak Sinj. He joined Hajduk Split in 2007, and during his time at their youth academy was regarded as one of the most promising players.

Hajduk Split

In January 2009, he signed a professional 5 ¹⁄₂-year contract with Hajduk keeping him at the club until summer 2014.^[1] He made his debut for the first team in a 5–0 win against Croatia Sesvete on 22 April 2009.^[2] In the last round of 2008–09 season, he scored his first goal in Prva HNL, a late equalizer against rivals Dinamo Zagreb.^[3]

In the 2009–10 season, Vukušić established himself as the first choice striker at the club. In 22 league appearances, he scored 6 goals and a further 2 goals in 5 cup appearances. His stature at the club at such a young age impressed many of Europe's top clubs and he was set to make a move away from the Croatian club but the management and he mutually chose for him to remain at the club for the following season.

In the 2010–11 season, he scored 14 league goals in 29 appearances, finishing the season as the club's top scorer. He also scored four goals in nine UEFA Europe League appearances, the most memorable of which was a last minute winner against Anderlecht.

At the start of the 2011–12 season, under new coach Krasimir Balakov, Vukušić continued as the first choice striker at the club, this time alongside new signing Ivan Vuković as the most preferred front duo. He scored his first goal of the 2011–12 Prva HNL only three minutes into the first match against Šibenik and added his second in a match against Rijeka. In doing so he injured his toe and was consequentially ruled out for the next four weeks. He ended the season with 12 league goals in 24 appearances and 15 total goals in 29 appearances which made him the top goalscorer at the club for the second year running.

The 2012-13 season at Hajduk started with another new coach, but Ante remained the first choice striker and captain at the club, despite his young age. He converted a penalty in Hajduk's 2–0 win over Italian club Internazionale at the San Siro.

Pescara

In August 2012, Vukušić was transferred to the newly promoted Serie A club Pescara for a reported fee of around €3.8 million.^[4] He was initially the first choice striker at the club, but ended up losing his place and managed just one goal in 19 appearances as Pescara were relegated.

Lausanne-Sport

In February 2014 he moved to Lausanne-Sport on a six-month loan.^[5]

Waasland-Beveren

In August 2014 he moved to Waasland-Beveren on a loan.^[6]

Greuther Fürth

He moved to Greuther Fürth on 29 January 2016.^[7]

International career

In May 2011, Vukušić was first called up to the national squad by manager Slaven Bilić for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Georgia, but was later moved to under-21 squad for their opening match in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifications, also against Georgia.^[8][9] On 15 August 2012, he made his full debut for the national side under manager Igor Štimac as a second-half substitute in a 4–2 defeat against Switzerland.^[10]

Career statistics

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hajduk Split	2008–09	4	1	–		–		4	1
	2009–10	22	6	5	2	–		27	8
	2010–11	29	14	2	0	9	4	40	18
	2011–12	24	12	3	3	2	0	29	15
	2012–13	5	3	–		4	2	9	5
Pescara	2012–13	22	1	–		–		22	1
Total		106	37	10	5	15	6	131	48
Last Update: 1 February 2014[11]

Honours

Hajduk Split

• Croatian Cup (1): 2009–10

References

1. Alfirević, Slaven (14 January 2009). "Siniša Šošo se vratio u Hajduk!". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 27 May 2011.
2. Jurišić, Bernard (22 April 2009). "Rekordna pobjeda mogla biti i veća". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 27 May 2011.
3. Jurišić, Bernard (31 May 2009). "Svakome po poluvrijeme i bod". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 27 May 2011.
4. Bradovski, Mihaela (26 August 2012). "Ante Vukušić stavio potpis na ugovor s Pescarom". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 August 2012.
5. Jurišić, Bernard (17 February 2014). "Ante Vukušić na posudbi u Lausanne-Sport". hrsport.net (in Croatian). Retrieved 7 August 2014.
6. Passarella, Enrico (5 August 2014). "Pescara’s Vukusic set to join Waasland-Beveren on loan". gianlucadimarzio.com (in Italian). Retrieved 7 August 2014.
7. "Transferkarussell dreht sich". SpVgg Greuther Fürth. 29 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
8. Glasnović, Mario (20 May 2011). "Bilić: Pobijedit ćemo uz pun Poljud". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 August 2012.
9. Pavković, Božo (2 June 2011). "Šušak protiv Gruzije izvodi Hajdukov napad Vukušić - Lendrić - Čop". dalmacijanews.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 August 2012.
10. Jurišić, Bernard (15 August 2012). "Video: Hrvatska razočarala na početku Štimčeva mandata". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 August 2012.
11. "Ante Vukusic > Club Matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 16 December 2012.

External links

• Ante Vukušić at the Croatian Football Federation website (Croatian)
• Ante Vukušić at Sportnet.hr (Croatian)
• Ante Vukušić profile at Soccerway