Zlatko Junuzović

Zlatko Junuzović

Junuzović with Austria in 2012.
Personal information
Date of birth	26 September 1987
Place of birth	Loznica,[1] SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder[2][3]
Club information
Current team	SV Werder Bremen
Number	16
Youth career
1994–1999	Kühnsdorf
1999–2005	Grazer AK
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2005–2007	Grazer AK	70	(9)
2007–2009	Austria Kärnten	57	(3)
2009–2012	Austria Wien	82	(21)
2012–	SV Werder Bremen	104	(15)
National team^‡
	Austria U19	2	(1)
2007	Austria U20	11	(4)
2005–2008	Austria U21	15	(3)
2006–	Austria	46	(7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 April 2016. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2016

Zlatko Junuzović (German pronunciation: [ˈzlatkoː juˈnuːzovɪtʃ]; Serbian Cyrillic: Златко Јунузовић, born 26 September 1987) is an Austrian footballer, of Bosniak^[4] origin, playing for SV Werder Bremen and the Austrian national team. He is known as a free-kick specialist in the team.^[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. Junuzović became an Austrian citizen as youth.

Club career

Aged 17 years Junuzović made his debut for Grazer AK in the Bundesliga in spring 2005. In 2006 he was called up to play for the ÖFB-Team and became a regular starter for Grazer AK. In summer 2007 Junuzović moved to SK Austria Kärnten before joining FK 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 the German Bundesliga club SV Werder Bremen, signing a contract running until 30 June 2015. In February 2015, it was announced that Junuzović’ contract had been extended until June 2018.^[9]

Having completed the 2014-2015 season with six goals and 15 assists – only Kevin De Bruyne and Thomas Müller achieved more assists –, Junuzović was voted "Player of the Season" by Werder's fans.^[10]

International career

Junuzović played for Austria at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup^[11] where they claimed fourth place. He made his debut for the senior team in a March 2006 friendly match against Canada.

International goals

Scores and goals list Austria's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	7 October 2011	Dalga Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan	Azerbaijan	4–1	4–1	Euro 2012 qualifying
2	1 June 2012	Tivoli-Neu, Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Ukraine	1–0	3–2	Friendly
3	11 September 2012	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Germany	1–2	1–2	2014 World Cup qualifier
4	22 March 2013		Faroe Islands	4–0	6–0
5	27 March 2015	Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein	4–0	5–0	Euro 2016 qualifying
6	5 September 2015	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Moldova	1–0	1–0	Euro 2016 qualifying
7	29 March 2016	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Turkey	1–0	1–2	Friendly
Correct as of 29 March 2016

Career statistics

As of 2 April 2016^[12][3]

Club	Season	League			Cup[lower-alpha 1]		Europe[lower-alpha 2]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
SK Sturm Graz	2004–05	Austrian Football Bundesliga	4	0	—		—		4	0
	2005–06		32	4	1	0	4	1	37	5
	2006–07		34	5	2	0	—		36	5
	Total		70	9	3	0	4	1	77	10
SK Austria Kärnten	2007–08	Austrian Football Bundesliga	28	2	—		—		28	2
	2008–09		29	1	1	1	—		30	2
	Total		57	3	1	1	0	0	58	4
FK Austria Wien	2009–10	Austrian Football Bundesliga	30	6	1	0	8	0	39	6
	2010–11		33	9	3	1	3	1	39	11
	2011–12		19	6	2	1	12	0	33	7
	Total		82	21	6	2	23	1	111	24
SV Werder Bremen	2011–12	Bundesliga	15	0	—		—		15	0
	2012–13		30	3	1	0	—		31	3
	2013–14		26	2	1	0	—		27	2
	2014–15		33	6	2	0	—		35	6
	2015–16		25	4	2	0	—		27	4
	Total		104	15	5	0	0	0	109	15
Career total			313	48	15	3	27	2	355	53

1. Includes the Austrian Cup, DFB Cup
2. Includes the Europa League

Honours

Individual

• Austrian Footballer of the Year: 2010^[7]

References

1. Austrian Football Association: ÖFB Kader gegen Russkand (UEFA EURO 2016 Raiffeisen-Qualifikationsspiel, 15. November 2014) und Brasilien (freundschaftliches Länderspiel im Rahmen der Gillette Brasil Global Tour, 18. November 2014) (pdf)
2. "Zlatko Junuzović". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
3. "Z. Junuzović". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
4. http://radiosarajevo.ba/novost/184411/kako-se-osjeca-bosanac-iz-loznice-pred-utakmicu-protiv-svojih
5. Fahim, Oisin (2 June 2015). "Top six players with highest free-kick conversion rate". Squawka. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
6. "Dead-ball specialist". SV Werder Bremen. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
7. "Liga-Trainer wählen Junuzovic zum "Spieler des Jahres"" [League coaches vote Junuzovic "Player of the Year"]. Kronen Zeitung (in German). 20 December 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
8. "Siege für Junuzovic, Krejc und Pacult" [Wins for Junuzovic, Krejc und Pacult]. Kronen Zeitung (in German). 7 February 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
9. "Junuzovic pens Bremen extension". bundesliga.com. Bundesliga. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
10. "Junuzovic voted "Player of the Season". Werder Bremen. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
11. Zlatko Junuzović – FIFA competition record
12. "Zlatko Junuzović". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 September 2015.

External links

• Official website
• Profile and Statistics at Guardian's Stats Centre
• Zlatko Junuzović at National-Football-Teams.com