*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:19, 27 June 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:03, 19 November 2019 (UTC)
Perišić made his debut for the Croatia national team in 2011, and represented his nation at Euro 2012 and 2016, as well as the 2014 and 2018 World Cup, reaching the final of the latter. Instrumental to Croatia's second "golden generation", Perišić is the nation's player with most goals created at the major tournaments (11),[5] and the first Croatian player ever to score in a World Cup final.[6]
Club career
Early career
Perišić played in the youth ranks of the club he grew up supporting, Hajduk Split.[7] He received interest from a number of clubs, including Anderlecht, PSV, Ajax and Hamburger SV,[8] before French club Sochaux paid €360,000 to sign him in the summer of 2006.[7] His physical and technical attributes led to comparisons to former Croatia international Aljoša Asanović by some journalists.[8] He was a member of the Sochaux youth team, which won the Coupe Gambardella in 2007.[9] During his time at Sochaux, he failed to make a first-team appearance, but did play for the B team.[7] In January 2009, Perišić was sent on loan to Belgian top flight club Roeselare for six months.[10] At the end of the 2008–09 season, there were reports Perišić sought to join Belgian side Anderlecht.[11]
Club Brugge
On 26 August 2009, Belgian club Club Brugge acquired Perišić from Sochaux for a €250,000 transfer fee and signed him to a three-year contract.[12] Prior his move, Perišić was linked with a move to German side Hertha BSC, having gone on trial.[13]
In the opening match of the season, Perišić scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw against Genk, then scored his second in two consecutive games and provided assists in a 4–1 win over Westerlo.[14][15] Overall, Perišić scored 9 goals in 33 league appearances, also making eight appearances in Brugge's Europa League campaign, scoring four goals. At the end of the season, Perišić signed a new three-year contract at Brugge, keeping him until 2015.[16]
Belgian football critics predicted a bright future for Perišić. In the 2010–11 season, he was the top scorer of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League after scoring 22 goals for Club Brugge, also being named Player of the Year in Belgium.[17] During the season, Perišić scored four goals in a match and provided an assist as Brugge thrashed Charleroi on 29 December 2010.[18]
Borussia Dortmund
Perišić at Borussia Dortmund in 2012
On 23 May 2011, Perišić signed a five-year contract to play for German side Borussia Dortmund after Dortmund paid an estimated €5 million transfer fee to Brugge.[19] He made his debut for the club in their 3–1 home victory over Hamburger SV on 5 August, substituting on for Chris Löwe in the 75th minute.[20] During a Champions League match on 13 September 2011, he scored a late equaliser with a volley from 20 yards against Arsenal after entering as a substitute in the 69th minute.[21] On 14 October, he scored the first goal in a 2–0 win against Werder Bremen, a match in which he was later sent off for a second bookable offence.[22] On 21 April 2012, he scored the important 1–0 goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach and opened the door to the eighth national championship for Dortmund. The game ended 2–0 (the second was scored by Shinji Kagawa).[23]
Perišić began the 2012–13 Bundesliga season scoring a brace in a 3–2 loss against Hamburger SV on 22 September 2012.[24] However, Perišić soon found his first team opportunities limited, having played less in the first team and soon told Croatian channel Nova TV he had received no support from Dortmund manager Jürgen Klopp and accused him of favouring other players.[25] In response, Klopp criticised his actions as childish and Perišić faced a fine due to his comment.[26]
VfL Wolfsburg
Perišić appearing for Wolfsburg in a UEFA Europa League game against Krasnodar on 23 October 2014
On 6 January 2013, it was reported Perišić transferred for €8 million to VfL Wolfsburg.[27] He scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in a friendly match against Standard Liège on 10 January. He made his competitive debut for Wolfsburg against VfB Stuttgart on 19 January 2013.[28] In March, he suffered a left knee injury that sidelined him throughout March and April.[29] He made his comeback in May in the match against Hamburger SV, coming on as a substitute and providing an assist. On 11 May 2013, he faced his former club Borussia Dortmund, scoring two goals.[30]
On 3 August 2013, Perišić scored his first cup goal for Wolfsburg in their 3–1 win against Karlsruher SC.[31] On 26 October 2013, Perišić opened his goal scoring form in the 2013–14 season in their 3–0 win against Werder Bremen, also creating an assist on a goal.[32] On matchday 30, he scored a brace in Wolfsburg's 4–1 home win against 1. FC Nürnberg.[33] Perišić finished the season with ten league goals, second-best on the team behind fellow countryman Ivica Olić.
Inter Milan
On 30 August 2015, Perišić signed with Italian club Inter Milan on a five-year contract[34] for a transfer fee of €16 million.[35] He was presented on 10 September alongside Adem Ljajić, where he was assigned squad number 44, stating, "Inter were too big an opportunity to turn down."[36]
2015–16 season
Perišić made his competitive debut for the club three days later, starting and playing 85 minutes in a 1–0 win against cross-city rivals Milan in the Derby della Madonnina.[37] He opened his scoring account on 4 October in his fifth league appearance in the 1–1 away draw against Sampdoria, profiting from Mauro Icardi's assist,[38] which was followed by another goal against Palermo two weeks later.[39]
On 15 December, Perišić made his Coppa Italia debut in the round of 16 match against Cagliari at home, appearing as a second-half substitute and scoring the team's third goal of the match in an eventual 3–0 win.[40] He began 2016 on 6 January in the match away against Empoli; his cross from close range was finished home by Icardi for the only goal of the match, which kept Inter top to the table.[41] On 7 February, during the match against Hellas Verona, Perišić came on as a 46th-minute substitute to change the fate of the match, providing an assist for Icardi and also scoring for himself to level the result 3–3, rescuing a point for his side.[42]
March was Perišić's best month in personal terms, scoring four goals and providing three assists. On 2 March, in the returning leg of Coppa Italia's semi-final against Juventus at San Siro, Perišić scored the team's second goal of the match to help Inter overturn the 3–0 defeat and equal the aggregate 3–3, which led the match into the penalty shoot-outs. However, Inter lost 5–3 and were eliminated from the competition.[43][44] Perišić scored Inter's last goal of 2015–16 season in a 2–1 home win against Empoli on the final matchday.[45]
Perišić finished his first Inter season by playing 37 matches, including 34 in league, scoring nine goals, which seven of them were in league, as Inter finished fourth in Serie A, returning in European competitions after one year absence and was eliminated in the semi-final in the Coppa Italia. He was also Inter's top assist provider with six assists.[46]
2016–17 season
Perišić opened his second Inter season by playing in the last 30 minutes of the first matchday as fell away at Chievo.[47] He then scored his first goal of the new season in the Derby d'Italia against Juventus at home, entering in the 69th minute and heading home an Mauro Icardi cross nine minutes later to give Inter second win of the season, also the first in league against Juventus since November 2012.[48]
Perišić played his first European match for Inter on 29 September in team's second 2016–17 UEFA Europa Leaguegroup stage match against Sparta Prague, appearing in the last 27 minutes of a 3–1 away defeat.[49] On 20 November, in the Derby against rivals Milan, he first provided the Antonio Candreva's long-range strike before scoring himself a last minute equalizer, as Inter took one point in the very last moments.[50]
On 8 January 2017, Inter's first match of the calendar year, Perišić provided a Man of the Match performance by scoring both goals in a 2–1 away win at Udinese; it was his first Inter brace which took his tally up to six goals.[51] This was followed by another splendid individual performance against Chievo six days later as he scored his team's second goal after an individual effort in an eventual 3–1 win.[52]
On 5 February, in the matchday 23 against Juventus at Juventus Stadium, Perišić received his first-ever career red card as Inter were defeated 1–0.[53] He was subsequently banned for two matches by Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for aggressive confrontation of the referee. After Inter appealed the suspension, it was reduced to one match.[54] He returned from suspension on 19 February in the 1–0 win at Bologna,[55] and scored his second brace on 5 March in a 5–1 thrashing of Cagliari at Stadio Sant'Elia.[56]
On 22 April, Perišić reached double-figures for the first time with Inter after scoring in a 5–4 away defeat against Fiorentina.[57] On the final matchday, he provided a stunning individual performance by providing two assists after individual efforts, also scoring his 11th goal of the season as Inter thrashed Udinese 5–2 at home end the season on a high.[58] Perišić finished his second Inter season by making 42 appearances in all competitions, including 36 in league, which 31 were as starter, as Inter finished the Serie A in seventh position, once again failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. He scored 11 goals, his highest tally since 2010–11 season with Club Brugge; and also provided ten assists, including eight in Serie A, breaking his last season's record.[59]
2017–18 season
Perišić started his third Inter season on a high, first scoring and assisting in the opening day of 2017–18 Serie A against Fiorentina, then providing two assists in the away match at Roma as Inter won 3–1,[60] Inter's first league win at the Stadio Olimpico in nine years.[61]
On 8 September, Perišić signed a new contract extension with Inter Milan, keeping him at the San Siro until June 2022. Upon signing, Perišić said, "It's a special day, it's certainly emotional and I'm happy after the stress of this summer. Now, we can look forward and I'm only thinking about Inter. After signing, the pitch is the only thing left for me to think about."[62]
His second goal of the season, a late screamer outside the zone against newly promoted SPAL two days later, was his 20th career Serie A goal.[63] Perišić scored his first Serie A hat-trick on 3 December in the 5–0 home win over Chievo.[64] His 100th appearance in all competitions for Inter occurred later on 30 December in the goalless draw versus Lazio on matchday 19.[65]
Following the appointment of Antonio Conte, Perišić struggled to fit into the new manager's system during pre-season.[67]
Loan to Bayern Munich
On 13 August 2019, Perišić joined German club Bayern Munich on a season-long loan. Bayern have the option of signing Perišić on a permanent deal in the summer of 2020.[68]
On 26 March 2011, at age 22, Perišić made his debut for the senior national team against Georgia.[77] He was a member of Croatia's squad for UEFA Euro 2012, starting in the team's opening two matches against the Republic of Ireland and Italy, and appearing as a substitute in the team's final match, a 1–0 loss to Spain.[78]
On 14 May, Perišić was named in Croatia's 30-man preliminary squad for the 2014 World Cup.[80] On 31 May, he scored a brace in a 2–1 win against Mali in a World Cup warm-up match in Osijek.[81] Perišić was confirmed as a member of Croatia's final 23-man World Cup squad on 2 June.[82] Perišić was in Croatia's starting team for the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, a controversial 3–1 defeat to tournament hosts Brazil at the Arena Corinthians, São Paulo.[83] In the following match, he scored Croatia's second goal as they defeated Cameroon 4–0.[84] On 23 June, he scored a consolation goal in the team's final group match, 3–1 defeat to Mexico which eliminated them from the tournament.[85] Despite Croatia's early elimination, Perišić was ranked as the second-best performing player of the group stage by FIFA.[86]
Euro 2016
Perišić was Croatia's top goalscorer in Euro 2016 qualifying, scoring six goals in nine matches as Croatia qualified in second place in Group H.[87] In Croatia's second Euro 2016 group match, Perišić scored the opening goal of a 2–2 draw with the Czech Republic.[88] Five days later, he scored the winning goal against Spain, which secured qualification to the knockout stage as group winners for Croatia.[89]
2018 World Cup
Perišić appeared regularly in Croatia's successful 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, as they finished runner-up in Group I which sent them to second round.[90] The team played Greece, winning the first leg 4–1, with Perišić scoring the third goal in 33rd minute.[91] Croatia booked their spot to the World Cup final stages in Russia on 12 November by playing a goalless draw in the returning leg.[92]
In May 2018, Perišić was named in Croatia's final squad for the 2018 World Cup.[93] In the third group stage match, Perišić scored in the last minute of the regular time in the 2–1 win over Iceland as Croatia topped Group D on full points.[94] During Croatia's semi-final match against England on 11 July, Perišić scored Croatia's equaliser in the second half of regulation time, and later also set-up Mario Mandžukić's match-winning goal in the second half of extra-time to give Croatia a 2–1 victory, sending the team to the World Cup final for the first time in their history.[95] He was named Man of the Match.[96] In the final against France on 15 July, he scored Croatia's temporary equaliser in the first half, although the match eventually ended in a 4–2 defeat to France.[97] Perišić covered the most ground of any player in the tournament, running a total of 72.5 kilometres.[98]
Perišić married Josipa in 2012, having first met her while they were in high school.[102] The pair have two children: a son, Leonardo, born 9 October 2012; and a daughter, Manuela, born 28 July 2014.[103][104]
^"Perisic midfielder revelation of Bruges" [Perisic, centrocampista rivelazione del Bruges]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
^"Relazione sulla Gestione". F.C. Internazionale Milano S.p.A. bilancio al 2015-06-30 [F.C. Internazionale Milano S.p.A. financial report for the year ending at 2015-06-30]. Registro Imprese (Report) (in Italian). Milan: C.C.I.A.A. 2015.
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Belgium
Mali
Cameroon
Mexico
Azerbaijan
Italy
Norway
Bulgaria
Malta
Israel
San Marino
Czech Republic
Spain
Kosovo
Greece
Senegal
Iceland
England
France
Portugal
Wales
Slovakia
Georgia
