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Jozo Šimunović

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Jozo Šimunović
Šimunović playing for Celtic in 2018
Personal information
Full name Jozo Šimunović
Date of birth (1994-08-04) 4 August 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Zagreb, Croatia
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Hrvatski Dragovoljac
2006–2013 Dinamo Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Dinamo Zagreb 52 (3)
2015–2020 Celtic 75 (5)
International career
2008 Croatia U14 2 (0)
2009 Croatia U15 2 (1)
2010 Croatia U16 3 (0)
2009–2011 Croatia U17 20 (1)
2012 Croatia U18 1 (0)
2011–2013 Croatia U19 10 (0)
2013 Croatia U20 5 (0)
2013–2015 Croatia U21 9 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:48, 1 September 2019 (UTC)

Jozo Šimunović (Serbo-Croatian pronunciation: [jǒːzo ʃimǔːnoʋitɕ]; born 4 August 1994) is a Croatian professional footballer who most recently played as a centre back for Celtic.

Club career

Early career

Šimunović started playing football at age of 7 in his village, Gornja Lomnica. At the age of 12 he joined Dinamo Zagreb from Hrvatski Dragovoljac.[1]

Dinamo Zagreb

Šimunović made his debut for Dinamo Zagreb on 16 March 2013 against Istra 1961, coming as a 90th-minute substitute.[2] On 30 March 2013, he scored his first goal for Dinamo against Zadar.[3] He played the whole game in Dinamo's 4–2 win on penalty kicks over RNK Split in the 2015 Croatian Cup Final on 20 May 2015.[4]

Celtic

Šimunović in Celtic colours, facing Zenit in 2018

On 1 September 2015, Šimunović joined Scottish Premiership side Celtic for an undisclosed fee.[5] He made his debut on 17 September, playing in Celtic's 2–2 draw away against Ajax in the Europa League, and had a good game.[6][7] An ankle injury shortly afterwards and the team's erratic form, however, hindered Šimunović's attempts to make much impact at his new club.[8] On 15 January 2016, Šimunović scored his first goal for Celtic in a 4–1 victory over Dundee United,[9] but suffered knee ligament damage just a week later and was ruled out for six weeks;[10] however, he was kept off for the rest of the season,[11] to recover properly.[12]

On 13 and 14 July, Šimunović stated on his Twitter account that he had spent the last nine weeks in Belgrade recovering from his injury, and would be returning to Glasgow later that week, and denied media speculation that he would be leaving Celtic to join Torino.[13] On 30 August 2016, contrary to his prior announcement, Šimunović travelled to Turin to have a medical with Torino.[14] Despite passing his medical, it was announced the following day that the move was off as the two clubs could not agree a fee.[15] Šimunović stated afterwards on Twitter that he was "completely healthy and fit" and was entirely focused on the challenge ahead with Celtic.[16] On 18 September 2016, he made his long-awaited return to action as a substitute in Celtic's 2–2 draw with Inverness.[17]

Šimunović re-established himself in the team, and formed a solid partnership in central defence alongside Erik Sviatchenko which saw Celtic go on a run of nine clean sheets.[18][19][20] During this time he also played in Celtic's 3–0 win over Aberdeen in the 2016 Scottish League Cup Final in November, and played the pass in to Tom Rogic for Celtic's opening goal.[18][21] After the cup final win, he told Croatian newspaper Sportske novosti that, "It was really phenomenal. The atmosphere is normally great in our games, but this time it was extra special, because it was the 100th trophy of the club."[22] In March 2017, Šimunović scored Celtic's first goal in a 2–1 win away at Dundee, extending the club's lead in the league to 25 points ahead of second-placed Aberdeen as they closed in on their 48th league championship.[23]

On 11 September 2017, he signed a new four-year contract, expiring June 2021.[24]

During the first match following the passing of Celtic club legend Billy McNeill, Simunovic scored the winner to earn all three points against Kilmarnock, taking the Celts within one point of securing eight league titles in a row. The goal will go down in the history of Celtic as a special one, having been scored in the 67th minute by Celtic's centre back and number 5, a tribute to the late McNeill. Following the game, Simunovic donated his number 5 shirt to the McNeill family.[25]

In September 2019 Šimunović suffered a knee injury.[26] On 30 May 2020 Celtic FC announced Šimunović would leave the club after his contract expires.

International career

Šimunović has represented Croatia on all youth levels.[27] He was captain of the Croatian under-17, under-19 and the under-21 teams.[28]

In September 2015, he received a first call-up for the senior national team, for the last UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches, against Bulgaria and Malta, as a substitute for injured Dejan Lovren, but suffered an injury days later, which didn't allow him to play.[29]

In July 2017, Šimunović chose to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina,[30] whom he qualifies for as his entire family hails from Jajce.[31] He had reportedly become frustrated by the lack of opportunities to play for Croatia.[32]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 May 2020[33]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dinamo Zagreb 2012–13 1. HNL 3 1 0 0 – 0 0 3 1
2013–14 1. HNL 23 2 3 0 – 6[a] 0 32 2
2014–15 1. HNL 20 0 3 0 – 8[b] 0 31 0
2015–16 1. HNL 6 0 0 0 – 4[c] 0 10 0
Total 52 3 6 0 0 0 18 0 76 3
Celtic 2015–16 Scottish Premiership 11 1 1 0 1 0 4[d] 0 17 1
2016–17 Scottish Premiership 25 1 3 0 3 0 2[c] 0 33 1
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 15 0 3 0 1 0 11[e] 0 30 0
2018–19 Scottish Premiership 18 2 3 0 1 0 8[f] 0 30 2
2019–20 Scottish Premiership 6 1 0 0 0 0 7[g] 0 13 1
Total 75 5 10 0 6 0 32 0 129 5
Career total 127 8 16 0 6 0 50 0 205 8
  1. ^ Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League and four appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League and six appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b Appearances in the UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Nine appearances in the UEFA Champions League and two appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Five appearances in the UEFA Champions League and three appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Six appearances in the UEFA Champions League and one appearance in the UEFA Europa League

Honours

Club

Dinamo Zagreb[6]
Celtic[6]

References

  1. ^ "Jozo Šimunović - povijest Dinama" (in Croatian).
  2. ^ "Istra 1961 - Dinamo Zagreb 0:0". soccerway.com. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Dinamo Zagreb - Zadar 5:0". soccerway.com. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  4. ^ Dubravac, Ante (20 May 2015). "Dinamo 4:2 Split - Dinamo tek nakon jedanaesteraca došao do Rabuzinovog sunca". Sportnet HR (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Jozo Simunovic: Celtic sign Dinamo Zagreb defender". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "Jozo Šimunović Trophies". soccerway.com.
  7. ^ Cuddihy, Paul. "Simunovic pleased with his Celtic debut". Celtic FC. No. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  8. ^ Swan, Craig (27 October 2015). "Jozo Simunovic: Celtic are better than Dinamo Zagreb but they have similar issues". Daily Record. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  9. ^ "Dundee United 1 - 4 Celtic - Match Report & Highlights". Sky Sports. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Jozo Simunovic: Celtic defender out for up to six weeks". BBC Sport. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  11. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37239566
  12. ^ https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/14569452.hoops-wont-rush-jozo-simunovic-back/
  13. ^ Armstrong, Gary (11 August 2016). "Celtic star Jozo Šimunović rubbishes reports linking him with Torino switch as NONSENSE". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic in Italy to complete move to Torino". STV. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  15. ^ Sutherland, Jonathan (31 August 2016). "Celtic: Jozo Simunovic and Efe Ambrose deals fall through". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  16. ^ Mackenzie, Alasdair (1 September 2016). "Jozo Simunovic: I didn't fail Torino medical and I'm 100 per cent focused on Celtic". The Herald. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  17. ^ "Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2-2 Celtic". BBC Sport. 18 September 2016.
  18. ^ a b Swan, Craig (29 November 2016). "Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko insists competition for places keeps him and partner Jozo Simunovic on top of their game". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  19. ^ Mullen, Scott (20 December 2016). "Brendan Rodgers: Celtic star Jozo Simunovic is going nowhere". Evening Times. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  20. ^ Hay, Davie (22 December 2016). "Davie Hay: Jozo won't go, there would be an outcry from Celtic fans". Evening Times. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  21. ^ English, Tom (27 November 2016). "Aberdeen 0 - 3 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  22. ^ Olivari, Davorin (1 December 2016). "JOZO ŠIMUNOVIĆ UOČI EL CLASICA PROGOVORIO O VELIKOM MESSIJU 'Misliš da si ga zaustavio, a onda odluči sve'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  23. ^ "Šimunović zabio prvi gol u sezoni, Celtic nadomak 48. naslova prvaka". Gol. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Celtic joy as Jozo Simunovic and Scott Brown pen new deals at Parkhead". Daily Record. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  25. ^ "Jozo Simunovic takes Celtic to verge of title as tributes paid to Billy McNeill | Scottish Premiership | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com.
  26. ^ "Jozo Simunovic: Celtic defender faces weeks out with knee surgery". 16 September 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  27. ^ "Jozo Šimunović". hnf-cff.hr.
  28. ^ "Jozo Šimunović preuzima kapetansku traku" (in Croatian).
  29. ^ "Celtic defender Jozo Šimunović will miss Croatia's qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta due to injury, with Duje Ćaleta-Car called-up as his replacement". hns-cff.hr. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  30. ^ "Hvala Hrvatskoj, ali ću igrati za Bosnu i Hercegovinu" (in Bosnian).
  31. ^ "Čekao sam poziv HNS-a dvije godine" (in Bosnian).
  32. ^ Walker, Mark (18 July 2017). "Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic sticks with decision to switch national allegiance". The Herald. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  33. ^ "J. Šimunović". soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  34. ^ "Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season". BBC Sport. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Motherwell 0 - 2 Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
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