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Steven Lustica

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Steven Lustica
Steven Lustica playing for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2017
Personal information
Full name Steven Lustica
Date of birth (1991-04-12) 12 April 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Canberra, Australia
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Youth career
2003–2005 Canberra FC
2005–2008 ACTAS
2008–2009 Sydney FC
2009–2011 Gold Coast United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Gold Coast United 4 (0)
2011–2013 Hajduk Split 34 (1)
2012 → Dugopolje (loan) 10 (1)
2013 → Brisbane Roar (loan) 12 (2)
2013–2014 Adelaide United 15 (1)
2014–2016 Brisbane Roar 62 (6)
2016–2018 Western Sydney Wanderers 25 (3)
2018–2019 Inter Zaprešić 14 (0)
2019–2020 Qizilqum Zarafshon 13 (1)
2020–2024 Western United 84 (7)
International career
2009–2011 Australia U-20 21 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 May 2024

Steven Lustica (Croatian: Luštica; born 12 April 1991) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a central midfielder.

Club career

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Gold Coast

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On 24 April 2009, it was confirmed that Lustica had been signed by Gold Coast United,[1] after impressing United's assistant coach, Paul Okon, during his tenure as under-18s coach at the Australian Olympic Youth Festival.[2]

On 19 September 2009, he made his senior debut for Gold Coast, coming off the bench in the 88th minute against Central Coast Mariners.[3]

Hajduk Split

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On 8 June 2011, it was announced that Lustica signed a four-year contract with Croatian giant Hajduk Split.[4] He made his debut against F.C. Barcelona on 23 July 2011. He made his Prva HNL debut on 13 August 2011 against NK Istra in a 3–0 away win with Lustica getting an assist. On 5 June 2011, Lustica scored his first goal for HNK Hajduk Split in a man of the match performance against NK Varazdin also getting an assist in the game.

Dugopolje (loan)

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On 25 January 2012 it was announced that Lustica would join Croatian 2. HNL side NK Dugopolje for the second half of the 2011–12 season.[5] Lustica made 10 appearances for Dugopolje, scoring one goal and assisting the club in achieving promotion to Prva HNL as they beat NK Pomorac Kostrena to the 2. HNL Championship by one point.[6] Lustica returned to Hajduk Split at the conclusion of Dugopolje's season.[7]

Brisbane Roar (loan)

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On 26 January 2013, Brisbane Roar in the Australian A-League signed Lustica on a loan deal which would see him stay at the club until the end of the 2012–13 A-League season.[8] Prior to his signing, Brisbane were having a disappointing season, losing 10 of their opening 17 games of the season and picking up just 17 points. Reunited with former coach Mike Mulvey, Lustica would help turn around Brisbane's season. The club lost only two league games in the remaining 10 games of the regular season, qualifying for the post-season Finals, a feat which looked unlikely after the first two-thirds of the season. Despite the Roar being interested in retaining Lustica, Hajduk Split refused to release him and he returned to Hajduk in June 2013.[9] Luštica scored two goals in his 12 appearances on loan with Brisbane.

Adelaide United

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In September 2013, Hajduk Split changed their mind about releasing him and Lustica was granted a release from his contract which allowed him to return to the A-League with Adelaide United where he agreed a one-year contract for the 2013–14 season.[10][11] Lustica impressed in his appearances for United, earning himself a place in the Team of the Week in Round 13.[12]

Departure from Adelaide United

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Lustica's time at Adelaide was to be short-lived however, when on 29 January 2014 he requested an early termination to his contract in order to make himself available to former club Brisbane Roar. As Lustica entered the final six months of his contract, he was in negotiations with Adelaide over a one-year extension. According to Adelaide, an agreement was reached in principle but not formalised. Around the same time, Brisbane approached him and an enquiry was made as to whether Adelaide would consider releasing him to join the club immediately, which Adelaide refused.[13] Following this, Adelaide head coach Josep Gombau reported that Lustica had failed to attend training and declared that Lustica was no longer welcome at the club. Lustica was subsequently released from contract with Adelaide United on 2 February 2014.[14]

Return to Brisbane Roar

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On 4 February 2014, it was announced that Lustica had re-signed with former club, Brisbane Roar until the end of the 2015–16 season.[15] Lustica scored his first return goal for Brisbane Roar against the Newcastle Jets in a Round 6 clash which ended in a 4–0 victory for Roar, courtesy of an Henrique hattrick. He scored another goal in the 5–4 battering of Roar against Sydney FC. He rounded off his fairly prolific goalscoring season with a hattrick in a 6–1 win against the Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium, also providing an assist for Brandon Borrello. The first season of his second spell at the club, Lustica made 25 appearances, scoring five goals and notching two assists.

Lustica opened his goal tally for the 2015–16 season netting a composed finish against the Wellington Phoenix, a 2–1 win to the Roar, as they braved hot conditions in Cairns. Brisbane Roar tabled Lustica a new contract offer in December 2015.

Western Sydney Wanderers

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On 23 May 2016, Lustica signed with the Western Sydney Wanderers on a 2-year contract.[16] The versatile midfielder will forever be etched in Wanderers history for his goal against English Premier League giants Arsenal in July 2017.[17] On 30 June 2018, after making 35 appearances in all competitions, Lustica departed from Western Sydney Wanderers to pursue offers in Europe.

Inter Zaprešić

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In July 2018, shortly after leaving Western Sydney Wanderers, Lustica joined Croatian club Inter Zaprešić.[18] Romanian top-tier team F.C Botosani offered Lustica a contract that he declined.

Personal life

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Lustica is of Croat heritage. He is related to former Hajduk Split player Slavko Luštica, who was his grandfather Božidar's cousin.[19]

Career statistics

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As of 21 April 2024
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Gold Coast United 2009–10 A-League 2 0 – – 2 0
2010–11 A-League 2 0 – – 2 0
Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Hajduk Split 2011–12 Croatian First Football League 18 1 1 0 0 0 11 1
2012–13 Croatian First Football League 7 0 2 0 2 0 11 0
2013–14 Croatian First Football League 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Total 22 1 3 0 2 0 27 1
Dugopolje (loan) 2011–12 Croatian Second Football League 10 1 0 0 – 10 1
Brisbane Roar (loan) 2012–13 A-League 12 2 0 0 1 0 13 2
Adelaide United 2013–14 A-League 15 1 0 0 – 15 1
Brisbane Roar 2013–14 A-League 10 0 0 0 – 10 0
2014–15 A-League 22 5 2 0 1 0 25 5
2015–16 A-League 22 1 0 0 – 22 1
Total 54 6 2 0 1 0 57 6
Western Sydney Wanderers 2016–17 A-League 7 1 3 0 2 1 12 2
2017–18 A-League 16 0 2 1 – 18 1
Total 23 1 5 1 2 1 30 3
Inter Zaprešić 2018–19 Croatian First Football League 14 0 2 0 – 9 0
Qizilqum Zarafshon 2019 Uzbekistan Super League 13 1 1 0 – 14 1
Western United 2019–20 A-League 10 1 0 0 – 10 1
2020–21 A-League 20 1 – – 20 1
2021–22 A-League Men 26 5 2 0 – 28 5
2022–23 A-League Men 13 0 2 0 – 15 0
2023–24 A-League Men 15 0 – – 15 0
Total 84 7 4 0 0 0 88 7
Career total 225 20 17 1 6 1 248 22

Honours

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Club

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Sydney FC Youth

Gold Coast Youth

Dugopolje

Brisbane Roar

Western United

International

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Australia U-19

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ Gold Coast gains from 'Australian' Kiwi
  2. ^ Two Steves tame Fury
  3. ^ Mariners lift to stun United Archived 8 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Strahija, Ivana; Dubravac, Ante (8 June 2011). "Miličević i Luštica potpisali za Hajduk". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Luštica odlazi na posudbu u Dugopolje, Runje odbio Hajduka > Dalmacija News". www.dalmacijanews.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Aussies Abroad - May 2012 : The World Game on SBS". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Great news from Former Coerver Kid Steven Lustica, who is currently playing in Croatia for club side Hajduk Split | Coerver ACT". Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  8. ^ Lustica lands for Brisbane FootballAustralia.com
  9. ^ Ferreira and Petratos join Roar FootballAustralia.com
  10. ^ "Motorsport Video |Motorsport Highlights, Replays, News, Clips".
  11. ^ "Reds snare Lustica for Season 9". Adelaide United FC. Football Federation Australia. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  12. ^ "Team of the Week: Round 13". Damien Bellemore. Football Federation Australia. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  13. ^ "Adelaide United refuses to release Steven Lustica to Brisbane Roar - ABC News". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Adelaide United agree to release Steven Lustica". Sacha Pisani. Sportal. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Steven Lustica returns to Roar". Football Federation Australia. 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014.
  16. ^ "Midfielder signs for Western Sydney Wanderers". A-League. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Caltex Socceroos star departs Wanderers". Hyundai A-League. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  18. ^ Somerford, Ben (3 July 2018). "Lustica seals Croatian switch". FourFourTwo.
  19. ^ Maršić, Ozren (25 March 2011). "Zbog rođaka Slavka počeo sam navijati za Hajduk, čast mi je što sam tu". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  20. ^ Dinjaski, Melanie (29 May 2022). "Western United's ACT duo Steven Lustica and Nikolai Topor-Stanley savour 'unbelievable' A-League victory". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
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