Zlatko Junuzović
Zlatko Junuzović is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Red Bull Salzburg. From 2006 till 2017 he represented the Austrian national team. He is known as a free-kick specialist.
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, 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 and the country's supporters voted him "Player of the Year" in the annual award awarded by the Kronen Zeitung.
In January 2012, Junuzović joined 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.
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.
On 18 March 2017, he scored his second goal of the 2016–17 season in a 3–0 win against Leipzig, a match that saw all three of Werder Bremen's Austrian players score in the club's highest win of the season.
In April 2018, Junuzović announced he would leave Werder Bremen after six and half years at the club.
Personal life
Junuzović was born in the Serbian town of Loznica, to a family originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina.International career
Junuzović played for Austria at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup where they claimed fourth place. He made his debut for the senior team in a March 2006 friendly match against Canada.In October 2017, after the conclusion of the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup during which Austria failed to reach qualification, Junuzović announced his retirement from the national team.
Career statistics
Club
International goals
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
1 | 7 October 2011 | Dalga Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan | 4–1 | 4–1 | Euro 2012 qualifying | |
2 | 1 June 2012 | Tivoli-Neu, Innsbruck, Austria | 1–0 | 3–2 | Friendly | |
3 | 11 September 2012 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2014 World Cup qualifier | |
4 | 22 March 2013 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | 4–0 | 6–0 | 2014 World Cup qualifier | |
5 | 27 March 2015 | Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz, Liechtenstein | 4–0 | 5–0 | Euro 2016 qualifying | |
6 | 5 September 2015 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | 1–0 | 1–0 | Euro 2016 qualifying | |
7 | 29 March 2016 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | 1–0 | 1–2 | Friendly |
Honours
Individual
- Austrian Footballer of the Year: 2010