Robert Ljubičić
Ljubičić with St. Pölten in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-07-14) 14 July 1999
Place of birth Vienna, Austria
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Dinamo Zagreb
Number 14
Youth career
2005–2006 Favoritner AC
2006–2009 Rapid Wien
2009–2014 Wiener Sportklub
2014–2018 AKA St. Pölten
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 St. Pölten II 11 (1)
2018–2021 St. Pölten 92 (7)
2021–2022 Rapid Wien 27 (3)
2022– Dinamo Zagreb 47 (3)
International career‡
2019 Croatia U20 2 (0)
2020 Austria U21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 December 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 September 2020

Robert Ljubičić (born 14 July 1999) is an Austrian footballer who plays for HNL club Dinamo Zagreb.[2]

Club career

After three full seasons at St. Pölten in the Austrian Bundesliga, it was announced on 8 March 2021 that Ljubičić would join Rapid Wien in the summer of 2021 on a three-year deal.[3] His brother, Dejan, was captain of the club at the time, but his departure to Köln in Germany was announced in April.[4] He made his debut at Rapid in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against Sparta Prague on 20 July, in his brother's position of central midfield.

On 13 June 2022, HNL club Dinamo Zagreb announced the signing of Ljubičić.[2] On 11 October 2022, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 1–1 draw against Red Bull Salzburg.[5]

International career

Ljubičić is of Bosnian Croat descent, so he was eligible to represent Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. He was capped for the Croatia U20 team in 2019, but decided to switch allegiances to Austria U21 team in 2020. He has not made a senior international debut for either country as of August 2021.

In November 2022, Ljubičić opted to represent Croatia instead of Austria.[6]

Style of play

In Austria he mainly played as a defensive midfielder. However after joining Dinamo, head coach Ante Čačić moved him in the position of left-back. Initially unwanted position, after half a year in Dinamo, he said he adapted to the position and now likes it.[7]

Personal life

His older brother Dejan is also a professional footballer.[8] They were born in Austria to Bosnian Croat parents from Busovača.[9][10]

Career statistics

As of 30 December 2023
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St. Pölten 2017–18 Austrian Bundesliga 51———51
2018–19 26131——292
2019–20 29330——323
2020–21 32210——332
Total 92771——998
Rapid Wien 2021–22 Austrian Bundesliga 27320111—404
Dinamo Zagreb 2022–23 Prva HNL 33241121—494
2023–24 14100111—252
Total 4734123200746
Career total 166131323430021318

References

  1. ↑ "Robert Ljubičić". GNK Dinamo Zagreb. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Robert Ljubičić novi igrač Dinama!". gnkdinamo.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  3. ↑ "Robert Ljubicic confirms his future contract with Rapid". SK Rapid. 8 March 2021.
  4. ↑ Huber, Alexander (26 April 2021). "Dejan Ljubicic wechselt von Rapid zu Köln - und in die 2. Liga?". Kurier.
  5. ↑ "Dinamo Zagreb 1–1 Salzburg". UEFA. 11 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "Hrvatska ima novog igrača".
  7. ↑ https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/ljubicic-neki-nisu-shvatili-moj-dolazak-u-dinamo/2454198.aspx?fbclid=IwAR0QvepobIMDN7zbUhosbcTPRcQXvS8DawYcR0TAEKzjT0hqJ-nIMz7jV8s
  8. ↑ "Robert Ljubičić confirms his future contract with Rapid". SK Rapid.
  9. ↑ alexander.huber. "Ljubicic: "Richtig böse war ich schon lange nicht"".
  10. ↑ Olivari, Davorin (2022-06-15). "Velike ambicije novog Dinamovog pojačanja: 'Bilo bi mi drago da dobijem poziv za hrvatsku reprezentaciju'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 2022-06-15.
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