Antun Kovacic (born 10 July 1981) is a former Australian footballer.

Antun Kovacic
Personal information
Full name Antun Matthew Kovacic
Date of birth (1981-07-10) 10 July 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Melbourne, Australia
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4+12 in)
Position(s) Central defender
Youth career
Chelsea Hajduk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Preston Lions 38 (2)
2000–2002 Melbourne Knights 11 (0)
2002 Heidelberg United 11 (1)
2002–2004 Melbourne Knights 31 (0)
2005–2006 Oakleigh Cannons 40 (5)
2006–2007 Melbourne Victory 2 (0)
2007 Oakleigh Cannons 22 (2)
2008 Richmond SC 14 (1)
2008 Newcastle Jets 7 (1)
2009 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 3 (0)
2010–2011 Richmond SC 41 (4)
2011–2012 Churchill Brothers 9 (1)
2012 Richmond SC 8 (0)
2013 Dandenong City 19 (1)
2014 Melbourne Knights 21 (0)
Total 277 (18)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 September 2014

Club career

edit

Melbourne Victory recruited Kovacic from Oakleigh Cannons as a short-term replacement for the injured Daniel Piorkowski towards the end of the 06/07 season, featuring in two games. He also played for several years in the now defunct National Soccer League with the Melbourne Knights.

In June, 2008 Kovacic began trialling with the Newcastle Jets and impressed in two pre-season games, including one against the Central Coast Mariners.[1][2] In early July Kovacic signed with the Newcastle Jets on a two-year deal to bolster their defence.[3]

In March, 2009, Kovacic moved to Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i to take up the club's '3+1' ACL roster spot.[4]

He returned to Australia for one season, helping Richmond Eagles to the Victorian Premier League Premiership and Grand Final in 2010. In 2011, he moved to Indian I-League side Churchill Brothers.[5]

In February 2014, Kovačić returned to the Melbourne Knights.[6] With the Knights, he won the Dockerty Cup, helping the club to their first piece of silverware in 18 years. At the end of the season, Kovacic retired from competitive football.

References

edit
  1. ^ Kovacic on trial to fill Newcastle defensive hole Archived 20 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Jets keen on Kovacic but search for strikers continues Archived 16 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Leeson, Josh (7 July 2008). "Newcastle preparing to unleash Joel, Jade". The Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  4. ^ 울산, 마케도니아-호주 용병 영입...'3+1' 마무리 (in Korean). Osen sports. 5 March 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Mariano Dias appointed head coach for Churchill Brothers". dnaindia.com. Daily News & Analysis India. 13 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Kovacic returns to Knights Stadium". 28 February 2014.
edit