Ante Vukušić
Croatian footballer (born 1991)
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Ante Vukušić (Croatian pronunciation: [ǎːnte ʋǔkuʃitɕ]; born 4 June 1991) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Croatian Third Football League club Junak Sinj.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 June 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Sinj, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Junak Sinj | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2007 | Junak Sinj | ||
| 2007–2009 | Hajduk Split | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | Hajduk Split | 84 | (36) |
| 2012–2015 | Pescara | 23 | (1) |
| 2014 | → Lausanne-Sport (loan) | 13 | (4) |
| 2014–2015 | → Waasland-Beveren (loan) | 15 | (3) |
| 2016–2017 | Greuther Fürth | 21 | (2) |
| 2016 | → Greuther Fürth II | 1 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Tosno | 0 | (0) |
| 2018 | Olimpia Grudziądz | 9 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Krško | 27 | (4) |
| 2019–2021 | Olimpija Ljubljana | 42 | (26) |
| 2021 | FCSB | 5 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Messina | 12 | (2) |
| 2022 | Tuzla City | 6 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Kolubara | 27 | (4) |
| 2023–2024 | Varaždin | 9 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Zrinski Osječko | 15 | (5) |
| 2025–2026 | Croatia Zmijavci | 24 | (1) |
| 2026 | Acireale | 0 | (0) |
| 2026– | Junak Sinj | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2009 | Croatia U18 | 6 | (2) |
| 2009–2010 | Croatia U19 | 7 | (1) |
| 2010–2012 | Croatia U21 | 11 | (3) |
| 2012 | Croatia | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 March 2026 | |||
Club career
Vukušić started his career playing at youth level for his hometown club Junak Sinj. He joined Hajduk Split in 2007, and during his time at their youth academy was regarded as one of the most promising players.[2]
Hajduk Split
In January 2009, Vukušić signed a professional 5+1⁄2-year contract with Hajduk, keeping him at the club until summer 2014.[3] He made his debut for the first team in a 5–0 win against Croatia Sesvete on 22 April 2009.[4] In the last round of 2008–09 season, he scored his first goal in Prva HNL, a late equalizer against rivals Dinamo Zagreb.[5]
In the 2009–10 season, Vukušić established himself as the first choice striker at the club. In 22 league appearances, he scored 6 goals and a further 2 goals in 5 cup appearances. His stature at the club at such a young age impressed many of Europe's top clubs and he was set to make a move away from the Croatian club but the management and he mutually chose for him to remain at the club for the following season.
In the 2010–11 season, he scored 14 league goals in 29 appearances, finishing the season as the club's top scorer. He also scored four goals in nine UEFA Europa League appearances, the most memorable of which was a last minute winner against Anderlecht.
At the start of the 2011–12 season, under new coach Krasimir Balakov, Vukušić continued as the first choice striker at the club, this time alongside new signing Ivan Vuković as the most preferred front duo. He scored his first goal of the 2011–12 Prva HNL only three minutes into the first match against Šibenik and added his second in a match against Rijeka. In doing so he injured his toe and was consequentially ruled out for the next four weeks. He ended the season with 12 league goals in 24 appearances and 15 total goals in 29 appearances which made him the top goalscorer at the club for the second year running.
The 2012–13 season at Hajduk started with another new coach, but Ante remained the first choice striker and captain at the club, despite his young age. He converted a penalty in Hajduk's 2–0 win over Italian club Internazionale at the San Siro.
Pescara
In August 2012, Vukušić was transferred to the newly promoted Serie A club Pescara for a reported fee of around €3.8 million.[6] He was initially the first choice striker at the club, but ended up losing his place and managed just one goal in 19 appearances as Pescara were relegated.
Lausanne-Sport (loan)
In February 2014, Vukušić moved to Lausanne-Sport on a six-month loan.[7]
Waasland-Beveren (loan)
In August 2014, Vukušić moved to Waasland-Beveren on a loan.[8]
Greuther Fürth
Vukušić moved to Greuther Fürth on 29 January 2016. On 7 May 2016 he extended his contract until June 2018.[9]
Tosno
On 5 June 2017, Vukušić signed a two-year contract with the Russian Premier League club FC Tosno.[10] Three weeks later, he underwent a surgery on his lungs, due to years-long medical problems.[11]
Olimpia Grudziądz
On 7 March 2018, Vukušić signed with Polish club Olimpia Grudziądz.[12] In the summer of 2018 he left Olimpia Grudziądz.
Krško
After leaving Grudziądz, Vukušić signed with Slovenian PrvaLiga club NK Krško, where he scored 4 goals in 27 appearances during the 2018–19 season.[13]
FCSB
On 28 January 2021, it was announced that Vukušić signed with Romanian club FCSB.[14][15]
International career
In May 2011, Vukušić was first called up to the Croatian senior team by manager Slaven Bilić for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Georgia, but was later moved to the under-21 squad for their opening match in the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifications, also against Georgia.[16][17] On 15 August 2012, he made his debut for the senior team under manager Igor Štimac as a second-half substitute in a 4–2 defeat against Switzerland.[18][19]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 26 January 2024
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hajduk Split | 2008–09 | Prva HNL | 4 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10 | Prva HNL | 22 | 6 | 5 | 2 | — | 27 | 8 | ||
| 2010–11 | Prva HNL | 29 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 9[b] | 4 | 40 | 18 | |
| 2011–12 | Prva HNL | 24 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2[b] | 0 | 29 | 15 | |
| 2012–13 | Prva HNL | 5 | 3 | — | 4[b] | 2 | 9 | 5 | ||
| Total | 84 | 36 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 6 | 109 | 47 | ||
| Pescara | 2012–13 | Serie A | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | |
| 2013–14 | Serie B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 23 | 1 | |||
| Lausanne-Sport | 2013–14 | Swiss Super League | 13 | 4 | — | — | 13 | 4 | ||
| Waasland-Beveren | 2014–15 | Belgian Pro League | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 16 | 3 | |
| Pescara | 2015–16 | Serie B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Greuther Fürth | 2015–16 | 2. Bundesliga | 14 | 2 | — | — | 14 | 2 | ||
| 2016–17 | 2. Bundesliga | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Total | 21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 22 | 2 | |||
| Olimpia Grudziądz | 2017–18 | I liga | 9 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Krško | 2018–19 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 27 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | 30 | 5 | |
| Olimpija Ljubljana | 2019–20 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 35 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 4[b] | 1 | 40 | 27 |
| 2020–21 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[b] | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
| Total | 42 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 50 | 28 | ||
| FCSB | 2020–21 | Liga I | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Messina | 2021–22 | Serie C | 12 | 2 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 13 | 2 | |
| Tuzla City | 2021–22 | Premier League of BH | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Kolubara | 2022–23 | Serbian SuperLiga | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 28 | 4 | |
| Varaždin | 2023–24 | Croatian Football League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
| Career total | 293 | 82 | 25 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 339 | 96 | ||
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Coppa Italia Serie C
International
- As of match played 15 August 2012
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | |||
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
Honours
Hajduk Split
Individual
- Slovenian PrvaLiga top scorer: 2019–20
- Serbian SuperLiga Player of the Week: 2022–23 (Round 8)[20]
