Zvonimir Kožulj
Bosnian footballer (born 1993)
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Zvonimir Kožulj (Croatian pronunciation: [zʋǒnimiːr kǒʒuːʎ]; born 15 November 1993) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.
|
Kožulj with Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zvonimir Kožulj | ||
| Date of birth | 15 November 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Ljubuški, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2011 | Zrinjski Mostar | ||
| 2011–2013 | Široki Brijeg | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Široki Brijeg | 54 | (11) |
| 2013 | → Vitez (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 2014 | → Branitelj (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2016–2018 | Hajduk Split | 49 | (4) |
| 2018–2020 | Pogoń Szczecin | 56 | (12) |
| 2020–2021 | Gaziantep | 18 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Eyüpspor | 6 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Bruk-Bet Termalica (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | Sandecja Nowy Sącz | 0 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Zrinjski Mostar | 4 | (0) |
| 2024 | Universitatea Craiova | 2 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Široki Brijeg | 8 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2012 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2014 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 | 1 | (0) |
| 2016 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 November 2024 | |||
Kožulj started his professional career at Široki Brijeg, who loaned him to Vitez in 2013 and to Branitelj in 2014. In 2016, he joined Hajduk Split. Two years later, he was transferred to Pogoń Szczecin. After unsuccessful stints with Turkish sides Gaziantep and Eyüpspor, Kožulj signed with Bruk-Bet Termalica in 2022 but never made an appearance due to an injury picked up shortly after joining.
A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kožulj made his senior international debut in 2016.
Club career
Early career
Kožulj came through Zrinjski Mostar's youth academy, which he left in 2011 to join Široki Brijeg.[1] He made his professional debut against Čelik Zenica on 30 March 2013 at the age of 19.[2]
In the summer of 2013, he was sent on a six-month loan to Vitez.[3] On 24 August 2013, he scored his first professional goal.[4] In January 2014, he was loaned to Branitelj until the end of season.[5]
Hajduk Split
On 14 June 2016, Kožulj was transferred to Croatian side Hajduk Split for an undisclosed fee.[6] He made his competitive debut for the club in UEFA Europa League qualifier against Politehnica Iași on 14 July.[7] Three days later, on his league debut, he scored a goal in an away win over Cibalia.[8]
Pogoń Szczecin
In June 2018, Kožulj signed a three-year contract with Polish team Pogoń Szczecin.[9] He made his official debut for the club on 20 July against Miedź Legnica.[10] On 19 October, Kožulj scored his first goal for Pogoń Szczecin in an away defeat to Jagiellonia.[11] He was released from his contract in April 2020.[12]
Later career
In August 2020, he joined the Turkish club Gaziantep FK.
In the winter of 2022, he was loaned to Polish club Bruk-Bet Termalica Nieciecza for six months with a purchase option,[13] but he did not have a chance to debut after suffering an ACL injury during his first training session with the club.[14] From January to April 2023, he was with Sandecja Nowy Sącz, though he did not play any matches.[15]
On 24 June 2023, he signed with Bosnian champions Zrinjski Mostar, agreeing to a contract until 2025.[16] He played in the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League and was the hero of the first-round match against AZ Alkmaar, turning the game around with two goals and an assist.[17] A few weeks later, just before the second-leg match against Legia Warsaw, the media reported that he had been moved to the junior team. The club's coach commented that Kožulj was no longer with them, having made the personal decision not to continue with the team.[18]
International career
Having been eligible to represent both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, Kožulj opted for the former, representing it on various youth levels.[19]
In May 2016, he received his first senior call-up for a friendly game against Spain and the 2016 Kirin Cup.[20] Kožulj debuted against Japan on 7 June.[21]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 23 November 2024[22]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Široki Brijeg | 2012–13 | Bosnian Premier League | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | Bosnian Premier League | 26 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2[b] | 0 | 35 | 6 | |
| 2015–16 | Bosnian Premier League | 22 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | 25 | 7 | ||
| Total | 54 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 68 | 13 | ||
| Vitez (loan) | 2013–14 | Bosnian Premier League | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | |
| Branitelj (loan) | 2013–14 | First League of FBiH | 12 | 1 | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||
| Hajduk Split | 2016–17 | 1. HNL | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 6[b] | 0 | 35 | 4 |
| 2017–18 | 1. HNL | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 65 | 4 | ||
| Pogoń Szczecin | 2018–19 | Ekstraklasa | 34 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — | 35 | 9 | |
| 2019–20 | Ekstraklasa | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 23 | 3 | ||
| Total | 56 | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | 58 | 12 | |||
| Gaziantep | 2020–21 | Süper Lig | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 20 | 1 | |
| Eyüpspor | 2021–22 | TFF First League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| Bruk-Bet Termalica (loan) | 2021–22 | Ekstraklasa | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sandecja Nowy Sącz | 2022–23 | I liga | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Zrinjski Mostar | 2023–24 | Bosnian Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6[c] | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| Universitatea Craiova | 2023–24 | Liga I | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| Široki Brijeg | 2024–25 | Bosnian Premier League | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
| Career total | 219 | 29 | 26 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 264 | 34 | ||
- Includes Bosnian Cup, Croatian Cup, Polish Cup, Turkish Cup, Cupa României
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa Conference League
International
- As of match played 7 June 2016[23]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
Honours
Široki Brijeg
Hajduk Split
- Croatian Cup runner-up: 2017–18[22]
Individual
- Ekstraklasa Player of the Month: May 2019,[24] July 2019[25]
