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Josip Šimunić
Josip "Joe" Šimunić (Croatian pronunciation: [jǒsip ʃǐmunitɕ]; born 18 February 1978) is a former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
Born in Australia to Bosnian Croat parents, Šimunić started his career at Melbourne Knights, then moved to Germany where he spent 14 seasons in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV, Hertha BSC and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim before finishing his career in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb.
Šimunić played for Croatia from 2001 to 2013, appearing in five major tournaments – the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as the 2004, 2008 and 2012 European Championships – and is the sixth-most-capped player in the history of the Croatia national team.
Šimunić was born in Canberra, Australia, to Bosnian Croat immigrants from Otigošće near Fojnica. He received early football training at Croatia Deakin in his hometown of Canberra before attending the Australian Institute of Sport program. The defender broke into the Melbourne Knights first team as a teenager in the 1995–96 season and ended it with a championship medal and 1996 NSL Youth Player of the Year award. Šimunić scored his first goals the following term, three in 14 outings, before moving to Europe to join Hamburger SV in 1997.
Šimunić moved to Hertha BSC in 2000 after having fallen out with Hamburg coach Frank Pagelsdorf. He later became an integral member of a team that enjoyed occasional forays in the UEFA Cup. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Šimunić was named the best centre-back in the Bundesliga by Kicker. Hertha finished in fourth place that season, with a defence that conceded only 41 goals, tied for third in the league with VfL Wolfsburg.
After nine years with Hertha, Šimunić left the club on 30 June 2009 to sign with TSG Hoffenheim on a contract which was to run until 30 June 2012.
On 31 August 2011, Dinamo Zagreb confirmed the signing of Šimunić on a free transfer on a contract until 30 June 2013. He was signed by the club in order to re-enforce the team for UEFA Champions League matches. Šimunić made his official debut in Croatian biggest derby match between rivals Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split at Stadion Poljud. During his first season with the club, he made only 11 domestic league appearances as he struggled to find his regular spot in the starting lineup due to injuries and tough competition in the team's defensive lineup that included Tonel, Leandro Cufré, Igor Bišćan and Domagoj Vida. He made his UEFA Champions League debut against Lyon at Stade de Gerland. At the end of the season, he won his first double with the club as Dinamo won both the Prva HNL and the Croatian Cup.
In the beginning of his second season with the club, Šimunić established himself as the first-choice centre-half and regular starter. He played the full 90 minutes in each of Dinamo's group stage matches in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League.
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Josip Šimunić
Josip "Joe" Šimunić (Croatian pronunciation: [jǒsip ʃǐmunitɕ]; born 18 February 1978) is a former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.
Born in Australia to Bosnian Croat parents, Šimunić started his career at Melbourne Knights, then moved to Germany where he spent 14 seasons in the Bundesliga with Hamburger SV, Hertha BSC and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim before finishing his career in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb.
Šimunić played for Croatia from 2001 to 2013, appearing in five major tournaments – the 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as the 2004, 2008 and 2012 European Championships – and is the sixth-most-capped player in the history of the Croatia national team.
Šimunić was born in Canberra, Australia, to Bosnian Croat immigrants from Otigošće near Fojnica. He received early football training at Croatia Deakin in his hometown of Canberra before attending the Australian Institute of Sport program. The defender broke into the Melbourne Knights first team as a teenager in the 1995–96 season and ended it with a championship medal and 1996 NSL Youth Player of the Year award. Šimunić scored his first goals the following term, three in 14 outings, before moving to Europe to join Hamburger SV in 1997.
Šimunić moved to Hertha BSC in 2000 after having fallen out with Hamburg coach Frank Pagelsdorf. He later became an integral member of a team that enjoyed occasional forays in the UEFA Cup. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Šimunić was named the best centre-back in the Bundesliga by Kicker. Hertha finished in fourth place that season, with a defence that conceded only 41 goals, tied for third in the league with VfL Wolfsburg.
After nine years with Hertha, Šimunić left the club on 30 June 2009 to sign with TSG Hoffenheim on a contract which was to run until 30 June 2012.
On 31 August 2011, Dinamo Zagreb confirmed the signing of Šimunić on a free transfer on a contract until 30 June 2013. He was signed by the club in order to re-enforce the team for UEFA Champions League matches. Šimunić made his official debut in Croatian biggest derby match between rivals Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split at Stadion Poljud. During his first season with the club, he made only 11 domestic league appearances as he struggled to find his regular spot in the starting lineup due to injuries and tough competition in the team's defensive lineup that included Tonel, Leandro Cufré, Igor Bišćan and Domagoj Vida. He made his UEFA Champions League debut against Lyon at Stade de Gerland. At the end of the season, he won his first double with the club as Dinamo won both the Prva HNL and the Croatian Cup.
In the beginning of his second season with the club, Šimunić established himself as the first-choice centre-half and regular starter. He played the full 90 minutes in each of Dinamo's group stage matches in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League.
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