Josip Brekalo
 Brekalo training with VfB Stuttgart in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 23 June 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Zagreb, Croatia | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Left winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Kasımpaşa (on loan from Fiorentina) | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2015 | Dinamo Zagreb | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2016 | Dinamo Zagreb II | 9 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Dinamo Zagreb | 8 | (0) |
| 2016 | VfL Wolfsburg II | 2 | (0) |
| 2016–2023 | VfL Wolfsburg | 108 | (16) |
| 2017–2018 | → VfB Stuttgart (loan) | 25 | (2) |
| 2021–2022 | → Torino (loan) | 32 | (7) |
| 2023– | Fiorentina | 17 | (1) |
| 2024 | → Hajduk Split (loan) | 14 | (2) |
| 2024– | → Kasımpaşa (loan) | 9 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012 | Croatia U14 | 2 | (0) |
| 2013 | Croatia U15 | 2 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Croatia U16 | 8 | (2) |
| 2013–2015 | Croatia U17 | 25 | (9) |
| 2015 | Croatia U18 | 6 | (3) |
| 2015–2017 | Croatia U19 | 17 | (6) |
| 2016–2019 | Croatia U21 | 17 | (9) |
| 2018–2024 | Croatia | 35 | (4) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:19, 13 December 2024 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:43, 15 October 2023 (UTC) | |||
Josip Brekalo (Croatian pronunciation: [jǒsip brěːkalo];[2][3] born 23 June 1998) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Turkish club Kasımpaşa
Club career
[edit]Brekalo is a youth exponent from Dinamo Zagreb. He made his league debut on 19 December 2015 against Inter Zaprešić.[4] On 15 May 2016 he signed for Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg for €10 million.
On 31 January 2017, Brekalo was loaned out to VfB Stuttgart until the end of the season with an option for a further year. The loan deal was initially automatically extended until June 2018 when Stuttgart secured promotion.[5] Brekalo scored his first senior goal on 17 February 2017 coming off the bench for VfB Stuttgart against 1. FC Heidenheim.[6] Brekalo returned prematurely to Wolfsburg on 1 January 2018.[7] On 8 May 2021, he scored his first career hat-trick in a 3–0 victory over Union Berlin.[8]
On 31 August 2021, Brekalo joined Torino on a loan with options to buy.
On 28 January 2023, Brekalo returned to Italy and signed with Fiorentina.[9]
On 29 January 2024, Brekalo moved on loan to Hajduk Split.[10]
On 7 September 2024, Brekalo signed with Kasımpaşa in Turkey.[11]
International career
[edit]Having represented various Croatian youth teams, Brekalo debuted for the senior squad on 15 November 2018 in a 3–2 Nations League victory against Spain.[12] On 8 September 2020, he scored his first national team goal in a 4–2 Nations League defeat to France.[13]
On 1 June 2021, Brekalo was named in Croatia's final 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2020.[14] On 31 October 2022, he was named in the preliminary 34-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup[15] but did not make the final 26.[16]
Style of play
[edit]He usually plays on the left or right wing for both club and national team. However, he played some international matches on different positions. In the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League, he played as a right back due to absence of Šime Vrsaljko. In 2020–21 UEFA Nations League, he was used as one of two false 9 strikers in 4–1–2–1–2 formation, a formation which does not support wingers.
Personal life
[edit]Brekalo's father Ante (nicknamed Šargija) is a former footballer, having represented Bosnia and Herzegovina on various youth levels, as he hails from the Bosnian region of Posavina. His career was halted at the age of 21, when the Yugoslav Wars broke out and he got wounded on the battlefield.[17]
On 2 June 2021, Brekalo and his partner Dominika Kralj became parents of a girl, whom they named Nika.[18] On 17 July, Brekalo and Kralj married in Zagreb.[19]
Controversies
[edit]In summer 2018, after VfL Wolfsburg decided that captains of all their teams would wear such an armband during the 2018–19 season, Brekalo sparked controversy in German and Croatian media after stating that he would not like to wear a captain's armband with LGBT flag colours. The reason for that was cited to be the club's "stance for tolerant society" and "stance against discrimination". After "liking" homophobic comments under club's Instagram post of captain Josuha Guilavogui wearing the armband, Brekalo blamed it on a mobile phone malfunction in an interview with Kicker. He went on to state:[20][21][22]
"I have to say that I can't stand completely behind this action, because it contradicts my Christian belief. I've been raised religiously. I'm fine with people living a different lifestyle, because that's their business. But I don't want and don't have to carry a symbol representing them."
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 25 May 2024[23]
| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dinamo Zagreb II | 2015–16 | Druga HNL | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2015–16 | Prva HNL | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||
| VfL Wolfsburg II | 2016–17 | Regionalliga Nord | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 4 | |||
| 2018–19 | Bundesliga | 25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 3 | |||
| 2019–20 | Bundesliga | 30 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8[b] | 3 | — | 40 | 7 | ||
| 2020–21 | Bundesliga | 29 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | — | 33 | 7 | ||
| 2021–22 | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 110 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 3 | — | 128 | 22 | |||
| VfB Stuttgart (loan) | 2016–17 | 2. Bundesliga | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 14 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 17 | 2 | |||
| Total | 25 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 28 | 3 | ||||
| Torino (loan) | 2021–22 | Serie A | 32 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 7 | ||
| Fiorentina | 2022–23 | Serie A | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Serie A | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 18 | 1 | |
| Total | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 1 | ||
| Hajduk Split (loan) | 2023–24 | Prva HNL | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 217 | 29 | 19 | 4 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 256 | 36 | ||
- ^ Includes Croatian Cup, DFB-Pokal and Coppa Italia
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
International
[edit]- As of match played 15 October 2023[24]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 35 | 4 | |
- Scores and results list Croatia's goal tally first. Score column indicates score after each Brekalo goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 2020 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France | 13 |  France |
2–2 | 2–4 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A |
| 2 | 7 October 2020 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | 14 |  Switzerland |
1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 11 November 2020 | Vodafone Park, Istanbul, Turkey | 17 |  Turkey |
3–2 | 3–3 | |
| 4 | 30 March 2021 | Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka, Croatia | 22 |  Malta |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
[edit]Dinamo Zagreb[23]
Stuttgart[23]
Fiorentina[23]
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 2022–23[25]
- UEFA Europa Conference League runner-up: 2022–23[26]
Individual
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2015[27]
References
[edit]- ^ "Josip Brekalo". VfL Wolfsburg. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Jòsip". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 19 March 2018.
Jòsip
- ^ "brȅcati". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 19 March 2018.
Brékalo
- ^ "Dinamo Zagreb vs. Inter Zaprešić - 19 December 2015 - Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
- ^ "Josip Brekalo signs for VfB". VfB Stuttgart. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "Away win in Heidenheim". VfB Stuttgart. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ "Josip Brekalo makes early return to VfL Wolfsburg". VfB Stuttgart. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ Kižlin, Slaven (8 May 2021). "VIDEO: Kakav dan Hrvata! Brekalo zabio tri komada, Kramarić u 13 minuta dao gol i dvaput asistirao". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "BREKALO È UN NUOVO CALCIATORE DELLA FIORENTINA" (in Italian). ACF Fiorentina. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "JOSIP BREKALO NOVI JE IGRAČ HAJDUKA!" [JOSIP BREKALO IS A NEW HAJDUK PLAYER!] (in Croatian). Hajduk Split. 29 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ "Josip Brekalo Kasımpaşamızda" [Josip Brekalo in Kasımpaşa] (in Turkish). Kasımpaşa. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ Tironi, Hrvoje (17 November 2018). "Nisam bio ni svjestan onog svog 'lažnjaka' realovcu". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Tolić, Josip (8 September 2020). "Pogledajte majstoriju Lovrena i slalom Brekala, ali i vrlo loše reakcije naše obrane u Parizu". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Sada je konačno: Dalić potvrdio popis od 26 igrača za Euro 2020". Gol.hr (in Croatian). Croatian News Agency. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Dalić objavio prošireni popis za Svjetsko prvenstvo: Evo tko ima šansu putovati u Katar". Gol.hr (in Croatian). 31 October 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ "Zlatko Dalić objavio popis igrača za SP, ovo su 26 imena koje vodi u Katar". Večernji List (in Croatian). 9 November 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ Antolić, Dražen (8 June 2019). "Vatreni Otkrio Kako Je Rat Zaustavio Oca Šargiju da Postane Nogometna Klasa "Otišao je na ratište, bio ranjen i spriječen ostvariti snove"". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Još jedna prinova u redovima Vatrenih! Naš mladi reprezentativac postao otac kćerkice Nike". Gloria.hr (in Croatian). 2 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Ludban, Helena; Štengl, Ivan (18 July 2021). "Josip Brekalo i Dominika Kralj izrekli sudbonosno "da", ove godine dobili su kćer Niku". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ Gjerulff, Rune (27 June 2018). "Brekalo on Wolfsburg's LGBT armband: "I don't want to carry a symbol representing them"". Bulinews. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ Midžor, Nina (27 August 2018). "Brekalo: Moj kršćanski odgoj priječi mi da podržim gayeve". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ "Brekalo zaprepastio Nijemce: Objasnite mu da homofobija nije cool". Index.hr (in Croatian). 27 August 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d "J. Brekalo". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
- ^ "Josip Brekalo profile". EU-football.info. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ Porzio, Francesco (24 May 2023). "Inter win Coppa Italia as Lautaro Martinez brace downs Fiorentina, build momentum for Champions League final". CBS Sports. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ Stone, Simon (7 June 2023). "Fiorentina 1–2 West Ham United: Jarrod Bowen goal decides Europa Conference League final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
- ^ "Team of the Tournament". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
External links
[edit]
- Profile at the HNK Hajduk Split website (in Croatian)
- Josip Brekalo at Croatian Football Statistics (archived) (in Croatian)
- Josip Brekalo at the Croatian Football Federation
- Josip Brekalo at National-Football-Teams.com
 | ||
- 1998 births
- Living people
- Croatian men's footballers
- Croatia men's youth international footballers
- Croatia men's under-21 international footballers
- Croatia men's international footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Croatian Football League players
- Bundesliga players
- 2. Bundesliga players
- Regionalliga players
- Serie A players
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb players
- VfL Wolfsburg players
- VfL Wolfsburg II players
- VfB Stuttgart players
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb II players
- Torino FC players
- ACF Fiorentina players
- HNK Hajduk Split players
- Kasımpaşa S.K. footballers
- UEFA Euro 2020 players
- Croatian expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
- Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
- Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
- Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
- Footballers from Zagreb
- First Football League (Croatia) players
- Croatian Roman Catholics