Joško Gvardiol

Joško Gvardiol (Croatian pronunciation: [jôʃko ɡʋârdioːl];[1][2] born 23 January 2002) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Prva HNL club Dinamo Zagreb, on loan from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.

Joško Gvardiol
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-01-23) 23 January 2002
Place of birth Zagreb, Croatia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre-back / left-back
Club information
Current team
 Dinamo Zagreb
(on loan from RB Leipzig)
Number 32
Youth career
2009–2010 Trešnjevka
2010–2019 Dinamo Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2020 Dinamo Zagreb II 4 (0)
2019–2020 Dinamo Zagreb 13 (1)
2020– RB Leipzig 0 (0)
2020– → Dinamo Zagreb (loan) 12 (0)
National team‡
2016 Croatia U14 3 (1)
2018 Croatia U16 3 (0)
2018–2019 Croatia U17 8 (1)
2019– Croatia U19 5 (0)
2019– Croatia U21 5 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2020

Early career

Gvardiol started playing football at the age of seven when his father Tihomir, once an amateur player in his native Novigrad, took him to Trešnjevka. While there, he was spotted by Lokomotiva and Zagreb; however, at the last minute he received an offer from Dinamo Zagreb which his family accepted.[3]

Initially, he played as a left-back or a central midfielder until Dinamo academy coach Dalibor Poldrugač moved him to the centre-back position. Soon after, Gvardiol started drawing interest from prominent European clubs,[3] including Manchester City, Lille, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, Ajax, Inter Milan and Roma.[4][5][6][7] He played a key part in Dinamo's 2018–19 UEFA Youth League campaign,[8] where they reached quarter-finals before losing 4–2 to Chelsea in a penalty shootout.[9] After being impressed by his performances for youth teams, senior Dinamo coach Nenad Bjelica called Gvardiol up to the senior team for pre-season games in Slovenia in summer 2019. On 2 July, he scored in a 2–0 friendly win over Austria Klagenfurt.[10] On 10 October 2019, he was included in The Guardian's Next Generation list.[11]

Club career

2019–20 season

Gvardiol made his league debut for senior Dinamo team on 18 October in a 4–2 victory over Gorica, coming on for Mario Gavranović in the 87th minute.[12] In his second league appearance for the club on 2 November, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Inter Zaprešić. That made him the sixth youngest league goalscorer for Dinamo, after Alen Halilović, Mateo Kovačić, Niko Kranjčar, Ante Ćorić and Tin Jedvaj.[13] On 12 February 2020, in a UEFA Youth League play-off against Dynamo Kyiv, Gvardiol successfully converted a penalty in a shootout as Dinamo won 4–3 and qualified for the round of 16.[14] In the round of 16 against Bayern Munich on 4 March, Gvardiol reflected Leon Dajaku's shot into his own net to set the score to 2–2. In the resulting shootout, he successfully converted his attempt again as Dinamo won 6–5 and progressed to the quarter-finals.[15] On 25 June, Gvardiol signed a five-year contract with Dinamo.[16] On 5 July, in the derby against Rijeka when the league title was already mathematically secured, Gvardiol reflected Franko Andrijašević's shot into his own net as Rijeka won 2–0, which would eventually cost coach Igor Jovićević his job.[17][18]

2020–21 season

On 26 August in the Champions League qualifier against Cluj, Gvardiol came on for Mario Gavranović in the 54th minute following Kévin Théophile-Catherine's red card. The game led to a penalty shootout, with Gvardiol successfully converting his attempt, as Dinamo won 6–5 and progressed to the third qualifying round.[19][20][21] In late August and early September, the media reported on the interest of the newly promoted Premier League side Leeds United, whose manager Marcelo Bielsa offered €22 million to sign the 18-year-old;[22][23][24] however, Gvardiol refused the offer and opted to stay in the Prva HNL and develop further.[25][26] On 16 September, in a Champions League qualifier against Ferencváros, Gvardiol made an error that led to Myrto Uzuni's winning goal for 2–1 as Hungarian champions knocked Dinamo out to the Europa League play-offs.[27][28]

However, on 28 September, it was announced that Gvardiol signed for Bundesliga club RB Leipzig on a five-year contract for €16 million, plus various add-ons.[29] The fee was the highest ever paid for a Croatian teenager and the third highest ever paid for a Croatian defender, only behind Dejan Lovren and Duje Ćaleta-Car.[30] Gvardiol remained at Dinamo for the remainder of the season.[29] On 22 October, he debuted for Dinamo in a senior UEFA competition, as Dinamo drew 0–0 with Feyenoord in the Europa League.[31] On 16 November, Gvardiol tested positive for COVID-19, which forced him to miss the derby against Osijek, now coached by Bjelica, on 21 November.[32][33] On 10 December, Gvardiol scored his first goal in a senior UEFA competition, as Dinamo defeated CSKA Moscow 3–1 in the Europa League.[34] After completion of the Europa League group stage, Gvardiol's performances were highly praised, as Dinamo conceded only one goal and topped their group.[35]

International career

Gvardiol earned his first call-up to Croatia national under-21 team in October 2019, at the age of 17, when coach Igor Bišćan listed him in the squad for Under-21 Euro 2021 qualifiers against Lithuania and the Czech Republic.[36] Gvardiol debuted on 14 November against the former opponent, being named in the starting lineup, as Croatia won 3–1.[37] On 8 October 2020, he scored the tenth goal in Croatia's 10–0 victory over San Marino, the largest victory in the history of the national team.[38]

Career statistics
As of 7 February 2021[39]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dinamo Zagreb II 2019–20 Druga HNL 30———30
2020–21 10———10
Total 40———40
Dinamo Zagreb 2019–20 Prva HNL 111100000121
2020–21 140009[lower-alpha 2]100231
Total 251109100352
Career total 291109100392
  1. Includes Croatian Cup
  2. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb II

Dinamo Zagreb

References
  1. "Jȍško". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  2. "gvȁrdijān". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  3. Juranović, Tomislav (13 September 2020). "Ovo je zlatni dječak od 200 milijuna kuna: 'Ako do 20. godine ne postane Vatreni, netko mora u zatvor!'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
  4. Olivari, Davorin (29 August 2020). "Za Dinamovog tinejdžera sprema se ponuda od čak 20 milijuna eura s bonusima! Ruši rekord Kovačića!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  5. "Bayern: Guardiola? Nein, Gvardiol ist im Visier". Kronen Zeitung (in German). 13 May 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  6. Tironi, Hrvoje (4 July 2019). "Veliki je fan Virgila van Dijka, a još s 15 godina odbio je Inter!". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  7. J. B. (15 November 2019). "Talijani: Roma ove zime kupuje mladog stopera Dinama". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  8. D. L. (12 March 2019). "Tko su mladi dinamovci na čelu s vratarom koji rasturaju u Europi". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  9. Dasović, Tomislav; Pavić, Marko (3 April 2019). "Dinamo vodio 2:0 pa ispao na penale, Chelsea spasio hrvatski vratar". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  10. S. Š. (2 July 2019). "Dinamo polako hvata zalet, Gavranović i Gvardiol za sigurnu pobjedu protiv Austrije". Tportal.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  11. Christenson, Marcus; Powell, Jim; Blight, Garry (10 October 2019). "Next Generation 2019: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  12. Ničota, Tomo (2 November 2019). "TINEJDŽER (17) ZABIO ZA DINAMO I OTIŠAO KUĆI TRAMVAJEM! 'Suigrače sam čuo kako viču 'catering', pravilo je da ih častim!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  13. Tironi, Hrvoje (2 November 2019). "Srušio Inter pa tramvajem išao kući: Vikali su mu 'catering'..." 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  14. Tironi, Hrvoje; Barišić, Zdravko; Vukušić, Danijel (12 February 2020). "Bravo, dečki: Dinamo je nakon penala prošao u osminu finala!". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  15. Hina; Kovačević, Davor; Tironi, Hrvoje (4 March 2020). "Pao i Bayern! Dinamo je poslije penala ušao u četvrtfinale LP-a". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  16. "Joško Gvardiol potpisao novi ugovor". GNK Dinamo (in Croatian). 25 June 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  17. Jurišić, Predrag (5 July 2020). "Video: Pogledajte kako je Rijeka 'slomila' Dinamo 2-0 i opet izborila šansu za Ligu prvaka!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  18. "Igor Jovićević dobio otkaz u Dinamu!". Gol.hr (in Croatian). 6 July 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  19. "Dinamo prošao u 3. pretkolo Lige prvaka nakon drame penala protiv Cluja". Index.hr (in Croatian). 26 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  20. "Dinamov klinac junak penala: Gdje nam je kraj? Idemo do kraja jer mi smo Dinamo". Index.hr (in Croatian). 26 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  21. Ničota, Tomo (27 August 2020). "Ako ga Dinamo proda, to bi bio veliki autogol! Mamićev novi prvotimac sinoć je od fakina postao mangup". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  22. "Leeds United told to pay up to £31m for Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul". The Guardian. 30 August 2020. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  23. Smyth, Graham (2 September 2020). "Leeds United mulling defender decision - Joško Gvardiol and Swansea's Ben Cabango among Victor Orta's potential targets". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  24. "Leeds za Gvardiola nudi 22 milijuna eura. Može postati najskuplji dinamovac ikad". Index.hr (in Croatian). 8 September 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  25. Ničota, Tomo (11 September 2020). "Ovo već dugo nismo vidjeli: 'Luđak' nudi milijune Dinamovom biseru, on ne želi otići!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
  26. Maston, Tom (29 September 2020). "Josko Gvardiol: The €19m teen star who rejected Leeds for Leipzig". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  27. "VIDEO: Pogledajte grešku dinamovca od 20 milijuna eura i sudbonosni bijeg bivšeg hit-igrača Lokomotive". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). 16 September 2020.
  28. Mršnik, Patrik (16 September 2020). "Bivši Lokos presudio Dinamu! Modri se ispromašivali, ostali bez Lige prvaka i direktnog euro-plasmana". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
  29. "Gvardiol potpisao za RB Leipzig! Iz Dinama škrti na riječima, evo kako su ga predstavili u Njemačkoj". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). 28 September 2020.
  30. Dobrinić, Damir (30 September 2020). "Pogledajte u kakvo je društvo ušao Dinamov dragulj! Ostvari li se sve, mogao bi koštati više od Ronalda". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
  31. A. M. (22 October 2020). "Dinamo uzeo bod protiv Feyenoorda na startu Europske lige". Hrvatska radiotelevizija (in Croatian).
  32. "SEDAM MLADIH VATRENIH POZITIVNO NA KORONAVIRUS UOČI KLJUČNE UTAKMICE: Bišćan hitno pozvao još petoricu igrača". Net.hr (in Croatian). 16 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  33. Olivari, Davorin (18 November 2020). "Udarac za Dinamo uoči okršaja protiv Osijeka: Mamić u obračun protiv Bjelice bez supervažnog dvojca". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
  34. Ničota, Tomo; Mršnik, Patrik (10 December 2020). "Dinamo slavi, ali ipak nije postao svjetski rekorder! Hrvat pokvario potpuni show Modrih na Maksimiru". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  35. Topić, Mihovil (11 December 2020). "Zvijer u Jošku Gvardiolu". Telesport (in Croatian). Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  36. V. R.; Hina (28 October 2019). "Bišćan objavio popis kandidata za dvije važne utakmice pa morao odgovarati na pitanja koja nije očekivao". Tportal.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  37. Olivari, Davorin (14 November 2019). "HRVATSKA UZ DOSTA MUKE DO VAŽNE POBJEDE PROTIV SKROMNOG SUPARNIKA Bišćanovi džokeri s klupe odigrali ključnu ulogu kod odlučujućeg trenutka susreta". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  38. Olivari, Davorin (8 October 2020). "Video: Mladi Vatreni u Kranjčevićevoj brojali do deset! Strašan gol Majera, Ivanušec zabio hat-trick". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
  39. Joško Gvardiol at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
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