Borna Sosa

Borna Sosa (Croatian pronunciation: [bôːrna sǒːsa];[3][4] born 21 January 1998) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Eredivisie club Ajax and the Croatia national team.

Borna Sosa
Sosa with VfB Stuttgart in 2018
Personal information
Full name Borna Sosa[1]
Date of birth (1998-01-21) 21 January 1998[2]
Place of birth Zagreb, Croatia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Left-back / left wing-back
Team information
Current team
 Ajax
Number 25
Youth career
2005–2015 Dinamo Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Dinamo Zagreb 32 (0)
2015–2017 → Dinamo Zagreb II 11 (0)
2018–2023 VfB Stuttgart 105 (4)
2023– Ajax 3 (0)
International career‡
2012 Croatia U14 2 (0)
2013 Croatia U15 2 (0)
2013–2014 Croatia U16 3 (0)
2013–2015 Croatia U17 21 (1)
2015 Croatia U18 2 (0)
2016–2017 Croatia U19 7 (0)
2017–2020 Croatia U21 19 (0)
2021– Croatia 14 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Croatia
FIFA World Cup
Third place2022 Qatar
UEFA Nations League
Runner-up2023 Netherlands
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:52, 5 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:19, 26 March 2023 (UTC)

Career

Dinamo Zagreb

Sosa was born in the Prečko neighbourhood of Zagreb to Herzegovinian Croat parents from Gradac, near Posušje.[5][6] He was a youth player for Dinamo Zagreb. He was given his Prva HNL debut for Dinamo by coach Zoran Mamić on 7 March 2015 in a 2–0 home win over Zagreb, starting and playing the full 90 minutes.[7] On 10 May 2016, he played full 90 minutes in the Croatian Cup Final as Dinamo defeated Slaven Belupo 2–1.[8] He made his European debut on 12 July 2016, when coach Zlatko Kranjčar substituted him for Alexandru Mățel in the 66th minute of the 2–1 victory over Vardar in Skopje in the Champions League second qualifying round.[9] Over the course of four seasons at Dinamo, Sosa made 41 appearances and six assists for his hometown club.[8]

VfB Stuttgart

On 14 May 2018, Sosa signed a five-year-contract with VfB Stuttgart, with effect from 1 July.[10] He made his debut for Stuttgart on 26 August, after being substituted on for Emiliano Insúa in the 84th minute of the 1–0 loss to Mainz.[8][11] However, due to frequent injuries, Sosa's minutes were significantly reduced in his first season with Stuttgart, which saw the club relegated to the 2. Bundesliga.[12] The injuries continued during his second season as well, resulting in Sosa making only 24 appearances for Stuttgart in his first two seasons.[8] On 16 December 2019, he scored his debut goal for Stuttgart in a 1–1 draw with Darmstadt.[13] However, the 2020–21 season was Sosa's breakthrough season, as he found form and consistency in Pellegrino Matarazzo's 3–4–2–1 formation. His performances in the Bundesliga earned him praise and comparisons to David Beckham, whom he named his football role model alongside David Alaba.[8][14] On 27 November 2020, he extended his contract until 2025.[15] He finished the season with nine assists on his account.[16]

At the beginning of the 2021–22 season, on 7 August, Sosa captained Stuttgart for the first time in a DFB-Pokal match against Dynamo Berlin, scoring and assisting in the 6–0 victory.[17] Seven days later, on the first matchday of Bundesliga, Sosa provided Marc-Oliver Kempf and Hamadi Al Ghaddioui with a hat-trick of assists as Stuttgart defeated Greuther Fürth 5–1.[18]

Ajax

On 1 September 2023, Sosa joined Eredivisie club Ajax by signing a contract until 2028.[19]

International career

Sosa represented Croatia at the 2015 UEFA Under-17 Euro and the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. In May 2018, he was named in Zlatko Dalić's preliminary 32-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia,[20] but did not make the final 23.[21] He was named in Nenad Gračan's squad for the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2019 and Igor Bišćan's squad for the UEFA Under-21 Euro 2021.[22][23] However, he was ruled out of the latter squad at the last minute due to a knee injury.[24]

On 7 May 2021, it was reported by Sportske novosti and Sky Sport that Sosa was given German citizenship, on Germany coach Joachim Löw's initiative, through his mother Vesna who was born and raised in Berlin, and was expected to represent Germany at the UEFA Euro 2020.[25][26] A day later, on 8 May, Sosa himself confirmed the information to 24sata.[27] However, on 11 May, Oliver Bierhoff, the technical director of the German Football Association, announced that Sosa is ineligible to play for Germany according to the FIFA rules.[28][29] Two days later, on 13 May, Sosa issued an official apology to the Croatian public, Croatia national team fans and the Croatian Football Federation via the Federation's website.[30]

Sosa earned his first call-up to the national team on 16 August 2021, ahead of the September World Cup qualifiers against Russia, Slovakia and Slovenia.[31] He made his debut on 1 September in a goalless draw against Russia, being named in the starting lineup.[32] On 14 November, in the crucial qualifier against the same opponent, Sosa caused Fyodor Kudryashov's own goal, leading to Croatia's 1–0 victory and qualification for the World Cup.[33] On 22 September 2022, he scored his debut goal for the national team in a 2–1 Nations League victory over Denmark.[34]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 5 June 2023[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dinamo Zagreb 2014–15 Prva HNL 100000—10
2015–16 201000—30
2016–17 80303[lower-alpha 1]0—140
2017–18 2102000—230
Total 3206030—410
Dinamo Zagreb II 2015–16 Druga HNL 60———60
2016–17 50———50
Total 110———110
VfB Stuttgart 2018–19 Bundesliga 12000—00120
2019–20 2. Bundesliga 12110——131
2020–21 Bundesliga 26020——280
2021–22 28121——302
2022–23 25230—2[lower-alpha 2]0302
Total 103481—201135
Career total 146414130201655
  1. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. Appearances in Bundesliga relegation play-offs

International
As of match played 25 March 2023[36]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Croatia 202150
202281
202310
Total141
Scores and results list Croatia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sosa goal.[36]
List of international goals scored by Borna Sosa
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 22 September 2022Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia7 Denmark1–02–12022–23 UEFA Nations League A

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb

Croatia

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Croatia (CRO)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 8. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. UEFA.com. "Borna Sosa | Croatia | UEFA Nations League". UEFA.com. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  3. "bòriti se". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 12 December 2020. Bȏrna
  4. "Sòfija1". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 12 December 2020. Sósa
  5. Bevanda, Antonio (9 March 2015). "Prezime dolazi iz Argentine, a Bornini korijeni iz Hercegovine". 24sata (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  6. "Borna Sosa - Dinamov wunderkind podrijetlom iz Posušja". Posusje.net (in Croatian). 9 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  7. "Dinamo Zagreb vs. NK Zagreb – 7 March 2015 – Soccerway". soccerway.com. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  8. "Borna Sosa: Who is VfB Stuttgart's 'left-footed' David Beckham aiming for Germany honours?". Bundesliga. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  9. Junaci, Robert (15 July 2016). "Borna Sosa: Bilo je treme kad sam ulazio". Večernji list (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  10. "New signings for the coming season". VfB Stuttgart. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  11. Ćubel, Jelena (26 August 2018). "Sosa debitirao za Stuttgart, Barišić i Santini asistirali, Ohandza strijelac". Goal.com (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  12. Olivari, Davorin (28 July 2019). "BIO JE U NEMILOSTI TRENERA, PRIČALO SE I O ODLASKU, A SADA JE POSTAO DIO UDARNE MOMČADI Bivši dinamovac: 'Nadam se da bih mogao postati tajno oružje'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  13. M. J. (17 December 2019). "Pogledajte prvijenac Borne Sose kojim je donio bod Stuttgartu". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  14. Redžić, Dea (8 May 2021). "Sosa ekskluzivno za Index ispričao svoju priču". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  15. Hina (27 November 2020). "Borna Sosa produžio ugovor sa Stuttgartom do 2025". Večernji list (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  16. Vice, Peter (8 May 2021). "Stuttgart's Sosa receives German citizenship in time for the Euros". Bulinews. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  17. Kižlin, Slaven (7 August 2021). "Borna Sosa na početku sezone dobio kapetansku traku i zabio gol, Joško Gvardiol ostao na klupi". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  18. "Borna Sosa je u uvjerljivoj pobjedi Stuttgarta nad Greuther Fürthom upisao čak tri asistencije". Telesport (in Croatian). 14 August 2021. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  19. "Ajax contracteert Borna Sosa" (in Dutch). Ajax. 1 September 2023.
  20. Crawford, Stephen (4 June 2018). "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists". Goal.
  21. "Head coach Dalić presents 24-man Croatia squad". hns-cff.hr. Croatian Football Federation. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  22. Škrlec, Silvijo (11 December 2020). "[FOTO] Mladi hrvatski reprezentativac, koji sjajno igra u Bundesligi, najavio je velike stvari na Euru te odgovorio na pitanje: Jesam li ga udario namjerno..." Tportal.hr (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  23. "Bišćan komentirao svoj popis za Euro: Imam senzaciju i jako bolni izostanak". Index.hr (in Croatian). 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  24. Tironi, Hrvoje; Barišić, Zdravko (22 March 2021). "Težak udarac za Bišćana: Mini 'vatreni' otputovali na Euro, Sosa je otpao zbog ozljede!". 24sata (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  25. Ničota, Tomo (7 May 2021). "Apsolutna senzacija: Hrvatska ostaje bez Borne Sose, već je dobio državljanstvo, igrat će za Njemačku!?". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  26. Bielefeld, Max (7 May 2021). "DFB News: Borna Sosa neue EM-Option für Joachim Löw". Sky Sport (in German). Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  27. Tironi, Hrvoje (8 May 2021). "Borna Sosa za 24sata: Sve je gotovo, igrat ću za Njemačku!". 24sata (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  28. "Gotovo je, Nijemci definitivno odustali od Sose! Legenda poručila: 'Želimo mu sve najbolje u budućnosti'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  29. "Bierhoff: "Sosi želim sve najbolje u budućnosti, ali ne može igrati za Njemačku"". Gol.hr (in Croatian). 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  30. Sosa, Borna (13 May 2021). ""Snosit ću odgovornost za pogrešnu odluku"". Hrvatski nogometni savez (in Croatian). Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  31. "Zlatko Dalić objavio prvi popis igrača nakon Eura! Na njemu nema Rebića, ali tu su Sosa, Livaja..." Sportske novosti (in Croatian). 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  32. "Sosa u debitantskom nastupu odigrao vrlo dobro pa poručio: "Dat ću sve od sebe za Hrvatsku!"". Gol.hr (in Croatian). 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  33. Karin, Vice (14 November 2021). "Sosin centaršut je pokazao zašto je Hrvatska morala otići u Katar". Index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  34. "VIDEO Sosa nakon prvijenca i velike pobjede: "Ovo je stadion gdje sam odrastao, a nakon pogotka odmah sam se sjetio Kroosa"". Gol.hr (in Croatian). 22 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  35. "B. Sosa". Soccerway.
  36. "Borna Sosa, international footballer". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  37. Smyth, Rob (17 December 2022). "Croatia 2-1 Morocco: World Cup 2022 third-place playoff – as it happened". the Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  38. "Team of the Tournament". uefa.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
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