Ivan Franjic

Ivan Frankie Franjic (born 10 September 1987) is an Australian soccer player who plays for Melbourne Knights in the NPL Victoria.[3]

For the footballer born in 1997, see Ivan Franjić (footballer, born 1997).

Ivan Franjic
Franjic playing for Torpedo Moscow in 2014
Personal information
Full name Ivan Frankie Franjic[1]
Date of birth (1987-09-10) 10 September 1987
Place of birth Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Right back
Team information
Current team
 Melbourne Knights
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 St Albans Saints 39 (5)
2007–2008 Melbourne Knights 50 (9)
2009 Oakleigh Cannons 17 (2)
2009–2014 Brisbane Roar 115 (11)
2014–2015 Torpedo Moscow 4 (0)
2015–2017 Melbourne City 39 (1)
2017 Daegu FC 2 (0)
2017–2018 Brisbane Roar 16 (2)
2018–2020 Perth Glory 53 (4)
2020–2021 Macarthur FC 19 (0)
2021 George Cross 1 (0)
2022 Heidelberg United 21 (2)
2023– Melbourne Knights 26 (3)
International career‡
2012– Australia 20 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 September 2015

Club career

Victorian Premier League

Franjic played at Junior level for Meadow Park Eagles, Melbourne Knights, and St Albans Saints. During the 2005 season he made his senior debut for the Saints, playing 39 times for a reward of five goals. He then moved back to his former Youth club Melbourne Knights where he played 50 times, scoring nine goals. After the 2008 season he moved to Oakleigh Cannons where his performances would soon earn him a move to the A-League with Brisbane Roar.[4] Due to the Victorian Premier League being a semi-professional league, Franjic also was employed as a Carpenter.[5]

Brisbane Roar

On 31 August 2009, he was signed as a short-term injury replacement for Andrew Packer.[6] After being signed on loan to Brisbane he was signed on a long term contract. During his first season in the A-League he made a combined 20 appearances for the club.

Franjic scored his first goal for Brisbane in a pre-season friendly against the Newcastle Jets on 2 July 2010. His 85th-minute penalty was the match-winning goal, with the Roar winning 1–0. His first A-League goal for Brisbane came in the Round 10, midweek clash with Central Coast Mariners at Suncorp Stadium with a powerful volley from outside of the box. His goal was made famous for his team's "human kayak" celebration. Brisbane won the game 2–0.[7] Playing as a wingback, Franjic impressed at the Roar.[8]

In Round 17, Franjic scored an equalising goal against the North Queensland Fury in the 85th minute. The game ended 1–1. This goal meant that the Roar continued their undefeated run, extending it to 12 matches. Franjic played at right-back for the Brisbane Roar in the 2011 A-League Grand Final. The Roar were down 2–0 in extra time against the Central Coast Mariners before scoring two goals in under four minutes to send the match to a penalty shoot-out. Franjic scored the first penalty for the Roar who ended up winning 4–2 in the shootout after two saves from Michael Theoklitos.

Franjic was one of six Brisbane Roar players to be selected in the All-Star Team for the 2010–11 season.[9] Goal.com named Franjic as one of five Australian defenders in the A-League who are ready to play in Europe.[10]

In 2012, Franjic played in the 2012 A-League Grand Final against Perth Glory, where he scored an own goal to give Perth an unlikely lead. Brisbane managed to claw back and take the lead courtesy a late penalty by Besart Berisha, becoming the first A-League side to win the championship two years in succession.

Torpedo Moscow

In August 2014, Franjic moved to newly promoted Russian Premier League side FC Torpedo Moscow, signing a three-year contract at the club.[11][12] Franjic made his debut for Torpedo on 25 October 2014, in a 0–0 home draw against FC Kuban Krasnodar, coming on as a half-time substitute for Ivan Novoseltsev.[13][14] During January 2015 Torpedo blocked a loan move for Franjic back to the A-League, with Franjic later being linked with a move to Dinamo Zagreb during the summer of 2015.[15] He quit Torpedo Moscow due to unpaid wages on 23 April 2015.[16]

Melbourne City

Just over a month after leaving Russia, Franjic was unveiled as A-League side Melbourne City's first signing of the summer.[17] Signing a three-year deal, Franjic expressed his pleasure at returning to his home town, and cited the prospect of first team football as a key factor in his decision to join City, particularly in light of his desire to retain his place in the Socceroos starting line-up.[17]

Daegu FC

After two injury-plagued seasons at Melbourne City, Franjic was released from the third year of his contract to allow him to join South Korean club Daegu FC.[18] Franjic announced that he was leaving the club in October 2017, having made just two K League Classic appearances.[19]

Return to Brisbane Roar

Franjic returned to Brisbane Roar on a one-season contract in November 2017.[20] On his second appearance for Brisbane Roar after joining he scored a left foot curled effort after two minutes on the pitch to claim a 2–0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers. At the end of the season, he refused Brisbane Roar's offer to re-sign him.[21]

Perth Glory

On 31 May 2018, following his release from Brisbane Roar, Franjic signed for fellow A-League club, Perth Glory on a two-year deal.[22]

Macarthur

In September 2020, Franjic signed with Macarthur for their inaugural season.[23]

Return to Melbourne Knights

On 3 November 2022, Franjic and his brother Joseph agreed to join Melbourne Knights for the 2023 season.[24]

International career

In December 2012, Franjic made his international debut for the Socceroos under Holger Osieck.[25]

In the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil he started at right back in Australia's 3–1 loss to Chile. At the 35th minute he crossed to Tim Cahill who scored Australia's only goal in the game. Franjic later succumbed to a hamstring injury and was substituted in the second half. He was later ruled out of the remainder of the tournament to his bitter disappointment.

Franjic was named as part of Australia's squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Franjic started in Australia's first match of the tournament against Kuwait, playing the full 90 minutes and providing the assist for Massimo Luongo to score Australia's second goal of the match.

Franjic started for Australia in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup Final. However, after suffering an injury in the middle of the second half, Franjic was substituted off for Matt McKay as Australia won 2–1.

Away from football, Franjic was completing a carpentry apprenticeship before deciding to pursue a professional football career.[26]

Career statistics
As of match played 13 April 2015[27]
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
2009–10 Brisbane Roar A-League 190––190
2010–11 232––232
2011–12 291–60351
2012–13 233–10243
2013–14 215––215
2014–15 Torpedo Moscow Russian Premier League 4010–50
2015–16 Melbourne City FC A-League 0000–00
Total Australia 11511–7012211
Russia 4010–50
Career total 11911107012711

Honours

Club

Brisbane Roar

Melbourne City

Perth Glory

International

Australia

Individual

References
  1. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 14 July 2014. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2020.
  2. "Ivan Franjic". socceroos.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  3. Ivan Franjic stats
  4. Ivan Franjic on fire at Brisbane Roar
  5. "Ivan Franjic says Postecoglou's magic dust will reinvigorate Socceroos". 11 November 2013.
  6. Franjic looks long-term
  7. "Brisbane defeat Mariners". A-League. 20 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
  8. "Roar dealt double injury blow | A-League | Fox Sports". Archived from the original on 5 October 2012.
  9. Brisbane Roar Players Dominate Fans All Stars A League Team Herald Sun
  10. "Who is the next Lucas Neill? - Five Australian defenders ready for Europe | Goal.com".
  11. "Ivan Franjic leaves Brisbane Roar for Torpedo Moscow". The Guardian. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  12. СОСТАВ «ТОРПЕДО» ПОПОЛНИЛИ ХОРВАТ И АВСТРАЛИЕЦ (in Russian). FC Torpedo Moscow. 4 September 2014.
  13. "Mile Jedinak's penalty highs and lows, Ivan Franjic returns, Tommy Oar linked to Ajax". www.heraldsun.com.au. Herald Sun. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  14. "Torpedo Moscow 0–0 Kuban Krasnodar". uk.soccerway.com. Soccerway. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  15. "Socceroo Ivan Franjic linked with move from Torpedo Moscow to Dinamo Zagreb". Fox Sports (Australia). 18 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  16. Франьич следом за Кокошкой разорвал контракт с "Торпедо" (in Russian). Championat.com. 27 April 2015.
  17. "Melbourne City FC Signs Ivan Franjic". melbournecityfc.com.au. 3 June 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  18. "Franjic signs with Korean club Daegu FC". The World Game. SBS. 19 July 2017.
  19. "Ivan Franjic announces he has ended South Korean spell". Daily Football Show. 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  20. Monteverde, Marco (9 November 2017). "Defender Ivan Franjic returns to Brisbane Roar until the end of the season". News.com.au. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  21. Monteverde, Marco (28 May 2018). "A-League: Stefan Mauk signing bolsters Brisbane Roar midfield". The Courier-Mail.
  22. "Glory sign fringe Socceroo Franjic". The World Game. SBS. 31 May 2018.
  23. "Franjic strengthens Bulls defence". Macarthur FC. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  24. "Franjic brothers make Melbourne Knights return". Melbourne Knights FC. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  25. "Ivan Franjic | Socceroos". Archived from the original on 18 May 2014.
  26. "Brisbane Roar defender Ivan Franjic reveals he was on verge of quitting football five years ago". May 2014.
  27. "I. Franjić". uk.soccerway.com/. Soccerway. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
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