Mario_Gavranovic

Mario Gavranović

Mario Gavranović

Swiss football player (born 1989)

Mario Gavranović (Croatian pronunciation: [mâːrio ɡaʋrǎːnoʋitɕ];[3][4] born 24 November 1989) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a forward for FC Mendrisio the Switzerland national team.[5]

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...

Club career

Early career

Gavranović began his career with AS Vezia, before he was scouted by Team Ticino U18, the youth academy of FC Lugano.[6] In the 2006–07 season, he played his first professional games in the Swiss Challenge League for FC Lugano. In his second season he scored eight goals in 21 games. In the summer of 2008 he signed for Yverdon-Sport and scored another eight goals in only 20 games. For the 2008–09 season, he moved to Neuchâtel Xamax.[7]

Schalke

After a successful start at Neuchâtel Xamax having scored eight goals in 17 games,[8] Gavranović left his team to sign for Schalke 04 on 1 February 2010.[9] He scored a vital goal for Schalke 04 in the Round of 16 in the Champions League against Valencia, which led his team to a 4–2 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.[10] Gavranović joined fellow Bundesliga side Mainz on a season-long loan deal on 31 August 2011.[11] Mainz reportedly paid €200,000 to secure his services and the loan included a deal for a permanent transfer worth €1.5 million.[12]

FC Zürich

After only making five appearances during his loan spell, Gavranović returned to Schalke at which point he agreed to cancel his contract in May 2012 and moved on a free transfer to FC Zürich in the summer.[13] He made his debut for Zürich on 15 July 2012, and scored his first goal from the penalty spot in the same match, a 1–1 draw with FC Luzern.[14]

Gavranović scored Zürich's winning goal against reigning champions FC Basel on 11 August 2013 in the fifth round of the Swiss Super League.[15] He scored Zürich's first goal as the club twice came from behind to defeat FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy 3-2 in the second round of the Swiss Cup on 15 September.[16] On 24 November, Gavranović netted twice in the second half of Zürich's Super League clash with FC Sion, inspiring his side to a 4–1 victory.[17]

In the Zürich Derby match against Grasshoppers on 1 March 2014, Gavranović scored a goal in either half to give Zürich a 3-1 win.[18] On 21 April 2014, Gavranović scored twice in extra-time to lead Zürich to a 2–0 victory over Basel in the final of the Swiss Cup.[19]

After suffering a knee injury in training at the World Cup, Gavranović was sidelined for the rest of 2014.[20]

Rijeka

On 18 January 2016, Gavranović moved to HNK Rijeka in Croatia. He signed a 2+1⁄2-year contract with the club and joined their pre-season training camp in Dubai.[21] Gavranović scored on his official club début on 12 February 2016, converting a cross by Roman Bezjak in the 25th minute to double Rijeka's lead against Lokomotiva.[22] In two years with the club Gavranović scored 40 goals in 80 appearances.

Dinamo Zagreb

On 5 January 2018, Gavranović joined Dinamo Zagreb as part of player exchange deal involving Domagoj Pavičić and Luka Capan. He signed a three-year contract with the club and selected the number 11 jersey. With a move to the new club and a successful spring season, Gavranović was determined to secure a place in Switzerland's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[23] During his official presentation in Zagreb Gavranović revealed that all of his family members are Dinamo supporters and since the early age he was also encouraged to support the club.[24]

He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Slaven Belupo on 4 March. On 7 March, he scored against his former club Rijeka, but Dinamo would go on to lose the match 4–1. He scored again in a 2–0 win over Rudeš on 17 March[25] and then scored against Istra 1961 in a 4–0 away win on 8 April.[26] Gavranović scored twice in a 2–1 away win over rivals Hajduk Split, which moved Dinamo closer to securing a 19th league title.[27]

He was released from Dinamo at the end of his contract on 30 July 2020. However, he returned to the club just three weeks later due to injury of club's first striker Bruno Petković.[28] On 17 October, he scored his first hat-trick for Dinamo as they defeated Gorica 3–2.[29]

International career

Gavranović represented Switzerland on U-21 level in 14 games and scored three goals. On 26 March 2011, he made senior team debut in the 0–0 draw with Bulgaria in a Euro 2012 qualifier.[30] His first goals arrived in a brace scored in a 4–2 friendly win over Croatia on 15 August 2012.[31]

Gavranović was named in the final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil on 13 May 2014.[32] On 29 June, he sustained a serious knee injury in training, ruling him out for the rest of the World Cup and until early 2015.[33]

Gavranović was named in manager Vladimir Petković's 23-man Swiss squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[34] He played his first ever World Cup match in the second Group E match versus Serbia, entering at the start of the second half and giving an injury time assist which was finished by Xherdan Shaqiri for a 2–1 comeback win.[35]

Gavranović was named in Petković's 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2020.[36] On 28 June 2021, he was substituted for Shaqiri in the 73rd minute of the Round of 16 match against France. He scored Switzerland's third goal, tying the score at 3–3. After extra time and a penalty shoot-out, Switzerland won 5–4 (with Gavranović successfully converting his penalty) and qualified for the quarter-finals.[37] That was the first time in history that Switzerland progressed to the European Championship quarter-finals, and the first time since the 1954 FIFA World Cup that they progressed to quarter-finals of a major tournament.[38]

On 15 September 2022, Gavranović announced his retirement from the Swiss national team,[39] after eleven years and 41 appearances in the senior team. His last appearance was thus on 5 June 2022, in a 0–4 defeat to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League.

Personal life

Gavranović was born in Lugano to Bosnian Croat parents, hailing from Gradačac in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[40] As of 2016, Gavranović is married to Anita, a Bosnian Croat from Derventa.[41][42] In May 2019, Anita gave birth to a baby girl whom they named Leonie.[43]

Career statistics

Club

As of 24 April 2023[44]
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Includes Swiss Cup, DFB-Pokal, Croatian Football Cup, Turkish Cup
  2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  4. Six appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League
  5. Five appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearance in Croatian Football Super Cup
  7. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 5 June 2022[45]
More information National team, Year ...
As of 12 October 2021[46]
Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gavranović goal.
More information No., Date ...

Honours

Schalke 04

Zürich

Rijeka

Dinamo Zagreb

Switzerland U21

Individual

References

  1. [1]
    "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Switzerland" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
  2. [2]
    "Mario Gavranovic" (in German). schalke04.de. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  3. [3]
    "Mȃrio". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  4. [4]
    "gȁvrān". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 16 February 2020. Gavránović
  5. [5]
    "Nikad ne bih mogao slaviti golove protiv Hrvatske, osjećam se Hrvatom koliko i Švicarcem" (in Croatian). jutarnji.hr. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  6. [6]
    "Neuchâtel Xamax". rotweiss24.ch. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010.
  7. [7]
    "Xamax verliert weiteren Stürmer" (in German). NZZ Online. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  8. [8]
    "Kuljic zu Xamax, aber Gavranovic geht ebenfalls" (in German). football.ch. 31 January 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  9. [9]
    "Schweizer U21-Nationalspieler Mario Gavranovic jetzt ein Schalker" (in German). schalke04.de. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  10. [10]
    "Farfán leads Schalke past Valencia". UEFA. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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    "Gavranovic moves to Mainz on loan". FIFA. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  12. [12]
    "Mainz capture Gavranovic". Sky Sports. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  13. [13]
    "Schalke end Gavranovic stay". Sky Sports. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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    "Luzern vs. Zürich 1-1". Soccerway. 15 July 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  15. [15]
    "Basel vs. Zürich 1-2". Soccerway. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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    "FC Zurich Wins Cup Match against FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy 3-2". FCZ. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  17. [17]
    "Zürich vs. Sion 4-1". Soccerway. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  18. [18]
    "Zürich vs. Grasshopper 3-1". Soccerway. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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    "Gavranovic edges Zürich past nine-man Basel". UEFA. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
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    "Swiss Gavranovic going home due to injured knee". Yahoo Sports. 28 June 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  21. [21]
    "Gavranović se pridružio momčadi u Dubaiju" (in Croatian). Radio Rijeka. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  22. [22]
    "Pobjeda za otvaranje sezone lova na naslov prvaka" (in Croatian). HoćuRi.com. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  23. [23]
    "Gavranović: Želim duplu krunu s Dinamom, a onda na Svjetsko prvenstvo" (in Croatian). Sportarena.hr. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  24. [24]
    "GAVRANOVIĆ: JAKO SAM ŽELIO DOĆI U DINAMO". GNK Dinamo Zagreb (in Croatian). 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  25. [25]
    "Dinamo - Rudeš 2:0 - Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga". prvahnl.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  26. [26]
    "Istra 1961 - Dinamo 0:4 - Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga". prvahnl.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  27. [27]
    "Dinamo slavio na Poljudu, približio se naslovu prvaka - Hrvatski Telekom Prva liga". prvahnl.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  28. [28]
    Ničota, Tomo (22 July 2020). "Pozadina nevjerojatnog povratka: Evo koga su zapravo željeli dovesti u Dinamu, dok nisu čuli cijenu!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  29. [29]
    Ničota, Tomo (17 October 2020). "VIDEO: Kako je heroj dana spasio Dinamo, ali i Mamića! Jedan potez trenera Modrih bio je veliki promašaj". Sportske novosti (in Croatian).
  30. [30]
    "Bulgaria and Switzerland draw a blank". UEFA. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  31. [31]
    "Switzerland 4-2 Croatia". UEFA. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  32. [32]
    "Hitzfeld selects predicted Swiss squad". FIFA. 13 May 2014. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  33. [33]
    "World Cup: Switzerland forward Mario Gavranovic ruled out by serious knee injury". Sky Sports. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  34. [34]
    "2018 World Cup: Switzerland name Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri in squad". BBC Sport. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  35. [35]
    Danny Wittenberg (22 June 2018). "Serbia 1-2 Switzerland REPORT: Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri complete comeback to give Swiss hope at World Cup 2018". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  36. [36]
    "Xhaka and Shaqiri head up Swiss Euro squad". beIN SPORTS. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  37. [37]
    "Switzerland beat France on penalties". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  38. [38]
    Olivari, Davorin (30 June 2021). "'Zabio sam najvažniji gol u povijesti Švicarske! Bio je to stvarno dan dinamovaca na Euru...'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  39. [39]
    "Gavranovic macht als Natispieler Schluss". srf.ch (in Swiss High German). 15 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  40. [40]
    Puđa, Stipe (3 June 2012). "Oduvijek sam htio igrati za Hrvatsku, ali oni su oklijevali..." Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  41. [41]
    Volarić, Ivan (30 December 2016). "Igrači "Rijeke" uspješni i na privatnom planu: Gavranović se oženio, Bradarić zaručio". Novi list (in Croatian). Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  42. [42]
    Benčić, Luka (11 March 2017). "MARIO GAVRANOVIĆ: 'Svjetski sam tip, pričam šest jezika, ženu sam upoznao u butiku u Zürichu'". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  43. [43]
    Ivanković, Helena (12 May 2019). "Žena dinamovca Gavranovića rodila curicu: Stigla je Leonie". 24sata (in Croatian). Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  44. [44]
    "M. Gavranović". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  45. [45]
    "Mario Gavranović". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  46. [46]
    "Mario Gavranović - national football team player". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  47. [47]
    "Season review: Switzerland". UEFA. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  48. [48]
    "DINAMO - ISTRA 1961 6:3". HNS-CFF (in Croatian). 19 May 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
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