Romeo_Jozak
Romeo Jozak (born 11 October 1972) is a Croatian football manager and former player who most recently managed the Kuwait national team.
 |
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1972-10-11) 11 October 1972 (age 51) | ||
| Place of birth | Rijeka, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 0000–1994 | Orijent | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Dinamo Zagreb (assistant) | ||
| 2003–2004 | Libya (assistant) | ||
| 2004–2005 | Dinamo Zagreb (assistant) | ||
| 2005–2006 | Libya (assistant) | ||
| 2006–2008 | Osijek (assistant) | ||
| 2008–2013 | Dinamo Zagreb Academy | ||
| 2013–2017 | Croatia (technical director) | ||
| 2017 | Dinamo Zagreb (sporting director) | ||
| 2017–2018 | Legia Warsaw | ||
| 2018–2019 | Kuwait U23 | ||
| 2018–2019 | Kuwait | ||
| 2021– | Saudi Arabia (technical director) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jozak grew up in a family of mathematics and physics teachers.[citation needed] He ended his football career early due to a serious injury at the age of twenty-two while playing at the club NK Orijent Rijeka.[1] During the Croatian War of Independence, he stayed in Zagreb. Soon after he was awarded a scholarship to the United States, where he also worked as an instructor at youth summer camps. After returning, he started training with Ilija Lončarević[citation needed], assisting him as an assistant at Dinamo Zagreb (2001–2002[citation needed] and 2004–2005[citation needed]), the Libya team (2003–2004[citation needed] and 2005–2006[citation needed]) and NK Osijek (2006–2008).[2] At the same time, he completed his doctorate education at the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Zagreb.
Early steps
He parted ways with the Croatian Football Federation in March 2017. Then returning to Dinamo Zagreb as a sports director[citation needed], but he only staying there for four months[citation needed]. After the dismissal of Dinamo Zagreb's head coach, Ivaylo Petev, Jozak hinted at taking over for the vacant head coach position[citation needed]. The board replaced Petev with Mario Cvitanović and Jozak soon after decided to resign[citation needed].
Legia Warsaw
On 13 September 2017, Jozak was hired as the manager of Polish club Legia Warsaw.[3] On 14 April 2018, after his team lost 0–1 to Zagłębie Lubin, he was fired and replaced by his assistant Dean Klafurić.[4][5]
Kuwait national team
On 27 July 2018, Romeo Jozak was hired as Kuwait national team head coach. On 12 September 2019, Romeo Jozak was fired following a home defeat to Australia.[6]
Columbus Blast FC Soccer Academy
Romeo Jozak made a significant investment and became the majority owner of Columbus’ Blast FC Soccer Academy in Columbus, Ohio, which is the longest running youth soccer program in Central Ohio.[7]
Saudi Arabia
On 22 July 2021, Romeo Jozak was hired as Saudi Arabia Technical Director.[8]
Managerial statistics
As of 30 June 2021
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Legia Warsaw |  |
13 September 2017 | 14 April 2018 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 8 | 059.26 |
| Kuwait |  |
27 July 2018 | 11 September 2019 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 040.00 |
| Total | 32 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 056.25 | |||
- Lesički, Alen (10 September 2015). "DOKTOR NOGOMETA I PONAJBOLJI STUDENT Tko je čovjek koji bira novog izbornika hrvatske reprezentacije?" [The doctor of football and one of the best students: Who is the person who is choosing the new coach of the national team?]. jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). Jutarnji Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- Romeo Jozak dobio posao u Ministarstvu sporta Saudijske Arabije - Nogomet Plus (in Croatian)
- "Ekstraklasa. Dean Klafurić nowym trenerem Legii Warszawa Piłka nożna". Sport.pl. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- "Fox Sports". Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- @BlastFC86 (22 July 2021). "👏 We are delighted to announce that the Blast FC owner, Romeo Jozak, has signed a contract for the position of Foot…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Romeo Jozak Archived 14 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine Official website (in English)