Hrvoje Matkovic (soccer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 July 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Vukovar, Croatia | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992-1993 | Hertha BSC Berlin | ||
| 1993-1995 | St Albans Saints | ||
| 1995-1996 | Dinamo Zagreb | ||
| 1996-1998 | Melbourne Knights FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998-2000 | Melbourne Knights FC | 14 | (3) |
| 2000-2001 | Fawkner Blues | 12 | (4) |
| 2001 | Home United | 19 | (8) |
| 2002 | SAFFC | 16 | (4) |
| 2003–2004 | St Albans Saints | 22 | (9) |
| 2005-2010 | Melbourne Knights | 48 | (17) |
| 2010-2011 | Heidelberg United FC | 15 | (3) |
| 2011-2012 | Werribee City FC | 14 | (4) |
| 2012–2014 | St Albans Saints SC | 31 | (1) |
| 2014–2017 | FC Strathmore | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2016-2021 | FC Strathmore | ||
| 2022-Current | Western Suburbs Soccer Club | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Hrvoje Matkovic (born 31 July 1981) in Croatia Vukovar.
Life
[edit]In 1991 he fled with his family war torn country of Croatia to Germany Berlin where he started playing for Hertha BSC and showed early signs of Bright Future to follow. in 1993 the family Migrated to Melbourne Australia and he joined St Albans Saints as a junior. Throughout his junior days he had a stint at Dinamo Zagreb juniors and he represented The State of Victoria in National Championship's held in Brisbane. Soon to follow Hrvoje joined Melbourne Knights Football Club and soon after was offered a senior contract where he served for two years in NSL. in 2001 Hrvoje heads to Singapore and spend two years there winning leagues and cups with two biggest clubs Home United and Singapore Armed Forces Football Club. on his Return he joined The Victorian Premier League and played with St Albans Saints Melbourne Knights and Heidelberg Warriors. Hrvoje Sustained a serious knee injury playing for Heidelberg Warriors which ruled him out for year. upon his return from injury he served Werribee City Bees St Albans Saints and finally retired from playing at Strathmore Split where he continued in a coaching role. As a coach he started with two promotions and showed great signs of being an very good coach.
Singapore
[edit]Hrvoje Signed under Robert Alberts with Home United of the Singaporean S.League mid-2001,.[1][2] Hrvoje made an impressive debut in a 2-1 league win over Balestier Central as a forward left winger assisting Egmar Gonçalves and [3] Indra Sahdan Daud for the first goal on the 14th minute and constantly posing a threat to the opposition on the left side.[4] Hrvoje was the brightest young prospect that hit the S-league helping Home united win the Singapore cup with a record win 8–0 against the league winners Geylang United. He also scored an impressive Free kick against Clementi Khalsa with another Australian Grant Barlow in goals the goal was one of the better ones seen that year.
The Australian has had his bad moments too as he was suspended in a 1–0 victory over Jurong for reciprocating Cobra's defender Imran Mohamed's challenge against him by lashing out with his foot while on the ground.[5]
Following Year declining numerous NSL offers Hrvoje decided to stay in Singapore and sign one-year deal under Fandi Ahmad for Singapore Armed forces, the youngster linked up with Croatian striker Mirko Grabovac and Nenad Baćina to help them win the S-league that year unfortunately Hrvoje sustained an injury towards the end of season that ruled him out and he returned home to Australia.
Coaching
[edit]Hrvoje with the help of his former teammate and Australian Asian Cup Winner Ivan Franjic took over a coaching role as player coach of Strathmore Split in 2016 in State 4 North West Victorian men's competition, the same year he earned a promotion to State 3. Also in 2019 and 2021 he earned double promotion to lead the club to State 1 Division. at the end of 2021 he parted ways with the club due to personal reason.
In 2022 he joined Western Suburbs Soccer Club and in the same year earned another Promotion to State 1 Division.
References
[edit]- ^ Kulscar's going? Singapore Today pg. 33
- ^ Aussies Abroad - The June/july Update Matildas
- ^ Match Number: 096 GEOCITIES.ws
- ^ Top dogs Singapore Today pg. 38
- ^ Red mist in Jurong Singapore Today pg. 30
External links
[edit]- SportsTG Profile
- Hrvoje Matkovic at WorldFootball.net
- Expatriate men's footballers in Singapore
- Men's association football midfielders
- Men's association football forwards
- Men's association football wingers
- Lion City Sailors FC players
- Singapore Premier League players
- Australian men's soccer players
- Australian expatriate men's soccer players
- Living people
- Heidelberg United FC players
- National Soccer League (Australia) players
- 1981 births
- Melbourne Knights FC players
- South Melbourne FC players
- Preston Lions FC players
- St Albans Saints SC players
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in Singapore
- Sportspeople from Vukovar
- Werribee City FC players