Josip Stanisic: Who is Bayer Leverkusen's new loan signing from Bayern Munich?
Fresh from agreeing terms on a season-long loan deal from Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen's latest new arrival Josip Stanisic is ready to impress under coach Xabi Alonso at the BayArena. bundesliga.com has the lowdown on the multi-talented youngster...
Data correct as of 20 August 2023
Josip Stanisic
Age: 23 (born: 2 April 2000)
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (on loan from Bayern Munich)
Position: Centre-back/right-back
Country: Croatia (11 caps)
Key stats
Stanisic learned his craft in the youth teams of 1860 Munich and Fürstenfeldbrück, before moving to Bayern in 2017. Part of Bayern's U17 and 3. Liga-winning teams in 2016/17 and 2019/20 respectively, the 6'1" defender made his senior debut against Union Berlin on 10 April 2021, replacing the suspended Alphonso Davies at left-back. He has also operated on his natural right-hand side, in his preferred centre-half role, and even as a defensive midfielder, whilst producing a goal and an assist across his first 41 competitive appearances for the record champions.
The versatile defender featured 23 times in all competitions for Bayern in the 2022/23 campaign, including eight of the side's 10 UEFA Champions League matches. His increased playing time has also led to senior international honours with Croatia, and Stanisic now has 11 caps to his name. That includes one appearance at the 2023 FIFA World Cup, where Stanisic started - and helped Croatia win - the third-place playoff against Morocco. Stanisic also featured in the 2023 UEFA Nations League final as Croatia fell narrowly short in a penalty loss to Spain.
Plays a bit like: Benjamin Pavard
Something of a defensive all-rounder with a leaning towards the heart of the defence, Stanisic is very much in the Benjamin Pavard mould. Like Bayern's 2018 World Cup winner, he provides his teammates with a useful attacking outlet, as evidenced by his three goals and two assists in 44 outings for the U19s.
Did you know?
Not all that long ago, Stanisic was the subject of an international tug of war between Germany and Croatia. After playing for both countries at youth level, he followed his bloodline, earning his first senior Croatia caps in October 2021.
"My family comes from Slavonski Brod, a city in the east of Croatia, so it's a dream for me to play for Croatia’s senior national team," explained the Munich-born defender.
"The Croatian FA and the coach have been making great efforts with me for several months and showed me how I fit in. I’m really looking forward to the challenge."
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What they're saying
"Josip Stanisic is already very experienced in the Bundesliga and Champions League. He's technically strong, intelligent, can play with both feet and in several defensive positions. With Josip's commitment, the competition in our squad will be intensified. He is a very ambitious player who will continue to improve the quality of the squad." - Bayer sporting director Simon Rolfes praises Stanisic after the player's loan move to the BayArena.
“[Playing for Bayer] is a very attractive perspective. The team is packed with top players and my talks with the club have given me great motivation. I'm really looking forward to playing with the Werkself; for me they were one of the most exciting teams in the Bundesliga last season." - Stanisic shares his enthusiasm for the season ahead at Leverkusen.
"I was generally very satisfied with Stani. He lost the ball in a dangerous situation in the second half. Otherwise, he was very good, did well offensively and defended well. He's a reliable player." - former Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann after handing Stanisic a start for the Bavarian giants on Matchday 1 of 2021/22
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