Jozo Simunovic

He done my nut in but I’m genuinely delighted with that, poor * body letting him down.

 

LUCKLESS former Celtic defender Jozo Simunovic has been forced to have another knee operation just a few weeks after playing his first game for 639 days with his new club in Croatia.

The 27-year-old finally ended his football exile after leaving Celtic in June 2020 by signing for HNK Gorica, who currently sit in mid-table in their league.




Simonovic made his bow for his new club last month and played the entire 90 minutes while making a winning debut in a 1-0 win against NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac.

It was his first full game since he featured for the Hoops in a Europa League defeat to FC Copenhagen at home in February 2020.

He had two serious knee injuries while at Celtic and underwent a series of operations. He saw several potential moves to Spain and Italy collapse because of doubts about his knee.

Since then he's played three games for Gorica, but has suffered another knee injury setback and will go under the knife next week for what his club has described as a 'minor knee operation that is expected to keep him out for a month.'



Simunovic made 130 appearances in total for Celtic over five years and won 11 trophies in Glasgow.

 

Honestly I feel bad for this guy but he needs to retire or he risks being in pain for the rest of his life. He is still young and should be able to invest in a new career.

 

A trophy every 11.81 appearances. Bring him home, we've got a coaching position available

 

Still canny believe this happened man.

 

Lobed the big man. Great defender, * knees though for playing on the plastic pitches in this league. Shame we will have Kilmarnock back next year for that.


But regardless of how unfortunately missed he was, two big * moments will make him go down in cult history here, that tackle against miller and that header in the game after McNeil's passing.
Almost poetic that goal was.



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I miss listing man.
His celebration

 

Think Deila ruined him really with playing through injuries. Coulda been a star.

 

Could have used him today. Still, was good to see him back for the game.

 

Aye with their plastic pitch and embarrassingly empty stands they would be no loss to the Scottish Premiership.

 

Has he ever smiled?

 

Big Jozo still loving his tackle on Miller judging by his Instagram story the day.

 

I’m still loving it too.

 

Jozo Simunovic believes the advice of Brendan Rodgers can help him to become a boss. And the former Parkhead star is thrilled to see his old gaffer’s guidance also cement Celtic as a competitive Champions League team

Simunovic was in the Maksimir Stadium to see his two former clubs go head-to-head at Europe’s top level. The ex-defender also spent time in the morning of the game with Rodgers’ assistant John Kennedy at Celtic’s Zagreb base as he caught up with old friends. Simunovic hopes to become a gaffer is his own right down the line as he currently works as assistant at Dinamo’s Under-19s. He said: “One day, yes. I had good coaches, so I could learn a lot. That gives me hope!


Rodgers is a regular source of assistance as Simunovic explained: “Yes, always. Every time, we speak together, spending time. He’s been great for me personally and for the team. John is a top, top guy, so every time when I come over, or in this case he came here, we have a chat and it is good to spend time with the guys


Simunovic was a Celtic Invincible under Rodgers, but says it’s impossible to judge if this term’s unit will repeat the feat. He said: “It is hard. It is many years gone already (since then), so some things have changed as well. The structure of the play has also changed, so it hard to compare.


Simunovic does, though, believe Celtic are genuine Champions League material these days as he added: “Yes. With this new format, it works really well. So many teams and so many games. Hopefully, that’s definitely what Celtic likes. But also, we can say format and blah, blah, but the team is also in good shape, it is looking good, playing good, so that’s the most important part of all.


I believe in (getting past) these group stages as well. They are doing good in the league as well. Of course, it is always hard to play away games, it is not the same (as Celtic Park) in terms of atmosphere with the fans and everything. But, at the end of the day, a point each was well deserved.”


Simunovic is confident Celtic will secure the first silverware of the season by sinking Rangers in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup Final. He said: “I think they will win. If they play the way they did in Zagreb and in the last couple of months.


Look, Celtic sets the standard, so they just need to keep going. It reminds me of the Celtic when I used to be there and we used to play, especially that season when we were unbeaten, so I am looking forward to it. Of course, against Rangers is always a tough game, but I really do trust these guys and this group

Simunovic’s former team-mate Callum McGregor will skipper the side at Hampden having made a 100th Euro appearance against Dinamo. The former stopper was at Celtic for the captain’s debut and said: “I laughed with him because 10 years ago, I have seen the photo, he looked really, really young. He had just started with the top-team football. Callum is the engine of this team. He is unbelievable. His attitude and everything is top level, so I am really glad for him

 

The news is a change on the bench of the second junior team.
As Germanijak announced at the time, Kristijan Polovanec will become the new coach of Dinamo's juniors. He will replace Ivica Banović on the bench , who accepted an offer from German club Freiburg and returned to the club he had previously been with.

Polovanec is respected in the profession, especially in working with young players, but this will be the biggest challenge of his career. He will make his debut against Barcelona in the Youth League. A good part of the junior team is in the first team preparations.

The news, when we talk about Dinamo's school, is that the junior 2 team will be taken over by another former Dinamo player, Jozo Šimunović . He will replace Marijan Čaić , who will remain working in the Dinamo Academy. (TN)