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Romeo Jozak
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

Romeo Jozak (born 11 October 1972) is a Croatian football manager and former player who most recently managed the Kuwait national team.

Early career

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.

Coaching career

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 Poland 13 September 2017 14 April 2018 27 16 3 8 059.26
Kuwait Kuwait 27 July 2018 11 September 2019 5 2 1 2 040.00
Total 32 18 4 10 056.25

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Romeo Jozak dobio posao u Ministarstvu sporta Saudijske Arabije - Nogomet Plus (in Croatian)
  3. ^ "Profile". Interia. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Profile". Interia. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Ekstraklasa. Dean Klafurić nowym trenerem Legii Warszawa Piłka nożna". Sport.pl. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Fox Sports". Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  7. ^ "CROATia's ROMEO JOZAK INVESTS IN BLAST FC SOCCER ACADEMY • SoccerToday". 7 February 2021.
  8. ^ @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.

External links

Legia Warsaw – managers
Kuwait national football team – managers
Categories