Jozo Izaija Matovac (born 22 May 1970) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as defender. He represented BK Häcken, Örgryte IS, Aalborg BK, and Helsingborgs IF during a career that spanned between 1992 and 2002. A full international between 1997 and 2001, he won nine caps for the Sweden national team.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jozo Izaija Matovac | ||
Date of birth | (1970-05-22) 22 May 1970 (age 52) | ||
Place of birth | Sweden | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Youth career | |||
Gunnilse IS | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1992–1994 | BK Häcken | ||
1995–1998 | Örgryte IS | ||
1998–2000 | Aalborg BK | ||
2000–2002 | Helsingborgs IF | ||
National team | |||
1991 | Sweden U21 | 1 | (0) |
1996–1997 | Sweden B | 2 | (0) |
1997–2001 | Sweden | 9 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Matovac played youth football for Gunnilse IS before signing with BK Häcken.[1] In 1995 he signed with Örgryte IS where he was considered one of Allsvenskan's best centre backs.[1] He signed with the Danish Superliga club Aalborg BK in 1998, before returning to Swedish football in 2000 as a replacement at Helsingborgs IF for the departed Andreas Jakobsson.[2] In 2000, Matovac helped the team qualify for the 2000–2001 UEFA Champions League in which he participated in all six group stage games.[1][3] In 2002, he retired from professional football following a hip injury.[4]
Matovac made his full international debut for Sweden on 9 February 1997 in a King's Cup game against Romania in which he also scored his first international goal as Sweden won 2–0.[5] He made his competitive international debut for Sweden in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Estonia, playing the full 90 minutes as centre back alongside Patrik Andersson as Sweden won 1–0.[6] He won his ninth and final cap in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Moldova, again playing alongside Patrik Andersson at centre back.[7]
Matovac was born in Sweden to Croatian parents.[8]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Sweden | 1997 | 3 | 1 |
1998 | 1 | 0 | |
1999 | 0 | 0 | |
2000 | 0 | 0 | |
2001 | 5 | 0 | |
Total | 9 | 1 |
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 February 1997 | National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | ![]() |
2–0 | 2–0 | 1997 King's Cup | [9] |
Aalborg BK
Sweden
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