Toni Tapalović

Toni Tapalović
Personal information
Full name Toni Tapalović
Date of birth (1980-10-10) 10 October 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Gelsenkirchen, West Germany
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Barcelona (assistant coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 Schalke 04 II 46 (0)
2002–2004 VfL Bochum II 19 (0)
2004–2005 Uerdingen 05 26 (0)
2005–2006 Kickers Offenbach 0 (0)
2006–2009 Schalke 04 II 31 (0)
2006–2007 Schalke 04 0 (0)
2009–2010 Mainz 05 II 5 (0)
Total 96 (0)
Managerial career
2011–2023 Bayern Munich (goalkeeping coach)
2024– Barcelona (assistant coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Toni Tapalović (born 10 October 1980) is a German former professional footballer who is currently the assistant coach of La Liga club Barcelona.[1]

Club career

Throughout his career, he played for lower clubs or for the reserve teams. Tapalović began his career in 1986 at Fortuna Gelsenkirchen. In 1990, he moved to the youth squad of Schalke 04. In 1999, he was promoted to the "A" youth and amateur team. He later received a professional contract for two years, lasting until 2001,[2] but withdrew in August 1999 because of a knee injury in the inner meniscus.[3] In 2002, he moved to VfL Bochum, where he was under contract until January 2004.[4] In both teams he played for in the Bundesliga, he was a substitute goalkeeper without Bundesliga match practice. In January 2004, he joined the Uerdingen 05 in the Regionalliga West. He played there until June 2005. During his time at Uerdingen 05, he made 26 appearances for the team.[5]

In December 2005, Tapalović joined the then second division side Kickers Offenbach, but did not play.[6] In 2006, he returned to FC Schalke 04. After the departure of Frank Rost in January 2007, Tapalović was again the substitute goalkeeper for the team. In 2010, he joined the German Bundesliga team Mainz 05's second team.[7] In October 2010, Tapalović retired after a test confirmed a torn ACL and a tear of the medial collateral ligament which would force him to be out for six months.[8][9]

Coaching career

On 1 July 2011, he was appointed as the goalkeeping coach of Bayern Munich.[10] He had a contract with Bayern until 30 June 2021.[11] He later extended his contract until 2023, due to success of working with Manuel Neuer.[12] On 23 January 2023, he was released from his duties at Bayern due to differences about the way of working with other staff members, according to sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić.[13]

Personal life

His brother Filip Tapalović is also a former footballer who played for Croatia national team.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Hansi Flick's staff". FC Barcelona. 13 July 2024.
  2. ^ "The future of two youth players of FC Schalke 04 has also decided. Toni Tapalovic, as goalkeeper derz ..." (in German). FC Schalke 04. 22 April 1999. Archived from the original on 1 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Bad news for up-and-coming talent Toni Tapalovic: The goalkeeper of Schalke's amateur team retired ..." (in German). FC Schalke 04. 10 August 1999. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Toni Tapalovic". VfL Bochum. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  5. ^ "Bochumer Toni Tapalovic joins the KFC" (in German). 28 January 2004. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  6. ^ "OFC verpflichtet Tapalovic" (in German). Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Mainz 05 holt Torhüter Martin Pieckenhagen". Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Mainzer Ersatztorwart fällt sechs Monate aus". 11 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Kreuzbandriss im Testspiel". Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  10. ^ "Toni Tapalovic". Bayern official forum. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  11. ^ "Toni Tapalovic". Bayern Munich. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  12. ^ "Der Mann hinter Manuel Neuer - er sicherte seinen Verbleib beim FC Bayern München". tz.de (in German). 21 May 2020.
  13. ^ "FC Bayern stellt Toni Tapalović frei" (in German). Bayern Munich. 23 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Traum oder Trauma?". stern.de (in German). 6 May 2003.