Swedish footballer
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.
Club career
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]
International career
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]
Personal life
Matovac was born in Sweden to Croatian parents.[8]
Career statistics
International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[5]
National team
|
Year
|
Apps
|
Goals
|
Sweden
|
1997
|
3
|
1
|
1998
|
1
|
0
|
1999
|
0
|
0
|
2000
|
0
|
0
|
2001
|
5
|
0
|
Total
|
9
|
1
|
- Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Matovac goal.
Honours
Aalborg BK
Sweden
References