Ante Juric (Croatian: Ante Jurić; born 11 November 1973) is an Australian football manager and former professional player. He was recently the Matildas assistant coach (201-15), the Australian under-17s and 19s women's national coach (2014–16) and was the Assistant national technical director (2013-2016) for Football Australia. He is currently the head coach for Sydney FC in the A-League Women competition.[1] and also Sydney United 58 in the NSW Premier League.[2]

Ante Juric
Personal information
Full name Ante Juric
Date of birth (1973-11-11) 11 November 1973 (age 51)
Place of birth Canberra, Australia
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Canberra Deakin
1991 AIS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992 Canberra Deakin 13 (0)
1993 Canberra Deakin 13 (0)
1993–1994 Melbourne Knights 1 (0)
1994 Fawkner Blues 12 (2)
1994–1995 Sydney Olympic 21 (0)
1995–1996 Benfica Castelo Branco 11 (0)
1996–1997 Canberra Cosmos 10 (0)
1997 A.P.I.A. Leichhardt 19 (3)
1997–2004 Sydney Olympic 189 (17)
2001 Molde 3 (0)
2003 Johor FC 17 (0)
2004-05 Pahang FA 18 (0)
2005–2007 Sydney United 51 (1)
International career
1992–93 Australia U20 23 (0)
1994-96 Australia U23 6 (0)
2002 Australia 4 (1)
Managerial career
2008–2009 Sydney FC (W-League) (assistant)
2009–2010 Australia U-13/14s
2017– Sydney FC (W-League)
2020–2022 Sydney Olympic
2025– Sydney United 58
Medal record
Representing  Australia
Men's Association football
OFC Nations Cup
Runner-up 2002 New Zealand
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Ante Juric, born in Canberra in 1973, has arguably been one of Australia's most cultured defenders produced in Australia. He played professionally for 13 years and has represented Australia as a Socceroo, Olyroo and Young Socceroo where the team finished fourth in the World Youth Cup of 1993. However Juric, with all his natural talent surprisingly did not play a huge part for the national team and indeed represented his country late in his career. In fact, it was after he produced a heroic performance in the 2002 National Soccer League Grand Final win over Perth Glory, playing with a dislocated elbow that he finally received his senior cap that same year. In an era of Australian football where talent was overlooked for brawn and fitness, Juric was unlucky to miss the recent Dutch and technical influence in the game which would no doubt have highlighted his talents on the world stage.

Juric learnt his trade at one of Australia's great junior nursery's Canberra Croatia/Deakin/FC. The club has produced the likes of Ned Zelic, Josip Simunic and George Kulscar. From here he went on to represent Australia at the World Youth Cup in 1993, culminating in a 4th-place finish, losing to eventual champions Brazil.

Juric went on to have a successful National Soccer League career playing for the Melbourne Knights, Sydney Olympic/Sharks and the Canberra Cosmos, playing over 200 games and scoring over 20 goals and winning premierships and championships.

Juric in his twilight years has played in the NSW Premier League winning a title with Sydney United in the NSWPL.

In 2009 Juric was inducted into the ACT Sports Hall of Fame for his Football exploits and additionally in the same year he was inducted into the Capital Football Hall of Fame.

Managerial career

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Juric is currently embarking on a coaching career, currently coaching Sydney olympic in the NSWNPL and Sydney FC Women's in the W-League.

Juric was a former Women's U19 and Women's U17 national Australian coach and also the NSWIS Football men's coach.[3]

In June 2017, Juric was appointed head coach of Sydney FC's women's team.[4]

In 2020, Juric was appointed head coach of Sydney Olympic FC.[5]

Career statistics

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International

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Source:[6]
Australia national team
Year Apps Goals
2002 4 1
Total 4 1

Honours

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Australia

References

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  1. ^ "Sydney FC announce new Westfield W-League Coach". footballaustralia.com.au. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  2. ^ United 58, Sydney. "Welcome Ante Juric". Sydney United 58 Official Instagram. Retrieved 18 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Football". About the School. Trinity Grammar School. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Ante Juric returns to Sydney FC as head coach". The Women's Game. 7 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Sydney Olympic FC appoint new head coach Ante Juric ahead of season reboot". Greek Herald. 8 July 2020. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  6. ^ Ante Juric at National-Football-Teams.com
  7. ^ "Oceania Nations Cup 2002". Retrieved 14 October 2024.
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