Vedran Janjetović (Croatian pronunciation: [ʋědran janjěːtoʋitɕ]; born 20 August 1987) is a Croatian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National Premier Leagues NSW club Wollongong Wolves.
 Janjetović playing for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vedran Janjetović | ||
| Date of birth | 20 August 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wollongong Wolves | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002 | Hurstville City Minotaurs | ||
| 2003 | Stanmore Hawks | ||
| 2003–2004 | Sydney Olympic | ||
| 2004 | APIA Leichhardt Tigers | ||
| 2005 | Hurstville City Minotaurs | ||
| 2006 | FC Bossy Liverpool | ||
| 2007 | Hurstville City Minotaurs | ||
| 2007–2008 | Sydney United | ||
| 2008–2009 | Sydney FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007 | NK Bjelovar | 7 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Sydney United | 74 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Brisbane Roar (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2012 | → Melbourne Heart (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2012–2017 | Sydney FC | 100 | (0) |
| 2017–2022 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 63 | (0) |
| 2024– | Wollongong Wolves | 10 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 April 2024 | |||
Club career
edit
Janjetović started his career in the youth ranks at NSWPL club Sydney United before being spotted by Sydney FC and was signed to their Youth League squad alongside fellow young stars Matthew Jurman, Kofi Danning, Rhyan Grant and Anthony Golec. He helped Sydney FC to the inaugural title, making a significant impression on his peers with a number of good performances.[1]
In 2010, he would return to Sydney United being too old to be eligible for a spot in Sydney FC's youth team and was not offered a senior team contract at the club due to an ongoing neurological issue in his right arm which forced him into an extended period on the sidelines.[2] Later that year, Janjetović was loaned out to fellow A-League club Brisbane Roar as injury cover for Griffin McMaster as regular custodian Liam Reddy was out injured,[3] however did not make an appearance for the Roar in his time at the club.
Melbourne Heart
editJanjetović joined Melbourne Heart on a two-game loan stint for their Hawaiian Islands Invitational in February 2012. He played against both American club Colorado Rapids and Korean side Busan IPark.
Sydney FC
editOn 18 June 2012, it was announced that Janjetović had signed a two-year deal with Sydney FC to bolster their goalkeeping ranks.[4] Janjetović trialled for a number of weeks at the club against former Gold Coast United goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson, QPR youth goalkeeper Aaron Lennox and Sutherland goalkeeper Nathan Denham. He eventually won out, impressing Sydney FC's goalkeeping coach Zeljko Kalac and manager Ian Crook. Janjetović was also in talks with the club's new cross-city rivals Western Sydney FC during his trial at Sydney FC but chose to sign with the Sky Blues, stating that his decision came down to the calibre of goalkeeping coach at the club as well as Sydney FC's interest and desire to have him in their squad.[2] He made his Sydney FC debut on 2 December 2012 at Allianz Stadium keeping a clean sheet in Sydney's 0–0 draw with Melbourne Heart.
Western Sydney Wanderers
editOn 20 December 2016, it was announced that Janjetović signed an 18-month deal with Western Sydney Wanderers.[5] He would rejoin his former goalkeeping coach Zeljko Kalac, stating that it played a large role in his switch to his former's cross-city rivals. The deal would be finalised the following year when the transfer window opened in January. In April 2018 he signed an extended contract to keep him at the Wanderers until 2022/23.
Injury and medical retirement
editOn 25 January 2019 the Wanderers faced Brisbane Roar for their Round 16 fixture. Leading 2-1 late in the game Janjetovic suffered an injury when diving to make a save against Adam Taggart. In stoppage time with seconds left in the game the ball was rolling away for a goal kick that would have used enough time for the Wanderers to win the match. Instead Janjetovic stuck a leg out for no apparent reason and miskicked the ball, knocking it out for a corner kick. Brisbane packed the penalty area for the set piece including sending their goalkeeper Jamie Young forward and were rewarded when Taggart got his head to the cross to send a bullet header flying into the goal to make it 2-2. It was widely reported as one of the biggest defensive mistakes in the history of the A-League. After playing the rest of the season on painkillers he eventually required surgery in June for a severe Rotator cuff tear injury. The initial prognosis of a 6 month lay-off became the entire 2019/2020 season and the 2020/21 season due to the recurring and severe injury requiring multiple surgical interventions. His place in goal was taken firstly by Daniel Lopar and then Daniel Margush. Janjetovic was released by the Wanderers at the conclusion of his contract when the 2021–22 A-League season finished with his injury forcing him into retirement as a football player.[6]
Return from injury and retirement
editIn 2024 it was announced that following recovery from his rotator cuff injury, Janjetovic had signed a contract with Wollongong Wolves for the 2024 National Premier Leagues season.[7]
Career statistics
edit- As of 7 September 2015
CS = Clean Sheets
| Club | Season | Division | League1 | Cup | International2 | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | CS | Apps | CS | Apps | CS | Apps | CS | |||
| NK Bjelovar | 2006–07[8] | Druga HNL | 7 | ? | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | ? | |
| Total | 7 | ? | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | ? | |||
| Sydney United | 2009[9] | NSW Premier League | 22 | 6 | — | — | 22 | 6 | ||
| 2010[9] | 17 | 7 | — | — | 17 | 7 | ||||
| 2011[9] | 23 | 6 | — | — | 23 | 6 | ||||
| 2012[9] | 12 | 3 | — | — | 12 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 74 | 22 | — | — | 74 | 22 | ||||
| Brisbane Roar | 2009–10 | A-League | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Melbourne Heart | 2011–12 | A-League | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sydney FC | 2012–13[10] | A-League | 16 | 3 | — | — | 16 | 3 | ||
| 2013–14[10] | 28 | 5 | — | — | 28 | 5 | ||||
| 2014–15[10] | 29 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | 31 | 9 | |||
| 2015–16[11] | 27 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 9 | ||
| Total | 100 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 26 | ||
| Career Total | 181 | 47 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 185 | 48 | ||
1 – includes A-League final series statistics
2 – AFC Champions League statistics are included in season commencing during group stages (i.e. ACL 2014 and A-League season 2013–2014 etc.)
Honours
editReferences
edit- ^ "Young Sydney Shotstopper Vedran Janjetovic Delighted With Form". Goal. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ a b Bossi, Dominic (18 June 2012). "Two-year Sky Blues deal for Janjetovic". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Keeper gets Roar deal". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
- ^ "Vedran wins Keeper Shootout". Sydney FC. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Janjetovic officially signs with Wanderers". FourFourTwo. 20 December 2016. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- ^ "Wanderers confirm the departure of four Isuzu UTE A-League players". July 2022.
- ^ Stavroulakis, Mark. "WOLVES HUNGRY FOR HUGE 2024 SEASON". Football NSW. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Career statistics". Nogometni Magazin.
- ^ a b c d "New South Wales Premier League: Sydney United 58". NSW Premier League.
- ^ a b c "Vedran Janjetovic (Sydney FC)". Ultimate A-League.
- ^ "Vedran Janjetovic (Sydney FC)". Sydney FC. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
External links
edit- Vedran Janjetović at Soccerway