Frank Jurić

Football player infobox
playername = Frank Jurić
fullname = Frank Jurić


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1973|10|28
cityofbirth = Melbourne
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|m=1.96
currentclub = Perth Glory
position = Goalkeeper
clubnumber = 20
youthyears =
1990–1991
youthclubs = Melbourne Knights
AIS
years = 1992–1996
1996–1997
1997–1999
1999–2004
2004–2008
2008–"present"
clubs = Melbourne Knights
Collingwood Warriors
Fortuna Düsseldorf
Bayer Leverkusen
Hannover 96
Perth Glory
caps(goals) = 056 0(0)
025 0(0)
036 0(0)
011 0(0)
001 0(0)
003 0(0)
nationalyears = 1993
1996
1995–1996
nationalteam = Australia U-20
Australia U-23
Australia
nationalcaps(goals) =
002 0(0)
pcupdate = February 20 2008
ntupdate = February 20 2008

Frank Jurić (born October 28, 1973 in Melbourne) is an Australian football goalkeeper of Croatian descent. He is currently with A-League club Perth Glory.

Club career

Jurić began his professional career in the former Australian national league with Melbourne Knights, where he won two league titles, before moving to the newly-formed Collingwood Warriors (also based in Melbourne). The club struggled financially though and was unable to go on beyond this solitary season, in which they finished second bottom.

The goalkeeper took this as his cue to move to Europe, although the transfer was a protracted affair, as Collingwood Warriors - no longer technically in existence - still demanded a fee from Fortuna Düsseldorf. Eventually, this was resolved by the German club paying $30,000 and Jurić was free to move for the 1997/98 season.

His first season in Germany was relatively successful as Fortuna Düsseldorf finished 7th in the 2.Bundesliga. However, the following year they suffered relegation to the Regionalliga-West.Fortunately for him, Jurić had been spotted by Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen and he signed for the high-flying club in Summer 1999.

Jurić was used as a backup keeper here, behind the likes of Adam Matysek and Hans-Jörg Butt but still managed 11 Bundesliga appearances as the club enjoyed a series of strong performances both domestically, and notably in the 2002 Champions League, where they reached the final. Jurić himself appeared twice in the UEFA Champions League in 2002/03, against Olympiacos and Manchester United.

In June 2004, he joined fellow Bundesliga side Hannover 96 as second choice keeper behind Robert Enke. His time with the Reds has been blighted by persistent knee problems, limiting to just a single appearance in his first three seasons there, playing in a 2-2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach on May 6, 2006.

In May 2008, it was announced that Juric was to return to his native Australia for the 08/09 A-League season, with Perth Glory. He will be competing for the number one jersey alongside Olyroo Tando Velaphi, while Jason Petkovic is likely to be retained as a backup and advisor to the youth team.

International career

Jurić has made two full appearances for the Australian national team, making his debut on November 10, 1995 in a goalless friendly with New Zealand, and also appearing on February 10, 1996 in a 1-4 friendly defeat to Japan.

He also competed in the 1996 Olympics in the football competition and was an unused squad member in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup, where they achieved 3rd place. However, the likes of Mark Schwarzer, Zeljko Kalac and Mark Bosnich had severely limited his hopes of international football.

A-League career statistics

("Correct as of 31 August 2008")

Honours

With Australia:
* OFC Nations Cup: 1996

External links

* [http://www.perthglory.com.au/default.aspx?s=pgfc_playerprofile_item&pid=1646 Perth Glory profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/J/JU.html Oz Football profile]