Mate Dugandžic
Encyclopedia
Mate Dugandžić is an Australian football (soccer) player, who currently plays for Melbourne Heart FC
in the Hyundai A-League. He was the first player ever to make a direct switch between Melbourne Victory
and Melbourne Heart.
. After an impressing performance throughout the 2007 play-off series, where which Melbourne Knights had finished in third place, Dugandzic's performance had attracted the attention of A-League
clubs, AS Roma, and the Australian Institute of Sport
. The Croatian Football Federation
also expressed their interest. Consequently, Melbourne Knights
had organised a trial with Dinamo Zagreb
for him and colleague Daniel Visevic. Dugandzic himself had stated that he would have rather signed for Dinamo Zagreb instead of AS Roma. Mate then underwent a 3 week trial with the Dinamo Zagreb's first-team in December 2007.
outfit NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. Dugandzic failed to break into the first-team at Dinamo Zagreb and therefore returned to Melbourne Knights in January for the 2009 Victorian Premier League season.
. He was initially signed as a youth team player but impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a senior contract. On 26 September 2009, he made his senior debut for Victory as a substitute, in a 3-2 win against Gold Coast United. On 24 October 2009, he made his starting debut, scoring two goals, in the 18th and 56th minute, in a 3-1 win against Adelaide United. On 7 August 2010, Dugandzic started for the Melbourne Victory against rivals Sydney FC
in a grand final rematch. He was very influential in this game and scored one goal, as well as an assist. On 26 January 2011, he was again impressive, scoring two goals in four minutes for Melbourne Victory in their away match win against North Queensland Fury.
on a free transfer from Hyundai A-League club Melbourne Victory
. Manager Albert Cartier
spoke of his delight in securing the potential signature of the highly rated midfielder to French language newspaper La Libre Belgique
, believing that Dugandzic would help to rectify the clubs problems in midfield this season. However, on 28 February 2011 it was announced that he had opted to stay in Australia and signed for cross town rival Melbourne Heart. Aziz Behich
and Kristian Sarkies
were the only other players to play for both Heart and Victory, but neither were direct transfers, making Dugandzic the first to properly switch between the clubs. Dugandzic said that it was the club philosophy at Heart that secured his decision to move.
Dugandžić rose to the occasion on his debut for the Heart, scoring twice in the opening round clash against Newcastle Jets in Newcastle
, however the Heart lost 3-2. He scored again six weeks later, also against the Jets, and this time Heart were victorious with a 3-0 win.
for a Four Nations Tournament
held in Vietnam
. Mate Dugandzic made his under 23's international debut for Australia against North Korea as a subtitute on 20 September 2010. On 7 April 2011, Mate was named as part of a 31-man Olyroos/Socceroos training camp.
Melbourne Heart FC
Melbourne Heart FC is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2008, the club has competed in the A-League, the highest division of football in Australia, since its inaugural 2010–2011 season. It is the twelfth club to have played in the league...
in the Hyundai A-League. He was the first player ever to make a direct switch between Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
and Melbourne Heart.
Melbourne Knights
Dugandzic debuted for the Melbourne Knights as a 16 year old in 2006. In 2007 he played an important role in helping the club secure second spot in the Victorian Premier LeagueVictorian Premier League
The Victorian Premier League is the highest State level association football competition in Victoria, Australia, and second highest nationally after the A-League...
. After an impressing performance throughout the 2007 play-off series, where which Melbourne Knights had finished in third place, Dugandzic's performance had attracted the attention of A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
clubs, AS Roma, and the Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
. The Croatian Football Federation
Croatian Football Federation
The Croatian Football Federation is the governing body of association football in Croatia. It was originally formed in 1912 and is based in the capital city of Zagreb. The organisation is a member of both FIFA and UEFA, and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game of football in Croatia...
also expressed their interest. Consequently, Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights
Melbourne Knights Football Club is a football club representing Melbourne, Australia in the Victorian Premier League . The club is one of the most successful football clubs in Australia, being a two-time championship and four-time premiership winner in the now defunct National Soccer League...
had organised a trial with Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb
GNK Dinamo Zagreb, commonly referred to as Dinamo Zagreb , or by their nickname Modri are a Croatian football club based in Zagreb. They play their home matches at Stadion Maksimir. They are the most successful club in Croatian football, having won thirteen Croatian championship titles, ten...
for him and colleague Daniel Visevic. Dugandzic himself had stated that he would have rather signed for Dinamo Zagreb instead of AS Roma. Mate then underwent a 3 week trial with the Dinamo Zagreb's first-team in December 2007.
Dinamo Zagreb
Despite the interest of other clubs, Dinamo were favourites to land a deal with Mate because of his Croatian background. After he had completed his trial Dugandzic was offered a five year contract. It had been more in favour of his signing as he was considered a European player due to his Croatian citizenship. Up until July 2008, Mate had been apart of the reserve team of Dinamo before he was loaned out to Croatian Second DivisionCroatian Second League
The Croatian Second Football League is the second highest football league in Croatia. The league was formed in 1991 with the dissolution of the Yugoslav Second League and it is operated by the Croatian Football Federation....
outfit NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. Dugandzic failed to break into the first-team at Dinamo Zagreb and therefore returned to Melbourne Knights in January for the 2009 Victorian Premier League season.
Melbourne Victory
On 10 September 2009 Dugandzic was signed to a two-year contract with Melbourne VictoryMelbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
. He was initially signed as a youth team player but impressed the coaching staff enough to earn a senior contract. On 26 September 2009, he made his senior debut for Victory as a substitute, in a 3-2 win against Gold Coast United. On 24 October 2009, he made his starting debut, scoring two goals, in the 18th and 56th minute, in a 3-1 win against Adelaide United. On 7 August 2010, Dugandzic started for the Melbourne Victory against rivals Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
in a grand final rematch. He was very influential in this game and scored one goal, as well as an assist. On 26 January 2011, he was again impressive, scoring two goals in four minutes for Melbourne Victory in their away match win against North Queensland Fury.
Melbourne Heart
It was reported on 26 February 2011, that Dugandzic had agreed to terms with recently promoted Belgian Jupiler Pro League side K.A.S. EupenK.A.S. Eupen
Königliche Allgemeine Sportvereinigung Eupen is a Belgian association football club based in the city of Eupen in the German-speaking Community of Belgium, in the province of Liège. They are a Belgian German-speaking club. They first reached the Belgian Pro League in the 2010–11 season. Eupen...
on a free transfer from Hyundai A-League club Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League....
. Manager Albert Cartier
Albert Cartier
Albert Cartier, born November 22, 1960, in Vagney, Vosges, is a former football player and manager.-Coaching career:He was fired from FC Brussels on January 2008 for bad results and did not reach a new agreement with RAEC Mons. On 12 January 2010 the French coach has left Panthrakikos, a...
spoke of his delight in securing the potential signature of the highly rated midfielder to French language newspaper La Libre Belgique
La Libre Belgique
La Libre Belgique is a Belgian newspaper in French. In Belgium, it can be roughly seen as an equivalent of Flemish De Standaard. The paper is widely perceived as pro-catholic...
, believing that Dugandzic would help to rectify the clubs problems in midfield this season. However, on 28 February 2011 it was announced that he had opted to stay in Australia and signed for cross town rival Melbourne Heart. Aziz Behich
Aziz Behich
Aziz Behich is an Australian football player who currently plays for Melbourne Heart in the A-League and the Australia Under-23 national team. He was the first player to play for both Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart having being transferred in 2010.-Green Gully:Behich played in the junior...
and Kristian Sarkies
Kristian Sarkies
Kristian Sarkies is an Australian football player who currently plays for Melbourne Heart...
were the only other players to play for both Heart and Victory, but neither were direct transfers, making Dugandzic the first to properly switch between the clubs. Dugandzic said that it was the club philosophy at Heart that secured his decision to move.
Dugandžić rose to the occasion on his debut for the Heart, scoring twice in the opening round clash against Newcastle Jets in Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, however the Heart lost 3-2. He scored again six weeks later, also against the Jets, and this time Heart were victorious with a 3-0 win.
International career
In September 2010 Dugandžić was called up to the Australian under-23 side by coach Aurelio VidmarAurelio Vidmar
Aurelio Vidmar is an Australian football player and former captain of the Australian national team. He is currently not tied to any A-league club...
for a Four Nations Tournament
Four Nations Tournament
The Four Nations Tournament invitational women's football tournament is hosted by China every year since 2002.-History:*1998: United States 7, Norway 6, China 4, Sweden 0*1999-2001: NOT HELD*2002: Norway 6, Germany 4, United States 4, China 3...
held in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Mate Dugandzic made his under 23's international debut for Australia against North Korea as a subtitute on 20 September 2010. On 7 April 2011, Mate was named as part of a 31-man Olyroos/Socceroos training camp.