Marko Šimić (footballer, born 1988)

Marko Šimić
Šimić with Persija Jakarta in 2018
Personal information
Full name Marko Šimić
Date of birth (1988-01-23) 23 January 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth Rijeka, Croatia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Persija Jakarta
Number 9
Youth career
2001–2003 Rijeka
2003–2007 Dinamo Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 Daugava Daugavpils 20 (4)
2008–2009 Khimki 3 (0)
2009–2010 Lokomotiva Zagreb 8 (1)
2010–2011 Vasas 16 (3)
2011–2012 Ferencváros 8 (1)
2012 Bełchatów 5 (0)
2012–2013 Mura 05 7 (1)
2013–2014 Inter Zaprešić 3 (0)
2015 Pordenone 1 (0)
2015 Becamex Binh Duong 6 (4)
2016 Dong Thap 9 (4)
2016 Long An 10 (3)
2017 Negeri Sembilan 13 (7)
2017 Melaka United 9 (9)
2018–2022 Persija Jakarta 91 (61)
2022–2023 Radnički Kragujevac 6 (1)
2023– Persija Jakarta 41 (14)
International career
2006–2007 Croatia U19 2 (0)
2009 Croatia U20 4 (0)
2009–2010 Croatia U21 7 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 December 2024

Marko Šimić (born 23 January 1988) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga 1 club Persija Jakarta.

Club career

Šimić was born in Rijeka, Croatia.

Negeri Sembilan

On 6 January 2017, Šimić joined Malaysia Premier League side Negeri Sembilan.[3]

Melaka United

On 10 June 2017, Šimić signed with Melaka United after being dropped by Negeri Sembilan.[4] He made his debut for Melaka United in a 1–1 draw against PKNS on 1 July 2017.

Persija Jakarta

First tenure

On 27 December 2017, Šimić signed with Persija Jakarta after not reaching agreement with Kelantan FA.[5] Šimić made his Persija debut in a pre-season friendly against Persika Karawang on 30 December.[6]

On 8 January 2018, Šimić made his first goal for the club in a pre-season tournament 2018 Suramadu Super Cup against Madura United, as his team drew 2–2.[7]

In 2018 Indonesia President's Cup, Šimić scored a brace in Persija's 3–0 final win over Bali United. He also won the best player title and became a top scorer with 11 goals at that tournament.[8] On 28 February 2018, Šimić made his international goal for Persija with scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 AFC Cup win over Tampines Rovers,[9] and a month later, he made his league debut in the 2018 Liga 1 for Persija on 23 March in a draw 0–0 against Bhayangkara.[10] On 31 March, Šimić scored his first league goal for Persija in the first half 1–1 draw over Arema, and in the second half, he also scored for the team, he scored in the 52nd minute, in which Šimić scored 2 goals and Persija won over Arema 3–1 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.[11][12]

On 10 April 2018, he scored a quat-trick as Persija claimed a 4–0 win over Johor Darul Ta’zim in the AFC Cup.[13] Šimić also became the first player to scored a hat-trick twice and a quat-trick in 2018 AFC Cup.[14] In 2018, Šimić brought Persija Jakarta to their first Liga 1 title and their eleventh Indonesian league title overall (including those Persija won in the Perserikatan era).

Šimić then won the Golden Boot award after he finished the 2019 season as the top goal-scorer in the Liga 1 with 28 goals.[15]

On 2 October 2021, Šimić scored his goal for Persija against Persiraja Banda Aceh as his team won 1–0, Persija's victory over Persiraja was determined by a Šimić goal through a penalty kick in the 70th minute, Simic's goal is also his 50th record during strengthening with Persija Jakarta.[16]

On 26 April 2022, Šimić terminates contract unilaterally with Persija after his salary was cut when 2020 Liga 1 was stopped.[17]

Second tenure

After a brief time playing with FK Radnički 1923 Keagujevac, Šimić returned to Persija right before the start of the 2023-2024 Liga 1 season.[18] He signed a two-year deal with Persija.[19] On his second start in a match against Bhayangkara which ended 4–1, Šimić scored his 99th and 100th goal for Persija in all competitions.[20]

International career

Šimić has represented Croatia internationally at U19, U20 and U21 level.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 December 2024[21][22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental[c] Others Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Daugava 2008 Virslīga 20 4 – – – – 20 4
Khimki 2009 Russian Premier League 3 0 – – – – 3 0
Lokomotiva 2010–11 1. HNL 8 1 – – – – 8 1
Vasas 2011–12 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 16 3 1 0 3 2 – – 20 5
Ferencváros 2011–12 Nemzeti Bajnokság I 8 1 – – – – 8 1
Bełchatów 2012–13 Ekstraklasa 5 0 – – – – 5 0
Mura 05 2012–13 PrvaLiga 7 1 – – – – 7 1
Inter Zaprešić 2013–14 2. HNL 3 0 1 0 – – – 4 0
Pordenone 2014–15 Serie C 1 0 – – – – 1 0
Becamex Binh Duong 2015 V.League 1 6 4 – – – – 6 4
Dong Thap 2016 V.League 1 9 4 – – – – 9 4
Loang An 2016 V.League 1 10 3 – – – – 10 3
Negeri Sembilan 2017 Liga Premier 13 7 6 2 – – – 19 9
Melaka United 2017 Liga Super 9 9 – 3 3 – – 12 12
Persija Jakarta 2018 Liga 1 30 18 0 0 – 7 9 6[d] 11 43 38
2019 Liga 1 32 28 6 5 – 2 1 – 40 34
2020 Liga 1 2 1 0 0 – – 5[e] 6 7 7
2021 Liga 1 27 14 0 0 – – 7[f] 2 34 16
Total 91 61 6 5 – 9 10 18 19 124 95
Radnički Kragujevac 2022–23 Serbian SuperLiga 6 1 0 0 – – – 6 1
Persija Jakarta 2023–24 Liga 1 27 11 0 0 – – 0 0 27 11
2024–25 Liga 1 14 3 0 0 – – 0 0 14 3
Career total 256 113 14 7 6 5 9 10 18 19 303 164
  1. ^ Includes Magyar Kupa, Croatian Football Cup, Malaysia FA Cup and Piala Indonesia.
  2. ^ Includes Ligakupa and Malaysia Cup.
  3. ^ Includes AFC Cup and AFC Champions League.
  4. ^ Appearances in Indonesia President's Cup.
  5. ^ Appearances in East Java Governor Cup.
  6. ^ Appearances in Menpora Cup.

Honours

Daugava Daugavpils

Becamex Bình Dương

Persija Jakarta

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Marko Šimić". persija.id. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Marko Šimić: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  3. ^ Vidic, Simic, – Negeri Sembilan sign 4 new foreigners ahead of 2017 MPL; stadium.my, 6 January 2017
  4. ^ MU ikat Simic (in Indonesian). Berita Harian. 10 June 2017
  5. ^ "Marko Simic Ungkap Alasan Pilih Persija Jakarta | Goal.com" (in Indonesian).
  6. ^ "Debut Marko Simic Puaskan Pelatih Persija" (in Indonesian). jawapos.com. 30 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Gol Debut Simic Selamatkan Persija dari Kekalahan vs Madura United" (in Indonesian). jawapos.com. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Marko Simic Sabet Gelar Top Skor dan Pemain Terbaik Piala Presiden 2018" (in Indonesian). Bolalob. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  9. ^ "AFC Cup 2018: Goal's Player of the Week - Persija Jakarta's Marko Simic". Goal. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  10. ^ "BHAYANGKARA VS. PERSIJA 0 - 0" (in Indonesian). Soccerway.com. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Persija Vs Arema FC - Marko Simic Cetak Gol Debut di Liga 1, tetapi Masih Imbang" (in Indonesian). bolasport.com. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Persija Hajar Arema FC 3-1, Marko Simic Cetak Dua Gol" (in Indonesian). cnnindonesia.com. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Simic on fire as Persija Jakarta thrash Johor Darul Ta'zim". FOX Sports Asia. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Marko Simic Jadi Pemain Pertama Dua Kali Hattrick di Piala AFC 2018" (in Indonesian). Tribun News. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  15. ^ Bola.com (22 December 2019). "Ungkapan Marko Simic Setelah Menggondol Sepatu Emas Shopee Liga 1 2019". bola.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  16. ^ "4 Fakta Menarik Usai Persija Menang Tipis atas Persiraja di BRI Liga 1: Gol Spesial Marko Simic" (in Indonesian). bola.com. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  17. ^ Robbani, Muhammad. "Persija Jawab Isu Marko Simic Tidak Digaji Setahun". sepakbola (in Indonesian). Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  18. ^ "WAKTUNYA MARKO SIMIC BALAS BUDI KE PERSIJA". persija.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  19. ^ Bolasport.com. "Dikontrak 2 Musim, Marko Simic Resmi Kembali ke Persija Jakarta - Bolasport.com". www.bolasport.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  20. ^ "KOMENTAR MARKO SIMIC USAI CETAK SEJARAH 100 GOL". persija.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Marko Šimić". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Marko Šimić". Flashscore.com. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Persija Juara Liga 1 2018". detik. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  24. ^ "Tumbangkan Bali United, Persija Juarai Piala Presiden 2018". kompas. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  25. ^ Ridwan, Muhammad (25 April 2021). "Persija Jakarta Juara Piala Menpora 2021". goal.com. Goal. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  26. ^ "Marko Simic Sabet Gelar Top Skor dan Pemain Terbaik Piala Presiden 2018". bolalob.com.
  27. ^ "Daftar Top Skor Akhir Liga 1 2019: Marko Simic Unggul 10 Gol". www.indosport.com.
  28. ^ Baru, PT Liga Indonesia. "Inilah Tim Terbaik Shopee Liga 1 2019". liga-indonesia.id. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "Marko Simic Masih Jadi Top Scorer di Piala Gubernur Jatim 2020". bola.okezone.com.
  30. ^ "Marko Simic telah melesakkan gol kala Persija Jakarta bersua PSM Makassar pada pekan ke-16 BRI Liga 1 2021/2022. Oleh TSG, gol itu dinobatkan sebagai gol terbaik BRI Liga 1 2021/2022 edisi Desember 2021". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 7 January 2022.