Jozo Matovac

Jozo Izaija Matovac (born 22 May 1970) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as defender. He represented BK Häcken, Örgryte IS, Aalborg BK, and Helsingborgs IF during a career that spanned between 1992 and 2002. A full international between 1997 and 2001, he won nine caps for the Sweden national team.

Jozo Izaija Matovac

Personal information
Full name	Jozo Izaija Matovac
Date of birth	(1970-05-22) 22 May 1970 (age 55)
Place of birth	Sweden
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
	Gunnilse IS
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1994	BK Häcken
1995–1998	Örgryte IS
1998–2000	Aalborg BK
2000–2002	Helsingborgs IF
International career
1991	Sweden U21	1	(0)
1996–1997	Sweden B	2	(0)
1997–2001	Sweden	9	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Matovac played youth football for Gunnilse IS before signing with BK Häcken.^[1] In 1995 he signed with Örgryte IS where he was considered one of Allsvenskan's best centre backs.^[1] He signed with the Danish Superliga club Aalborg BK in 1998, before returning to Swedish football in 2000 as a replacement at Helsingborgs IF for the departed Andreas Jakobsson.^[2] In 2000, Matovac helped the team qualify for the 2000–2001 UEFA Champions League in which he participated in all six group stage games.^[1][3] In 2002, he retired from professional football following a hip injury.^[4]

International career

Matovac made his full international debut for Sweden on 9 February 1997 in a King's Cup game against Romania in which he also scored his first international goal as Sweden won 2–0.^[5] He made his competitive international debut for Sweden in a 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Estonia, playing the full 90 minutes as centre back alongside Patrik Andersson as Sweden won 1–0.^[6] He won his ninth and final cap in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Moldova, again playing alongside Patrik Andersson at centre back.^[7]

Personal life

Matovac was born in Sweden to Croatian parents.^[8]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[5]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Sweden	1997	3	1
	1998	1	0
	1999	0	0
	2000	0	0
	2001	5	0
Total		9	1

Scores and results list Sweden's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Matovac goal.

List of international goals scored by Jozo Matovac

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	9 February 1997	National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	Romania	2–0	2–0	1997 King's Cup	[9]

Honours

Aalborg BK

• Danish Superliga: 1999–2000

Sweden

• King's Cup: 1997^[10]