HITTING THE NET BIG TIME

Juranovic describes his rise from teenage sensation on YouTube to major Celtic star

IN HINDSIGHT, Josip Juranovic can offer thanks to YouTube for what happened next. At the age of 19, dreams of a professional contract suffered a setback when he failed to make the cut in the Croatian trials for a coveted place at the Nike Academy at St George’s Park.

Unlikely salvation came from the social media platform. Images of the teenager receiving a player of the day prize from internationals Mario Mandzukic and Mateo Kovacic spread over news channels and the internet. One of the clubs keeping an eye on his progress was Hajduk Split.

A late entrant to the professional ranks, a career that would eventually lead to the east end of Glasgow was underway.

‘There was a tournament run by Nike for players who didn’t have a professional contract with a club,’ the defender recalled.

‘There were like 46 boys who were competing by playing three games a day.

‘The games were 45 minutes long and then we had speed tests and passing tests and at the end of it some guys would go and represent Croatia in London.

‘I came close. Only three people went to stay at the Nike Academy and I was like the fourth or fifth in line. But because of that experience I am here playing at Celtic now.

‘After that my career started to go up the way. There was a video of me receiving a presentation from Mario Mandzukic and Mateo Kovacic was there also.

‘Now I am playing alongside Kovacic in the Croatia national team.

‘And after that people started noticing me on YouTube…’

The journey to becoming Croatia’s first-choice international rightback had begun, but took some twists and turns along the way.

The player regarded himself as a ball-winning midfielder. His new coach at Hajduk Split came to the conclusion that wasn’t his natural position.

‘I started as a number six or a number eight,’ he admitted. ‘And then I started playing for Hajduk Split.

‘Damir Buric was my coach and he said to me: “You could make a good career as a right full-back”.

‘At first I was like: “No, no way”. But then I came around and said: “Okay, I will accept that”. And because of him I am here now. He was 100-per-cent right.’

After reinventing himself as a right-back in Split, he now finds himself filling in as a temporary left-back in Glasgow.

The first choice right-back for Croatia would normally expect someone else to move aside.

With Ange Postecoglou awaiting the arrival of Japanese star Reo Hatate in January, however, Anthony Ralston continues to hold down the slot at Celtic while Juranovic takes one for the team.

‘Yeah, my position is right-back,’ he admitted. ‘But now the coach has asked me if I can play left-back and I say “yes” because I am a team player and I want to play each game and help. That’s it.’

With ten games between now and the winter break in January, he admits to seeing little of his new home city of Glasgow.

Another day brings another game, with the visit of Hearts tonight. Before Christmas comes his first Hampden cup final, against Hibernian, with little or no respite along the way.

Where Easter Road boss Jack Ross frets over the physical demands on players, Juranovic offers no complaints.

‘For me it’s perfect,’ he said. ‘If I could choose I would play a game every day.

‘We know that we have every week three games and that’s another ten games until the end of the half season.

‘But you know, if we take care of ourselves by going to bed at the right time, resting and eating properly then I think that we can achieve our goals and improve as a team.

‘Generally I can’t wait to play games like this one (Hearts). For me, football is my life.’

A right-back who feels comfortable playing left-back or midfield, it should surprise no one that Juranovic has the confidence to take penalties as well.

Yet to miss one for Hajduk Split, Legia Warsaw or Celtic, his audacious ‘Panenka’ effort against Bayer Leverkusen drew a sharp intake of breath. The man himself saw it as no big deal.

‘That’s just a penalty,’ he insisted. ‘It’s nothing special.

‘I decided before the whistle of the referee what I would do.

‘I decided in my head that I would take a “Panenka” penalty. I was speaking with Joe Hart maybe two weeks before over dinner and told him I would do it next time I had the chance. The chance came up in Germany against Leverkusen and I took it.

‘Joe was like: “Ah, you came up with a big performance!”.’ The only time he was overlooked for penalty duty, Giorgos Giakoumakis took a stoppagetime effort against Livingston instead and missed. Two points dropped in a 0-0 draw left Celtic with little margin for error ahead of tonight’s home clash with third-placed Hearts.

‘It’s a big opportunity to show ourselves in a good light,’ said Juranovic. ‘We need three points. From the first minute we will show that.’