Nikola Katić Explained

Nikola Katić
Birth Date:10 October 1996
Birth Place:Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height:1.94 m[1]
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Zürich
Clubnumber:24
Youthyears1:2001–2013
Youthclubs1:HNK Stolac
Years1:2013–2014
Clubs1:HNK Stolac
Years2:2014–2015
Clubs2:Neretvanac Opuzen
Caps2:29
Goals2:2
Years3:2015–2018
Clubs3:Slaven Belupo
Caps3:65
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2022
Clubs4:Rangers
Caps4:37
Goals4:3
Years5:2021–2022
Clubs5:Hajduk Split (loan)
Caps5:21
Goals5:0
Years6:2022–
Clubs6:Zürich
Caps6:72
Goals6:7
Nationalyears1:2017–2019
Nationalteam1:Croatia U21
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017
Nationalteam2:Croatia
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2024–
Nationalteam3:Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:30 November 2024
Nationalteam-Update:14 October 2024

Nikola Katić (pronounced as /hr/; born 10 October 1996) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Swiss Super League club Zürich and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Katić started his professional career at HNK Stolac, before joining Neretvanac Opuzen in 2014. Two years later he switched to Slaven Belupo. In 2018, he was transferred to Rangers, who loaned him to Hajduk Split in 2021. The following year, he signed with Zürich.

A former Croatian youth international, Katić also made his senior international debut for Croatia, before switching his allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2024.

Club career

Early career

Katić came through the youth setup of HNK Stolac, which he joined in 2001. He made his professional debut in 2013 at the age of 16, before moving to Croatian team Neretvanac Opuzen in March 2014.[2]

In December 2015, he switched to Slaven Belupo.[3] On 7 May 2017, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over Istra 1961.[4]

Rangers

In June 2018, Katić was transferred to Scottish side Rangers for an undisclosed fee.[5] He made his official debut for the club in a UEFA Europa League qualifier against Shkupi on 12 July.[6] On 2 August, he scored his first goal for Rangers in a UEFA Europa League qualifier against Osijek.[7] A week later, he made his league debut against Aberdeen.[8] On 20 April 2019, he scored his first league goal for the team in a defeat of Hearts.[9]

In October, Katić signed a new four-year contract with the squad.[10]

In July 2020, he suffered a severe knee injury, which was diagnosed as an anterior cruciate ligament tear and was ruled out for at least six months. Over a year after the injury, on 24 July 2021, he returned to the pitch.[11]

He won his first trophy with the club on 7 March, when they were crowned league champions.[12]

In August, he was sent on a season-long loan to Hajduk Split.[13]

Zürich

In August 2022, Katić moved to Swiss outfit Zürich on a three-year deal.[14] He made his competitive debut for the side in a UEFA Europa League game against PSV.[15] A week later, he made his league debut against Winterthur.[16] On 13 November, he scored his first goal for Zürich in a victory over Servette.[17]

In October 2023, he extended his contract with the team until June 2026.[18]

International career

After representing Croatia at the under-21 level, Katić made his senior international debut in a friendly game against Mexico on 28 May 2017. However, in April 2024, he decided that he would play for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future.[19]

In May, his request to change sports citizenship from Croatian to Bosnian was approved by FIFA.[20] Later that month, he received his first senior call-up, for friendly games against England and Italy.[21] He debuted against the former on 3 June.[22]

Career statistics

Club

[23]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupScottish League CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Neretvanac Opuzen2014–15Croatian Second League South142142
2015–16Croatian Second League South150150
Total292292
Slaven Belupo2015–16Croatian Football League100010
2016–17Croatian Football League29131322
2017–18Croatian Football League35021371
Total65152703
Rangers2018–19Scottish Premiership181102191303
2019–20Scottish Premiership192101081293
Total3732031172596
Hajduk Split (loan)2021–22Croatian Football League21040250
Zürich2022–23Swiss Super League2210040261
2023–24Swiss Super League34410354
2024–25Swiss Super League1623040232
Total7274080847
Career total224131523125226718

International

[24]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Croatia
201710
Total10
Bosnia and Herzegovina
202460
Total60
Career total70

Honours

Rangers[23]

2020–21

Hajduk Split[23]

2021–22

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nikola Katic. fcz.ch. 1 January 2024. German.
  2. News: Bivši stoper Rangersa bi mogao pojačati Zmajeve, ovako je govorio ranije: BiH je moja zemlja. avaz.ba. 28 December 2023. 28 December 2023. Bosnian.
  3. News: Nikola Katić i službeno postao novi igrač Slavena Belupa. epodravina.hr. 10 December 2015. 12 December 2015. Croatian.
  4. News: Slaven Belupo u pozitivnoj seriji: U Koprivnici pala i Istra. index.hr. 7 May 2017. 8 May 2017. Croatian.
  5. News: Rangers sign Croatian defender Nikola Katic from Slaven Belupo on four-year deal. skysports.com. 13 June 2018. 16 June 2018.
  6. News: Rangers 2-0 Shkupi: Steven Gerrard era starts with Europa League first qualifying round win. skysports.com. 12 July 2018. 12 July 2018.
  7. News: Rangers 1-1 NK Osijek (2-1 agg): Nikola Katic seals Europa League progress. skysports.com. 12 July 2018. 12 July 2018.
  8. News: Aberdeen 1-1 Rangers: Steven Gerrard denied first Rangers league win by 90th-minute Bruce Anderson equaliser. skysports.com. 5 August 2018. 6 August 2018.
  9. News: Hearts 1-3 Rangers: Steven Gerrard's team put Celtic title party on hold. skysports.com. 20 April 2019. 20 April 2019.
  10. News: Nikola Katic signs one-year Rangers contract extension until 2023. skysports.com. 17 October 2019. 20 October 2019.
  11. News: Great to see – Rangers star's Ibrox appearance has these Gers fans buzzing. hitc.com. 25 July 2021. 28 July 2021.
  12. News: Rangers confirmed as Scottish Premiership champions after Celtic draw with Dundee United. syksports.com. 7 March 2021. 8 March 2021.
  13. News: Rangers duo Cedric Itten and Nikola Katic loaned out for season. bbc.co.uk. 31 August 2021. 1 September 2021.
  14. News: Der FC Zürich verpflichtet einen kroatischen Nationalspieler. sport.ch. 31 August 2022. 1 September 2022. German.
  15. News: Schwacher FCZ kassiert nächste Klatsche – der Meister rutscht immer tiefer in die Krise. sport.ch. 6 October 2022. 6 October 2022. German.
  16. News: Planloser FCZ bleibt auch bei Nullnummer gegen ängstliches Winterthur sieglos. sport.ch. 9 October 2022. 12 October 2022. German.
  17. News: Der FCZ ballert sich den Frust von der Seele – Überzeugender FC Zürich bezwingt den Servette FC mit 4:1. sport.ch. 13 November 2022. 16 November 2022. German.
  18. News: Der neue FCZ-Sportchef Malenovic überzeugt einen Wechselkandidat von einer Vertragsverlängerung. sport.ch. 19 October 2023. 20 October 2023. German.
  19. News: Katić o dolasku u reprezentaciju BiH: Spahić me prvi kontaktirao i došao mi kući. klix.ba. 29 May 2024. 1 June 2024. Bosnian.
  20. News: Spahić govorio o Gigoviću, Đuriću, Jašiću, ali i drugima: Posao neće biti lagan. oslobodjenje.ba. 16 May 2024. 17 May 2024. Bosnian.
  21. News: Sergej Barbarez objavio spisak za Englesku i Italiju, pozvan i Džeko. reprezentacija.ba. 16 May 2024. 18 May 2024. Bosnian.
  22. News: Engleska slavila protiv BiH: Zmajevi u Barbarezovom debiju za pola sata potopljeni u Newcastleu. faktor.ba. 3 June 2024. 4 June 2024. Bosnian.
  23. Web site: N. Katić. soccerway.com. 3 December 2024.
  24. Web site: Nikola Katić. eu-football.info. 15 October 2024.