Branimir Hrgota
Quick Facts
Biography
Branimir Hrgota (born 12 January 1993) is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
Club career
Jönköpings Södra
Hrgota started his career as a youth player in lower league side IK Tord which he combined with competing in Karate. In 2008, he made the decision to give up martial arts and transferred to second division team Jönköpings Södra. He made his debut with the first team in 2011 and became the league top scorer that season, netting 18 goals in 25 games. After the season Hrgota received the Player of the Year award from the club supporters. Several clubs were interested in buying him after his successful debut year but Hrgota decided to stay with Jönköpings Södra so that he could finish school in the spring. He went on to score 10 goals in 14 games the following season before moving to Germany in the summer.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
On 4 July 2012, he completed his move to the German club Borussia Mönchengladbach. He made his Bundesliga debut against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim as 74th-minute substitute, replacing Mike Hanke. On 11 May 2013, he made the first eleven for the first time against 1. FSV Mainz 05. He made a big impact on the game scoring a hat-trick. His first ever Bundesliga goal was a converted penalty five minutes before half-time. In the second half he scored two more goals, both with his left foot. After 85 minutes he was substituted for Lukas Rupp. On 15 June 2016, it was announced that Hrgota would join fellow Bundesliga team Eintracht Frankfurt on a three-year contract.
International career
Hrgota is eligible to play national team football for Sweden, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. So far he has only represented Sweden but Croatia U21 coach Ivo Šušak contacted him during the fall of 2012 in an attempt to bring Hrgota over to his team. In the summer of 2014, prior to Sweden's game against Austria in the UEFA European Championship qualifiers, Hrgota was called up to, and accepted to join, the Swedish national team.
Honours
International
Sweden U21
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2015