Matej Delač

Matej Delač (pronounced [mǎtej dělatʃ];[1][2] born 20 August 1992) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Danish club AC Horsens.

Matej Delač
Delač in 2009
Personal information
Full name Matej Delač
Date of birth (1992-08-20) 20 August 1992
Place of birth Gornji Vakuf, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 AC Horsens
Number 1
Youth career
1998–2009 Inter Zaprešić
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Inter Zaprešić 38 (0)
2010–2018 Chelsea 0 (0)
2010–2011 → Vitesse (loan) 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Dynamo České Budějovice (loan) 1 (0)
2012–2013 → Vitória de Guimarães (loan) 0 (0)
2012–2013 → Vitória de Guimarães II (loan) 1 (0)
2013 → Inter Zaprešić (loan) 14 (0)
2013 → Vojvodina (loan) 10 (0)
2014 → Sarajevo (loan) 7 (0)
2014–2015 → Arles-Avignon (loan) 11 (0)
2015–2016 → Sarajevo (loan) 26 (0)
2016–2017 → Excel Mouscron (loan) 28 (0)
2018– AC Horsens 38 (0)
National team‡
2007 Croatia U15 1 (0)
2008 Croatia U16 4 (0)
2008 Croatia U17 2 (0)
2008–2011 Croatia U19 10 (0)
2010–2013 Croatia U20 9 (0)
2010–2013 Croatia U21 9 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 April 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 April 2020

Club career

Inter Zaprešić

A product of Inter Zaprešić youth academy, Delač started to impress very early on and after only a few appearances for Croatia U-15 he attracted attention from bigger clubs across Europe. During summer 2008, Delač went on trial at Portuguese Primeira Liga club Benfica and came very close to joining them, but the two clubs couldn't agree terms so he stayed at Zaprešić.[3]

He had his professional debut for NK Inter Zaprešić in the 2008–09 season on 22 February 2009 against NK Zagreb, becoming the youngest player ever to appear in the Croatian first division (at 16 years and 186 days of age).[3] He impressed football pundits in his debut by miraculously saving a penalty from Davor Vugrinec in the 85th minute, contributing to Inter's 1–0 victory and becoming man of the match.[4] Delač continued with good performances and finished the 2008-09 season with 15 appearances, as the club's first-choice goalkeeper.

Chelsea

On 11 September 2009, two days after Croatia's defeat at Wembley, Croatian news reports revealed that Delač had stayed in London for a medical examination and was on the verge of signing a pre-contract with Premier League club Chelsea.[5] Reports claimed that Chelsea scouts had been following Delač's performances in the Croatian first division for months and that their Director of Football Frank Arnesen previously went to Zagreb to agree terms of the transfer.[6]

It was announced at a press conference held by Inter on 17 September 2009 that Delač had indeed penned a five-year contract with Chelsea which will come into effect in the January 2011 transfer window.[7] In the meantime, Delač will continue playing at Inter, his wages will be paid by Chelsea, and he is also expected to participate in training at Chelsea's training ground whenever his Prva HNL obligations allow.[8]

Loan to Vitesse

On 24 August 2010, Delač joined Chelsea's feeder club Vitesse on loan for the 2010–11 campaign.[9] However, after being deployed as a back-up to Eloy Room and appearing on the bench for the majority of the campaign, Delač returned to Chelsea without making a single appearance for the Dutch side.[10]

Loan to Dynamo České Budějovice

On 13 September 2011, Dynamo České Budějovice chairman Karel Poborský confirmed that Delač would join the club on loan for the rest of the season.[11] However, on 4 January 2012, Delač was recalled by Chelsea[12] after just making one appearance in a 4–0 league defeat against Viktoria Plzeň.[13]

Loan to Vitória de Guimarães

On 17 July 2012, Delač joined Portuguese side Vitória de Guimarães on a season-long loan along with Chelsea team-mate Milan Lalkovič.[14] However, after six months with the club, Delač had failed to make a first-team league appearance and therefore returned to Chelsea in January 2013. However, he made one appearance in an early round of the Portuguese Cup, which Vitória eventually won, making him a Cup winner.[15]

Return to Inter Zaprešić

On 10 January 2013, Delač returned to boyhood club Inter Zaprešić on loan for the remainder of the 2012–13 campaign.[16] On 15 February 2013, Delač made his Inter Zaprešić return in their 1–0 home defeat against Zadar.[17] Delač went onto feature thirteen more times for the Croatian side in their unsuccessful relegation fight before returning to Chelsea.

Loan to Vojvodina

In July 2013, Delač joined Serbian side Vojvodina on a season-long loan.[18] On 25 July 2013, Delač made his Vojvodina debut 3–1 victory against Hungarian side Honvéd in a UEFA Europa League qualifying tie.[19] On 11 August 2013, Delač made his league debut for the Serbian side in their 0–0 draw with Donji Srem.[20] Having established himself as a first choice keeper, Delač played an instrumental role in helping Vojvodina reach play-off round of 2013–14 UEFA Europa League, where Vojvodina lost to Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol.[21] At the same time he quickly became crowd favorite. Midway through the first half of the season, Delač lost his place as a starting keeper. By the end of December, he decided to cut stay in Novi Sad short, and return to Chelsea.

Loan to Sarajevo

Preceding his return from Vojvodina, Delač joined Bosnian Premier League side Sarajevo on loan for the remainder of the season.[22] On 1 March 2014, he made his Sarajevo debut in a 1–0 defeat against Čelik Zenica.[23] A couple of weeks later, Delač registered his first clean sheet in Sarajevo's 2–0 away victory over Mladost Velika Obarska.[24] He returned to Chelsea at the end of the campaign after appearing seven times for the Bosnian side.

Loan to Arles-Avignon

On 1 September 2014, Delač joined Ligue 2 side Arles-Avignon on loan for the 2014–15 campaign.[25] On 12 September 2014, Delač made his debut for Arles-Avignon in their 1–0 league victory over Tours.[26] Delač fell out of favour whilst at the French side and went onto make ten more league appearances before terminating his loan spell in January 2015.

Return to Sarajevo

On 27 February 2015, Delač returned to Sarajevo for the remainder of the 2014–15 campaign.[16] On 14 March 2015, he marked his Sarajevo return with a clean sheet in their 0–0 draw with Borac Banja Luka.[27] Delač went onto register seven more clean sheets, helping Sarajevo win their first league title since 2006.

On 7 August 2015, Delač's loan spell with Sarajevo was extended for a further season.[28] On 26 October 2015, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, during the international break, therefore excluding him out Sarajevo's plans for the season.

Loan to Excel Mouscron

On 22 July 2016, Delač joined Belgian side Excel Mouscron on a season-long loan.[29] On 17 September 2016, Delač made his Excel Mouscron debut in a 3–1 victory over Westerlo.[30] On 27 October 2016, Delač registered his first clean sheet for Excel Mouscron in their 0–0 away draw with Waasland-Beveren.[31]

AC Horsens

On 3 April 2018, it was announced that Delač would join Danish Superliga side AC Horsens in the summer of 2018 on a free transfer when his contract with Chelsea ended.[32]

International career

After earning 8 caps for Croatia's U-17 and U-19 teams between 2007 and 2008, Delač was called up by Croatia manager Slaven Bilić on 30 August 2009 to join the squad as third-choice goalkeeper (behind Vedran Runje and Danijel Subašić) for their 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and England,[33] breaking the record for the youngest Croatian player ever called up for international duty.[34]

Career statistics
As of match played 17 May 2017.[35]
Club Season Division League National Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Inter Zaprešić 2008–09 1. HNL 15010——160
2009–10 1. HNL 23010——240
Total 38020——400
Vitesse (loan) 2010–11 Eredivisie 0000——00
Dynamo České Budějovice (loan) 2011–12 Czech First League 1040——50
Vitória de Guimarães (loan) 2012–13 Primeira Liga 001000—10
Vitória de Guimarães II (loan) 2012–13 Segunda Liga 10———10
Inter Zaprešić (loan) 2012–13 1. HNL 14000——140
Vojvodina (loan) 2013–14 Serbian SuperLiga 10020—6[lower-alpha 1]0180
Sarajevo (loan) 2013–14 Bosnian Premier League 7000——70
Arles-Avignon (loan) 2014–15 Ligue 2 1100020—130
Sarajevo (loan) 2014–15 Bosnian Premier League 14010——150
2015–16 Bosnian Premier League 12010—00130
Total 26020—00280
Excel Mouscron (loan) 2016–17 Belgian First Division A 28000——280
Career total 131010020601540
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Vitória de Guimarães

Sarajevo

References
  1. "Màtej". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 19 March 2018. Màtej
  2. "djȅlo". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 19 March 2018. Dèlač
  3. Islamović, Elvir (21 April 2009). "Delač enjoying the sweetest of 16s". uefa.com. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  4. Bradovski, Mihaela (22 February 2009). "Yankep utišao Kranjčevićevu" (in Croatian). Sportnet.hr. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  5. "Chelsea sign Matej Delac; 17-year-old keeper will not arrive until 2011". Imscouting.com. 13 September 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  6. "Matej Delac to transfer to Chelsea". Croatiantimes.com. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  7. Zapresic claim Chelsea deal over keeper Delac
  8. Rupnik, Borna (17 September 2009). "Chelsea dogovorio Delačev transfer" (in Croatian). sportnet.hr. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  9. "Official: Vitesse Sign Nacer Barazite, Matej Delac, Marcus Pedersen, Guram Kashia & Laryea Kingston". Goal. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  10. "M. Delač". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  11. Bradovski, Mihaela (13 September 2011). "Chelsea Delača posudio Dynamu". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  12. "Milan Lalkovic, Matej Delac return to Chelsea FC". weaintgotnohistory.com. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  13. "Viktoria Plzeň vs. České Budějovice". Soccerway. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  14. "Guimarães bring in Chelsea duo". PortuGOAL. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  15. "Vitória - Vilavardense game report". ZeroZero. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  16. "Matej Delač". TheChels.info. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  17. "Inter Zaprešić vs. Zadar". Soccerway. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  18. "Matej Delac confirms Vojvodina loan". We Ain't Got No History. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  19. "Honvéd vs. Vojvodina". Soccerway. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  20. "Vojvodina vs. Donji Srem". Soccerway. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  21. "Sheriff vs. Vojvodina". Soccerway. 29 August 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  22. "Transfer news: Matej Delac leaves Chelsea for FK Sarajevo on loan". Sky Sports. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  23. "Čelik vs. Sarajevo". Soccerway. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  24. "Mladost Velika Obarska vs. Sarajevo". Soccerway. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  25. "Delac and Davila loaned". Chelsea Official Site. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  26. "Arles-Avignon vs. Tours". Soccerway. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  27. "Sarajevo vs. Borac Banja Luka". Soccerway. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  28. "[OFFICIAL] Matej Delač arrived on loan at FK Sarajevo!". FK Sarajevo (Twitter). 7 August 2015.
  29. "MOUSCRON: A KEEPER ON LOAN FROM CHELSEA". Nord Eclair. 22 July 2016.
  30. "Westerlo vs. Royal Excel Mouscron". Soccerway. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  31. "Waasland-Beveren vs. Royal Excel Mouscron". Soccerway. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  32. "AC Horsens Skriver Med Chelsea-Keeper". Bold.dk. 3 April 2018.
  33. "Delač: Ovo je najsretniji dan u mom životu!" (in Croatian). Index.hr. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  34. "Croatian keeper 'to join Chelsea'". BBC News. 18 September 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  35. Matej Delač at Soccerway
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