He was once sorted out by his archrival

At TSV 1860 Munich, Josip Stanisic once had no future after the C youth. In the meantime, the Croatian national player can also compete with world stars in the jersey of the lion’s rival FC Bayern.

Champions League, round of 16 second leg, sold out Allianz Arena. The offensive on the other side: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.

Josip Stanisic didn’t really seem to be impressed at the beginning of March. Called up from the start in FC Bayern Munich’s back three, the 22-year-old Croatian played against the best of the game on the big stage as if he had never done anything else.

“I have to single out Stani,” said Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann after the 2-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain, which secured progress to the CL quarter-finals. “He played an unbelievably good game, won almost every duel. Not everyone would have believed him capable of that at this level.”

FC Bayern: At 1860, Stanisic had to leave at 15

It wasn’t that long ago that some didn’t even trust Stanisic to even play football professionally. At 15, after the C youth, he was sorted out in the youth of 1860 Munich, for which he had previously played for six years. Apparently he was too weak for those responsible at the lions, physically not far enough.

From the outside, the dream of becoming a professional initially seemed a long way off. Stanisic moved to SC Fürstenfeldbruck, an amateur club from a small town near Munich. Despite the disappointment at 1860, he continued to work hard on his footballing skills there.

“What distinguished him was his incredible will. He always worked extra shifts,” said Jakob Ettner, President of SC Fürstenfeldbruck tz quoted.

Josip Stanisic: The extra shifts are worth it

The extra shifts should be worth it. Because after a year and a half at Fürstenfeldbruck, FC Bayern knocked and brought Stanisic to their youth department at the beginning of 2017. There he developed rapidly, was a regular player in the first A youth year, and then even captain the following season.

And instead of at 1860, he made the leap to pro a little later at FCB. Even more: He became a national team player. He has appeared for Croatia eight times, was in the squad for the 2022 World Cup and played 90 minutes in the match for third place.

At Bayern, Stanisic is more in demand than ever this season and has already made 19 competitive appearances. “I believe that in Julian Nagelsmann he has found a coach who has recognized that Stani is a quiet person who you can rely on. He is now repaying this trust,” says Fürstenfeldbruck’s President Ettner.

And at 1860, it’s not just since Stanisic’s strong performance against Mbappé, Messi and Co. that you should be annoyed that you didn’t see much potential in him a few years ago.