{{Short description|Austrian footballer (born 1987)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Martin Pušić | image = Martin Pusic - FC Admira Wacker Mödling (2).jpg | image_size = | caption = Pušić in 2009 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|10|24|df=y}} | birth_place = Vienna, Austria | height = 1.87m | position = Forward<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/article3549009.ece| title=Få sa.no på din hjemmeside | date=19 May 2008 }}</ref> | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 1998–2002 | youthclubs1 = Austria Wien | youthyears2 = 2002–2005 | youthclubs2 = First Vienna FC | years1 = 2005–2007 | clubs1 = First Vienna FC | caps1 = 34 | goals1 = 6 | years2 = 2007–2008 | clubs2 = SK Schwadorf | caps2 = 25 | goals2 = 4 | years3 = 2008–2010 | clubs3 = Admira Wacker | caps3 = 47 | goals3 = 11 | years4 = 2010–2011 | clubs4 = SC Rheindorf Altach | caps4 = 15 | goals4 = 4 | years5 = 2011–2012 | clubs5 = Hull City | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2012 | clubs6 = Vålerenga | caps6 = 16 | goals6 = 3 | years7 = 2012 | clubs7 = Fredrikstad | caps7 = 10 | goals7 = 5 | years8 = 2013–2014 | clubs8 = Brann | caps8 = 27 | goals8 = 9 | years9 = 2014–2015 | clubs9 = Esbjerg fB | caps9 = 29 | goals9 = 13 | years10 = 2015–2017 | clubs10 = FC Midtjylland | caps10 = 53 | goals10 = 23 | years11 = 2017 | clubs11 = → Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | caps11 = 14 | goals11 = 6 | years12 = 2017–2018 | clubs12 = F. C. Copenhagen | caps12 = 6 | goals12 = 0 | years13 = 2018 | clubs13 = AGF | caps13 = 15 | goals13 = 6 | years14 = 2018 | clubs14 = AC Horsens | caps14 = 1 | goals14 = 0 | years15 = 2019–2020 | clubs15 = SV Mattersburg | caps15 = 44 | goals15 = 14 | years16 = 2020 | clubs16 = 1860 Munich | caps16 = 8 | goals16 = 0 | totalcaps = 346 | totalgoals = 104 | nationalyears1 = 2007 | nationalteam1 = Austria U20 | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | club-update = 11:20, 8 December 2020 (UTC) }} '''Martin Pušić''' (born 24 October 1987) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

==Club career== ===Early career in Austria=== Pušić began his career in the youth team of Austria Wien. In 2004, he crossed the city to join First Vienna FC, with whom he made his professional debut in 2005 in the Austrian Regional League. His performances attracted attention from higher divisions, and in 2007 he made a switch to SK Schwadorf in the First League, the second tier of the Austrian pyramid.

In the summer of 2008, SK Schwadorf and VfB Admira Wacker Mödling merged to form the new FC Admira Wacker Mödling, and Pušić became a regular player on their left wing. In 2008–09 he managed to make 24 league appearances, scoring 7 goals. The team also reached the 2009 Austrian Cup Final, which they lost 3–1 to the club where he began his career, Austria Wien.

On 8 August 2010, he signed with SC Rheindorf Altach, initially for only half a season but with an option to extend the contract through to the end of the 2010–11 season.

===Hull City=== In July 2011, he began a trial with English Championship team Hull City. He played his first game for the club on 27 July 2011; a 3–1 win over Yorkshire rivals Bradford City, Pusic scored the final goal of the match.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hullcityafc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10338~2403568,00.html |title=Tigers Enjoy Pre-Season Win |publisher=Hull City |date=27 July 2011 |accessdate=11 June 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820002348/http://www.hullcityafc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10338~2403568%2C00.html |archivedate=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 9 August 2011, the club announced that Pušić had signed a deal until the end of the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hullcityafc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10338~2415221,00.html |title=Pusic Signs With City |date=9 August 2011 |work=The Tigers Official Website |publisher=Hull City A.F.C. |accessdate=9 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910231937/http://www.hullcityafc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10338~2415221%2C00.html |archivedate=10 September 2012 }}</ref> He went on to make his debút on the same day in a 2–0 loss at home to Macclesfield Town in the League Cup First Round tie.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/14368520.stm | title = Hull 0 – 2 Macclesfield | date = 9 August 2011 | work = BBC Sport | publisher = BBC | access-date = 9 August 2011}}</ref> He made his league debut on 1 October 2011 at the KC Stadium, in a 2–1 win against Cardiff City.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15045293 | title = Hull 2 – 1 Cardiff | date = 1 October 2011 | work = BBC Sport | publisher = BBC | access-date = 1 October 2011 }}</ref>

After injuries stalled his progression, Pušić was released from his contract at the KC Stadium on 9 January 2012.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16471281 | title = Hull City release Austrian winger Pusic | date = 9 January 2012 | work = BBC Sport | publisher = BBC | access-date = 9 January 2012 }}</ref>

===Years in Norway=== On 18 March 2012, he signed a one-year contract with the Norwegian club Vålerenga.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vif-fotball.no/article3359120.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321223621/http://www.vif-fotball.no/article3359120.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 March 2012 |title=Pusic klar for Vålerenga |date=18 March 2012 |work=Vålerenga Fotball |publisher=VIF Media |accessdate=18 March 2012 }}</ref> He became the match winner in his first game, against FK Haugesund. However, after only five months in the club, his contract was mutually terminated by both parts. Vålerenga manager Martin Andresen stated that the termination came as a result of Pušić's unwillingness to sign a new contract with the club, combined with the fact that the club had a full foreign player quota.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vif-fotball.no/news/article/krjo8zs4x68h1bisyvpkwqhg5/title/pusic-til-fredrikstad |title=Nyheter &#124; Valerenga |access-date=18 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130223031448/http://www.vif-fotball.no/news/article/krjo8zs4x68h1bisyvpkwqhg5/title/pusic-til-fredrikstad |archive-date=23 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 30 August 2012, the same day he was released by Vålerenga, he signed a short-term contract until the end of the season with the Norwegian club Fredrikstad in hope that he could save them from relegation. Although he stepped up the challenge and was hyped by the Norwegian media as Fredrikstad's potential saviour,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/fredrikstads-redningsmann-martin-pusic-matchvinner-for-tredje-gang-paa-rad-3883544.html|title = Fredrikstads redningsmann: Martin Pusic matchvinner for tredje gang på rad| date=23 September 2012 }}</ref> the club was relegated in the final match of the season, losing 2–0 at home against Molde. His short-term contract expired shortly after, and was not renewed as Pušić himself did not want to play in the Adeccoliga.

On 17 January 2013, he signed with a third Norwegian club, Brann on a free transfer. He was signed as a striker to replace Brann's previous season's top scorer Kim Ojo, following his transfer to the Belgian club KRC Genk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/pusic-klar-for-sin-tredje-tippeligaklubb-paa-under-ett-aar-3967948.html|title = Pusic klar for sin tredje Tippeliga-klubb på under ett år| date=17 January 2013 }}</ref>

===Top scorer in Denmark=== On 16 January 2014, he signed a three-year contract with the Danish club Esbjerg fB for an unknown fee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://efb.dk/?type=nyhed&id=1152|title=Efb.dk}}</ref> During his first season at the club, Pušić made 12 league appearances, scoring 5 goals.

Halfway through the 2014–15 Danish Superliga, Pušić was sold to FC Midtjylland, for a reported fee of 7.5 million Danish kroner (approximately £0,9 million).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bt.dk/superligaen/martin-pusic-har-skrevet-under-med-fc-midtjylland|title=Martin Pusic har skrevet under med FC Midtjylland|publisher= BT |date=2 February 2015 |accessdate=8 August 2017}}</ref> Ultimately, Pušić scored 17 goals during the season and finished as the league overall top scorer, while Midtjylland won the championship for the first time in its history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2015-05-21-guldfest-fc-midtjylland-vinder-superligaen-20142015|title=Guldfest: FC Midtjylland vinder Superligaen 2014/2015|publisher= TV2 |date=21 May 2015 |accessdate=8 August 2017}}</ref>

In 2015–16, Pušić was a regular starter as Midtjylland finished third in the league. He played 25 competitive games and scored 13 goals. He was, however, deemed surplus to requirements during the following season and joined the Dutch Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on a half year loan on 28 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcm.dk/nyheder/superliga/pusic-til-hollandsk-fodbold|title=Pusic til hollandsk fodbold|publisher=FC Midtjylland |date=28 January 2017 |accessdate=8 August 2017}}</ref>

On 26 August 2017, Pušić signed a one-year contract with the Danish defending champions F. C. Copenhagen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fck.dk/nyhed/fck-henter-martin-pusic|title=FCK henter Martin Pušić}}</ref>

On 15 July 2018, AC Horsens announced they had signed Pušić on a free transfer and handed him a two-year deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/martin-pusic-faar-to-aar-i-ac-horsens/|title = Martin Pusic får to år i AC Horsens| date=15 July 2018 }}</ref> Four days later, on 19 July 2018, this deal was annulled on Pušić's request.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/bombe-ach-ophaever-med-martin-pusic/|title=Bombe: ACH ophæver med Martin Pusic|date=19 July 2018 }}</ref>

===1860 Munich=== Pušić joined 3. Liga club TSV 1860 Munich on a one-year contract in summer 2020. He agreed the termination of his contract in December due to personal issues, having made 8 appearances for the club.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eicher |first1=Matthias |title=Offiziell: TSV 1860 und Martin Pusic lösen Vertrag auf |url=https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/sport/tsv1860/offiziell-tsv-1860-und-martin-pusic-loesen-vertrag-auf-art-689568 |access-date=8 December 2020 |work=Abendzeitung München |date=8 December 2020 |language=German}}</ref>

==International career== Born in Austria, Pušić is of Croatian descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/najboljeg-strijelca-danske-lige-ne-zele-ni-hrvatska-ni-austrija-no-zeli-ga-bih/824756.aspx|title=Najboljeg strijelca danske lige ne žele ni Hrvatska ni Austrija, no želi ga BiH}}</ref> Whilst playing for Vienna in 2007, Pušić was called up to the Austrian U-20 squad in preparation for the U-20 World Cup in Canada<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oefb.at/show_berichtdetail.php?ber_id=5741&fpid=358 |title=U20 SUCHT IN LINDABRUNN NACH DEM RICHTIGEN RHYTHMUS FÜR DIE WM (The U20s are looking for the right rhythm for the World Cup) |publisher=OEFB |date=n.d. |accessdate=28 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103113907/http://www.oefb.at/show_berichtdetail.php?ber_id=5741&fpid=358 |archive-date=3 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and played his first and, to date, only international game for the Austrian U-20 team. He ultimately failed to make the squad for the tournament, and was not part of the team which went on to finish fourth.

===Retirement=== On 12 April 2022, Pušić announced in an interview with the Danish media outlet ''Tipsbladet'' that he had retired from football, and was coaching an under-18 team near his home in Vienna.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Risager |first1=Victor |title=Tidl. Superliga-topscorer afslører: Jeg er stoppet |url=https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/tidl-superliga-topscorer-afsloerer-jeg-er-stoppet |access-date=29 September 2024 |work=Tipsbladet.dk |date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429042543/https://www.tipsbladet.dk/nyhed/superliga/tidl-superliga-topscorer-afsloerer-jeg-er-stoppet |archive-date=29 April 2022 |language=da}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |First Vienna FC |2006–07<ref name="wf">{{cite web |title=Martin Pušić » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe107665/martin-pusic/club-matches/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=8 December 2020}}</ref> | |||||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2||1 |- |ASK Schwadorf |2097–08<ref name="wf"/> |Austrian First League |25||5||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||4 |- |rowspan="3"|Admira Wacker |2008–09<ref name="wf"/> |rowspan="2"|Austrian First League |24||7||4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||28||8 |- |2009–10<ref name="wf"/> |23||4||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||25||5 |- !colspan="2"|Total !47!!11!!6!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!53!!13 |- |Rheindorf Altach |2010–11<ref name="sw">{{cite web |title=M. Pusic |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/martin-pusic/35610/ |website=Soccerway |access-date=8 December 2020}}</ref> |Erste Liga |15||4||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||16||4 |- |Hull City |2011–12<ref name="sw"/> |Championship |2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in the EFL League Cup}}||0||3||0 |- |Vålerenga |2012<ref name="nifs">{{cite web |title=NIFS - Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk |url=https://www.nifs.no/personprofil.php?land=1&u=667328&t=5&person_id=37899 |website=Norsk & Internasjonal Fotballstatistikk |access-date=8 December 2020 |language=Norwegian}}</ref> |Tippeligaen |16||3||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||17||3 |- |Fredrikstad |2012<ref name="nifs"/> |Tippeligaen |10||5||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||5 |- |Brann |2013<ref name="nifs"/> |Tippeligaen |27||9||2||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||13 |- |rowspan="3"|Esbjerg |2013–14<ref name="sw"/> |rowspan="2"|Danish Superliga |12||5||0||0||2||1||colspan="2"|—||14||6 |- |2014–15<ref name="sw"/> |17||8||1||0||3||1||colspan="2"|—||21||9 |- !colspan="2"|Total !29!!13!!1!!0!!5!!2!!0!!0!!35!!15 |- |rowspan="4"|Midtjylland |2014–15<ref name="sw"/> |rowspan="3"|Danish Superliga |16||8||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||16||8 |- |2015–16<ref name="sw"/> |25||13||0||0||12||2||colspan="2"|—||37||15 |- |2016–17<ref name="wf"/> |12||2||1||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||19||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !53!!23!!1!!0!!18!!2!!0!!0!!72!!25 |- |Sparta Rotterdam (loan) |2016–17<ref name="sw"/> |Eredivisie |14||6||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||15||6 |- |Copenhagen |2017–18<ref name="wf"/> |Danish Superliga |6||0||1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||10||0 |- |AGF |2017–18<ref name="sw"/> |Danish Superliga |15||6||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||15||6 |- |AC Horsens |2018–19<ref name="sw"/> |Danish Superliga |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |rowspan="3"|SV Mattersburg |2018–19<ref name="sw"/> |rowspan="2"|Austrian Bundesliga |24||9||1||0||0||0||1{{efn|Appearance in Austrian Bundesliga play-offs}}||0||26||9 |- |2019–20<ref name="sw"/> |20||5||0||0||0||0||0||0||20||5 |- !colspan="2"|Total !44!!14!!1!!0!!0!!0!!1!!0!!46!!14 |- |1860 Munich |2020–21<ref name="sw"/> |3. Liga |8||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !312!!99!!17!!7!!26!!4!!2!!0!!357!!110 |}

{{notelist}}

==Honours== '''Midtjylland''' * Danish Superliga: 2014–15<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bruun |first1=Peter |title=Midtjylland make history with first Danish title |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0221-0f8ff1ccb201-163d60c9b812-1000--midtjylland-make-history-with-first-danish-title/ |access-date=29 September 2024 |work=UEFA |date=21 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929074930/https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0221-0f8ff1ccb201-163d60c9b812-1000--midtjylland-make-history-with-first-danish-title/ |archive-date=29 September 2024}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{soccerbase|61231|name=Martin Pusic}} *{{Soccerway|martin-pusic/35610}}

{{Danish Superliga top scorers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pusic, Martin}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Vienna Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Austrian men's footballers Category:Austria men's youth international footballers Category:21st-century Austrian sportsmen Category:Austrian people of Croatian descent Category:2. Liga (Austria) players Category:Austrian Regionalliga players Category:Eliteserien players Category:Danish Superliga players Category:Eredivisie players Category:3. Liga players Category:First Vienna FC players Category:FC Wacker Innsbruck (2002) players Category:FK Austria Wien players Category:SC Rheindorf Altach players Category:Hull City A.F.C. players Category:Vålerenga Fotball players Category:Fredrikstad FK players Category:SK Brann players Category:Esbjerg fB players Category:FC Midtjylland players Category:Sparta Rotterdam players Category:F.C. Copenhagen players Category:Aarhus Gymnastikforening players Category:AC Horsens players Category:SV Mattersburg players Category:TSV 1860 Munich players Category:Austrian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Norway Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in Norway Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in Denmark Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Austrian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:English Football League players