Product Code Database
Josip Skoko (born 10 December 1975) is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a central midfielder for North Geelong Warriors, Hajduk Split, Genk, Gençlerbirliği, Wigan Athletic, Stoke City and Melbourne Heart. Skoko has been described as a central midfielder with "superb on-ball ability, inch perfect passing, and his ability to turn defence to attack in an instant." Skoko is currently the Director of Football at North Geelong Warriors FC.
In the 2006–07 season, Paul Jewell showed renewed faith in Skoko giving him an extended run in the side. The transfers of Jimmy Bullard and Graham Kavanagh to Fulham and Sunderland, respectively, in the summer of 2006 left a gap in Wigan's midfield and this led to him becoming a mainstay in the Wigan Athletic midfield, partnering Paul Scharner and Denny Landzaat. He signed a new contract deal keeping him at Wigan until 2008. However, at the end of the season it became clear that Skoko had played his last game for the club. The two main reasons were because he did not play enough games for Wigan to trigger a clause in his contract and also the impossibility of receiving a visa for his stay in England due to his international retirement with Australia. It was decided in May 2008 that Skoko's contract would not be renewed and he was subsequently released by Wigan.
In November 2005, Skoko came on as a substitute in Australia's playoff victory over Uruguay to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also captained a weakened Australian side against Bahrain in an Asian Cup qualifier in 2006.
On 25 May 2006, Skoko scored a cracking volley from 25m for Australia in a 1–0 friendly victory over Greece in front of 95,103 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which he regards as "the most legendary moment of all time". He was selected in the squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany but did not play in any of Australia's four games.
After being named in the Australian side for a friendly match against Argentina on 11 September 2007, Skoko stated that the game would be his home farewell from international football. Skoko ended his international career 51 minutes into the match in Melbourne when he was replaced by midfielder Carl Valeri.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||
| North Geelong Warriors | 1993 | Victoria Premier League | 6 |
| 1994 | Victoria Premier League | 2 | |
| Hajduk Split | 1995–96 | 1. HNL | 1 |
| 1996–97 | 1. HNL | 10 | |
| 1997–98 | 1. HNL | 5 | |
| 1998–99 | 1. HNL | 3 | |
| 1999–2000 | 1. HNL | 1 | |
| Genk | 1999–2000 | Belgian First Division | 1 |
| 2000–01 | Belgian First Division | 3 | |
| 2001–02 | Belgian First Division | 2 | |
| 2002–03 | Belgian First Division | 2 | |
| Gençlerbirliği | 2003–04 | Süper Lig | 2 |
| 2004–05 | Süper Lig | 2 | |
| Wigan Athletic | 2005–06 | Premier League | 0 |
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 0 | |
| Stoke City (loan) | 2005–06 | Championship | 2 |
| Hajduk Split | 2008–09 | 1. HNL | 0 |
| 2009–10 | 1. HNL | 1 | |
| Melbourne Heart | 2010–11 | A-League | 0 |
| + Appearances and goals by national team and year | |
| Australia | 0 |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 1 | |
| 1 | |
| 0 | |
| 0 | |
| 4 | |
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 0 | |
| + List of international goals scored by Josip Skoko |
| Friendly |
| 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 2004 OFC Nations Cup |
| 2004 OFC Nations Cup |
| 3–0 |
| Friendly |
| 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| Friendly |
Australia
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