Danijel Subotić (born 31 January 1989) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as striker for FC Glattbrugg. He was Swiss youth international footballer at various levels.

Personal life

Subotić was born in Zagreb, SR Croatia, but his family originated from Doboj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, all back then part of Yugoslavia. His younger brother Dejan (born in 1996) is also footballer, having signed his first professional contract in 2018 with Serbian club FK Rad.[citation needed]

Club career

Youth football

Subotić began his youth football in his adoptive country Switzerland. He played in the youth department of FC Basel, in their U-18 team during the 2005–06 season, under coach Patrick Rahmen and his assistant Marco Walker and with them, won both the Swiss U-18 championship and the U-19/18 national cup that season. The following season he advanced to their U-21 team, who played in the third tier, and they won their division (group B) and became Swiss champions at U-21 level. He started the 2007–08 season them too, played in nine of the 17 fixtures, but left the club in January. The team went on to win the division (group 2) and become Swiss champions at U-21 level again.

Portsmouth

On 7 January 2008, he became English Premier League side Portsmouth F.C.'s first signing in the 2008 January transfer window. He signed a reported 3+1⁄2-year contract.

On 5 August 2008, Subotić moved on loan to Belgian club Zulte Waregem, the Portsmouth's feeder club at that time (which relationship ended in June 2009) along with Andréa Mbuyi-Mutombo in order to gain first-team experience. He scored 1 goal in 13 league appearances before returned to England in January 2009.

On 7 August 2010, Italian Serie B side Grosseto announced Subotić was trying out at the club. Nearly 2 weeks later, Pompey formally announced Subotić's contract was canceled by mutual consent.

Universitatea Craiova

In February 2011, Danijel Subotić signed a contract with the Romanian club FC Universitatea Craiova of Liga 1. On 20 March 2011, he scored his first goal for FC Universitatea Craiova during the match against FC Astra Ploieşti.

In July 2011, Subotić went on trial with Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone, where he played in one friendly match in an attempt to win a contract.

Gabala

On 1 July 2013, Subotić signed a one-year contract with Azerbaijan Premier League side Gabala. However Subotić could not feature in any of Gabala's opening five matches as there was a dispute over the players registration between Volyn Lutsk and Gabala, which was finally sorted out during the September International break. Subotić made his debut and scored his first goal for Gabala on 15 September 2013 in a 2–1 away victory over AZAL. On 19 February 2014, Subotić scored his tenth goal for Gabala in only his sixteenth game.

Qadsia SC

Rejecting a new contract with Gabala, Subotić signed instead for Kuwaiti team Qadsia in July 2014. He won 3 titles and scored 31 goals in 28 matches but left the club at the end of the season.

Sheriff Tiraspol

On 23 July 2015, Subotić signed for Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol, leaving the club by mutual consent on 28 January 2017.

Gabala Return

On 31 January 2017, Gabala announced the signing of Subotić on a six-month contract. Subotić left Gabala at the end of his contract.

Ulsan Hyundai

On 11 July 2017, Subotić signed a one-year contract with Ulsan Hyundai.

Shakhter Karagandy

On 28 March 2018, Shakhter Karagandy announced the signing of Subotić.

Dinamo București

On 11 September 2018, Dinamo București announced the signing of Subotić.

Rapperswil-Jona

After not playing for two seasons, on 28 July 2022 Subotić signed with Rapperswil-Jona in the third-tier Swiss Promotion League.

FC Glattbrugg

In September 2023, Subotić joined Swiss amateur club FC Glattbrugg.

International career

Subotić has dual citizenship, Swiss as well as Bosnian. However his Croatian background also helped him eligible to play for all three.

During his time with FC Basel he was called up to represent Switzerland at various youth levels. Together with his Basel team-mates Oliver Klaus, Fabian Frei, Valentin Stocker, Dominik Ritter, Michel Morganella and Pascal Schürpf, Subotić played in the Switzerland U-19 team during the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualification.

Career statistics

As of match played 14 February 2020

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Portsmouth2008–09Premier League00000000
2009–1000000000
Total000000000000
Zulte Waregem (loan)2009–10Jupiler Pro League13100131
Grosseto2010–11Serie B400040
Universitatea Craiova2010–11Liga I16500165
Târgu Mureș2011–12Liga I15221173
Volyn Lutsk2012–13Ukrainian Premier League23421255
Gabala2013–14Azerbaijan Premier League2912613513
Qadsia2014–15Kuwait Premier League123
Sheriff Tiraspol2015–16Divizia Națională26122000002812
2016–1793002012125
Total3515200020124017
Gabala2016–17Azerbaijan Premier League1132300136
Ulsan Hyundai2017K League 111111122
Shakhter Karagandy2018Kazakhstan Premier League9040130
Dinamo București2018–19Liga I511061
Grasshopper2019–20Swiss Challenge League16520185
Career total18749227001431222461

Honours

FC Basel

  • Swiss champion at U-18 level: 2005–06
  • Swiss Cup at U-19/U-18 level: 2005–06
  • Swiss champion at U-21 level: 2006–07

Qadsia SC

Sheriff Tiraspol

Individual

Sources

  • Josef Zindel (2018). FC Basel 1893. Die ersten 125 Jahre (in German). Basel: Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7245-2305-5.

External links

  • at Soccerway
  • – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean and English)