Steven Lustica

Steven Lustica

Steven Lustica playing for Gold Coast United in 2010
Personal information
Full nameSteven Peter Lustica
Date of birth12 April 1991
Place of birthCanberra, Australian Capital Territory
Height1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Brisbane Roar
Number8
Youth career
Canberra FC
ACTAS
2008–2009Sydney FC Youth
2009–2011Gold Coast United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2009–2011Gold Coast United4(0)
2011–2013Hajduk Split26(1)
2012→ Dugopolje (loan)10(1)
2013→ Brisbane Roar (loan)12(2)
2013–2014Adelaide United15(1)
2014–Brisbane Roar25(5)
National team
2009–2011Australia U-2021(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 October 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Steven Peter Lustica (born 12 April 1991) is an Australian football (soccer) player who plays for Brisbane Roar in the A-League.

Club career

Gold Coast

On 24 April 2009, it was confirmed that Lustica had been signed by Gold Coast United,[1] after impressing United's assistant coach, Paul Okon, during his tenure as under-18s coach at the Australian Olympic Youth Festival.[2]

On 19 September 2009, he made his senior debut for Gold Coast, coming off the bench in the 88th minute against Central Coast Mariners.[3]

Hajduk Split

On 8 June 2011, it was announced that Lustica had signed a contract with Croatian giant Hajduk Split.[4]

Dugopolje (loan)

On 25 January 2012 it was announced that Lustica would join Croatian 2. HNL side NK Dugopolje for the second half of the 2011–12 season.[5] Lustica made 10 appearances for Dugopolje, scoring one goal and assisting the club in achieving promotion to Prva HNL as they beat NK Pomorac Kostrena to the 2. HNL Championship by one point.[6] Lustica returned to Hajduk Split at the conclusion of Dugopolje's season.[7]

Brisbane Roar (loan)

On 26 January 2013, Brisbane Roar in the Australian A-League signed Lustica on a loan deal which would see him stay at the club until the end of the 2012–13 A-League season.[8] Prior to his signing, Brisbane were having a disappointing season, losing 10 of their opening 17 games of the season and picking up just 17 points. Reunited with former coach Mike Mulvey, Lustica would help turn around Brisbane's season. The club lost only two league games in the remaining 10 games of the regular season, qualifying for the post-season Finals, a feat which looked unlikely after the first two thirds of the season. Despite the Roar being interested in retaining Lustica, Hajduk Split refused to release him and he returned to Hajduk in June 2013.[9] Luštica scored two goals in his 12 appearances on loan with Brisbane.

Adelaide United

In September 2013, Hajduk Split changed their mind about releasing him and Lustica was granted a release from his contract which allowed him to return to the A-League with Adelaide United where he agreed a one year contract for the 2013–14 season.[10][11] Lustica impressed in his appearances for United, earning himself a place in the Team of the Week in Round 13.[12]

Departure from Adelaide United

Lustica's time at Adelaide was to be short-lived however, when on 29 January 2014 he requested an early termination to his contract in order to make himself available to former club Brisbane Roar. As Lustica entered the final six months of his contract, he was in negotiations with Adelaide over a one-year extension. According to Adelaide, an agreement was reached in principal but not formalised. Around the same time, Brisbane approached him and an enquiry was made as to whether Adelaide would consider releasing him to join the club immediately, which Adelaide refused.[13] Following this, Adelaide head coach Josep Gombau reported that Lustica had failed to attend training and declared that Lustica was no longer welcome at the club. Lustica was subsequently released from contract with Adelaide United on 2 February 2014.[14]

Return to Brisbane Roar

On 4 February 2014, it was announced that Lustica had re-signed with former club, Brisbane Roar until the end of the 2015–16 season.[15] In the first season of his second spell at the club, Lustica made 25 appearances, scoring one goal and making one assist.

References

  1. ↑ Gold Coast gains from 'Australian' Kiwi
  2. ↑ Two Steves tame Fury
  3. ↑ Mariners lift to stun United
  4. ↑ Strahija, Ivana; Dubravac, Ante (8 June 2011). "Miličević i Luštica potpisali za Hajduk". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  5. ↑ http://www.dalmacijanews.com/Hajduk/View/tabid/88/ID/78235/Lustica-odlazi-na-posudbu-u-Dugopolje-Runje-odbio-Hajduka.aspx
  6. ↑ http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1108013/aussies-abroad---may-2012
  7. ↑ http://www.coerver.com.au/wp/act/2012/09/05/great-news-from-former-coerver-kid-steven-lustica-who-is-currently-playing-in-crotia-for-club-side-hajduk-split/
  8. ↑ Lustica lands for Brisbane FootballAustralia.com
  9. ↑ Ferreira and Petratos join Roar FootballAustralia.com
  10. ↑ http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/steven-lustica-is-adelaide-uniteds-latest-signing-returning-to-the-a-league-from-hajduk-split/story-e6frf4gl-1226715876026
  11. ↑ "Reds snare Lustica for Season 9". Adelaide United FC (Football Federation Australia). 2014-01-06. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  12. ↑ "Team of the Week: Round 13". Damien Bellemore (Football Federation Australia). 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  13. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-29/adelaide-united-refuses-to-release-lustica/5225066
  14. ↑ "Adelaide United agree to release Steven Lustica". Sacha Pisani (Sportal). 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  15. ↑ "Steven Lustica returns to Roar". Football Federation Australia. 4 February 2014.

External links