For his move under the Cross, Josip Stanisic is leaving his birthplace and hometown Munich for the first time in his football career. "The team is packed with top players and I was really motivated by my talks with the club," said the defender. "There are clear ideas here and an exceptional environment. I'm really looking forward to the Werkself – for me they were one of the most exciting teams in the Bundesliga last season," the versatile defender explained in giving his reasons for the move to Leverkusen.
Stanisic took his first steps in football at the Munich club FC Perlach before joining the renowned academy at 1860 Munich at the age of nine. He stayed with the Lions for six years before joining SC Fürstenfeldbruck to the west of Munich. As a U17 player, Stanisic finally aroused interest of the biggest club in the Bavarian capital and he signed for Bayern Munich.
Despite injuries, Stanisic became an important player in the youth teams at the German record champions, trained with the now Bundesliga coach Sebastian Hoeneß in the U19s and he was a captain of the side in his second season.
He joined the FC Bayern second team for the 2019/20 season after they had been promoted to the third division. His coach Hoeneß went the same way and turned Stanisic from a central defensive player to a full-back.
In the late autumn of the following 2020/21 season, Stanisic had established himself as right-back with the FC Bayern second team and – with several players injured in the first team – he made his debut in the Bundesliga on 10 April 2021. Under the current Germany coach Hansi Flick, who was at the BayArena on Saturday for the Bundesliga match against RB Leipzig (3-2), Stanisic played the full 90 minutes against Union Berlin. However, that was his only appearance in the top-flight in 2021/22.
The following season he was part of the senior squad with good performances in training and games at the start of the season earning him a professional contract in November 2022 that ran to 2026. Stanisic played 13 games in the Bundesliga but he suffered muscular problems around the turn of the year. Last season he made 14 appearances in the top-flight as well as eight in the Champions League. He celebrated his third title win in succession with FC Bayern on the final matchday of the season.
At the international level, Stanisic, who has both German and Croatian nationality, opted for Germany in 2018 and he played two games for the Germany U19s. The Croatia Football Association became aware of Stanisic in the summer of 2021 after his regular appearances with FC Bayern – and they finally persuaded him to change his international team.
The first appearance for Croatia came in October 2021, almost a year later he played in the World Cup in Qatar. Croatia went out at the semi-final stage against the eventual winners Argentina including Bayer 04 player Exequiel Palacios. Now Stanisic and Palacios – at least at club level – will be on the pitch together.
Today sees Bayer 04 go head-to-head with their next direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Opponents Stuttgart are currently fifth in the table, level on points with the Werkself but one place below them due to a three-goal inferior goal difference. The Black and Reds' record at Bad Cannstatt tells a clearer story: they've not lost at VfB for over 16 years. One important factor in securing what would be three crucial points away from home is Leverkusen's strength on the counter-attack. Whilst Stuttgart are also extremely dangerous going forward, they will be without their captain. Today’s matchday news.
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Another showdown in the race for the Champions League places takes place in Swabia: on Saturday 9 May (kick-off 15:30 CEST), the Werkself visit VfB Stuttgart, who are only behind on goal difference. In his pre-match press conference, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about confidence, excitement and mentality.
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Reinforcement in attack: Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured the transfer of striker Maja Sternad from Bundesliga rivals SV Werder Bremen. The 22-year-old has signed a contract until 30 June 2028.
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It's a thrilling situation: as the season draws to a close, Stuttgart and Bayer 04 are heading into the home stretch almost neck and neck. After 32 games, with 17 wins, seven draws and eight defeats each, both teams are on 58 points. Even in terms of goals scored, VfB and the Werkself are level on 66. The Black and Reds have conceded just three fewer goals (43) than their rivals (46), which is why they sit one place behind fourth-placed Leverkusen. This Saturday, 9 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST), the two teams go head to head at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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