Munich – Josip Stanisic has become an indispensable part of the FC Bayern setup. The Munich-born versatile defender, who won the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024, is now a key player this season. He’s already contributed to six goals in the Bundesliga. His development has impressed many, including Bayern legend Ivica Olic.
Olic played for the German record champions between 2009 and 2012 and is currently the coach of the Croatian U21 national team. He’s been closely monitoring the progress of his compatriot. From 2017 to 2024, Olic served as an assistant coach to the 2018 World Cup runners-up, giving him ample opportunity to observe Josip Stanisic.
Bayern Legend Ivica Olic Praises Josip Stanisic
The former striker revealed to Bild: “Josip has become my absolute favorite player in Croatia! When he joined our national team in 2022, I was still an assistant coach. Because of my time as a player in the Bundesliga, it was my job to look after the Croatian national players who played in Germany. That’s why I followed Josip very closely.”
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Olic was asked if he expected Stanisic to develop into such an important player for Bayern so quickly. “His development at Bayern was surprisingly rapid for us – from being the 12th or 13th man in the squad to becoming a really important player,” Olic said. The attacking style of play under coach Vincent Kompany suits him well, allowing him to showcase his strengths on the pitch.
According to Bayern’s Sporting Director Christoph Freund, “He plays a lot of minutes, has a great rhythm, is extremely fit and can play multiple positions. In this team, with so many fine footballers around him, he really enjoys playing and not just defending.” Ivica Olic, drawing on his own experience, understands the value of that versatility.
“He benefits greatly from being able to play well in all defensive positions and is always willing to do so. That’s why Josip is a player that every coach wants. His qualities are extremely important for a team.” Stanisic has become a true asset for both FC Bayern and the Croatian national team, a player driven to win many titles.
Josip Stanisic, born on April 2, 2000, currently plays as a defender for Bayern Munich. According to Wikipedia, he is 1.86m (6 ft 1 in) tall and can play as a full-back, centre-back, or wing-back. He has made 61 appearances for Bayern Munich, scoring 3 goals, as of March 21, 2026. He spent the 2023-2024 season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, where he made 20 appearances and scored 3 goals.
Stanisic has also represented Croatia at the international level, earning 27 caps as of November 17, 2025. He was part of the Croatian squad that finished as runners-up in the 2023 UEFA Nations League and participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Bayern Munich will face a challenging schedule in April, with several key players potentially returning from international duty with fitness concerns. The club will be hoping Stanisic remains fit and available as they push for success on multiple fronts.
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