# Mario Gavranović

Mario Gavranović (Croatian pronunciation:; born 24 November 1989) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a forward.

## Club career
### Early career

Gavranović began his career with AS Vezia, before he was scouted by Team Ticino U18, the youth academy of FC Lugano. In the 2006–07 season, he played his first professional games in the Swiss Challenge League for FC Lugano. In his second season he scored eight goals in 21 games. In the summer of 2008 he signed for Yverdon-Sport and scored another eight goals in only 20 games. For the 2008–09 season, he moved to Neuchâtel Xamax.

### Schalke

After a successful start at Neuchâtel Xamax having scored eight goals in 17 games, Gavranović left his team to sign for Schalke 04 on 1 February 2010. He scored a vital goal for Schalke 04 in the Round of 16 in the Champions League against Valencia, which led his team to a 4–2 victory and a place in the quarter-finals. Gavranović joined fellow Bundesliga side Mainz on a season-long loan deal on 31 August 2011. Mainz reportedly paid €200,000 to secure his services and the loan included a deal for a permanent transfer worth €1.5 million.

### FC Zürich

After only making five appearances during his loan spell, Gavranović returned to Schalke at which point he agreed to cancel his contract in May 2012 and moved on a free transfer to FC Zürich in the summer. He made his debut for Zürich on 15 July 2012, and scored his first goal from the penalty spot in the same match, a 1–1 draw with FC Luzern.
Gavranović scored Zürich's winning goal against reigning champions FC Basel on 11 August 2013 in the fifth round of the Swiss Super League. He scored Zürich's first goal as the club twice came from behind to defeat FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy 3-2 in the second round of the Swiss Cup on 15 September. On 24 November, Gavranović netted twice in the second half of Zürich's Super League clash with FC Sion, inspiring his side to a 4–1 victory.
In the Zürich Derby match against Grasshoppers on 1 March 2014, Gavranović scored a goal in either half to give Zürich a 3-1 win. On 21 April 2014, Gavranović scored twice in extra-time to lead Zürich to a 2–0 victory over Basel in the final of the Swiss Cup.
After suffering a knee injury in training at the World Cup, Gavranović was sidelined for the rest of 2014.

### Rijeka

On 18 January 2016, Gavranović moved to HNK Rijeka in Croatia. He signed a 2+1⁄2-year contract with the club and joined their pre-season training camp in Dubai. Gavranović scored on his official club début on 12 February 2016, converting a cross by Roman Bezjak in the 25th minute to double Rijeka's lead against Lokomotiva. In two years with the club Gavranović scored 40 goals in 80 appearances.

### Dinamo Zagreb

On 5 January 2018, Gavranović joined Dinamo Zagreb as part of player exchange deal involving Domagoj Pavičić and Luka Capan. He signed a three-year contract with the club and selected the number 11 jersey. With a move to the new club and a successful spring season, Gavranović was determined to secure a place in Switzerland's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. During his official presentation in Zagreb Gavranović revealed that all of his family members are Dinamo supporters and since the early age he was also encouraged to support the club.
He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Slaven Belupo on 4 March. On 7 March, he scored against his former club Rijeka, but Dinamo would go on to lose the match 4–1. He scored again in a 2–0 win over Rudeš on 17 March and then scored against Istra 1961 in a 4–0 away win on 8 April. Gavranović scored twice in a 2–1 away win over rivals Hajduk Split, which moved Dinamo closer to securing a 19th league title.
He was released from Dinamo at the end of his contract on 30 July 2020. However, he returned to the club just three weeks later due to injury of club's first striker Bruno Petković. On 17 October, he scored his first hat-trick for Dinamo as they defeated Gorica 3–2.

## International career

Gavranović represented Switzerland on U-21 level in 14 games and scored three goals. On 26 March 2011, he made senior team debut in the 0–0 draw with Bulgaria in a Euro 2012 qualifier. His first goals arrived in a brace scored in a 4–2 friendly win over Croatia on 15 August 2012.
Gavranović was named in the final 23-man squad for the World Cup in Brazil on 13 May 2014. On 29 June, he sustained a serious knee injury in training, ruling him out for the rest of the World Cup and until early 2015.
Gavranović was named in manager Vladimir Petković's 23-man Swiss squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He played his first ever World Cup match in the second Group E match versus Serbia, entering at the start of the second half and giving an injury time assist which was finished by Xherdan Shaqiri for a 2–1 comeback win.
Gavranović was named in Petković's 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2020. On 28 June 2021, he was substituted for Shaqiri in the 73rd minute of the Round of 16 match against France. He scored Switzerland's third goal, tying the score at 3–3. After extra time and a penalty shoot-out, Switzerland won 5–4 (with Gavranović successfully converting his penalty) and qualified for the quarter-finals. That was the first time since the 1938 FIFA World Cup that Switzerland progressed past a knockout round of a major tournament, and the first time since the 1954 FIFA World Cup that they progressed to the quarter-finals of a major tournament.
On 15 September 2022, Gavranović announced his retirement from the Swiss national team, after eleven years and 41 appearances in the senior team. His last appearance was thus on 5 June 2022, in a 0–4 defeat to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League.

## Personal life

Gavranović was born in Lugano to Bosnian Croat parents, hailing from Gradačac in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2016, Gavranović is married to Anita, a Bosnian Croat from Derventa. In May 2019, Anita gave birth to a baby girl whom they named Leonie.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 24 April 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lugano | 2006–07 | Swiss Challenge League | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Lugano | 2007–08 | Swiss Challenge League | 21 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 8 |
| Lugano | Total | Total | 23 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 8 |
| Yverdon Sport | 2008–09 | Swiss Challenge League | 20 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 22 | 8 |
| Neuchâtel Xamax | 2009–10 | Swiss Super League | 17 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 10 |
| Schalke 04 | 2009–10 | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 2010–11 | Bundesliga | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 10 | 2 |
| Schalke 04 | 2011–12 | Bundesliga | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 2 |
| Schalke 04 | Total | Total | 10 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 14 | 4 |
| Mainz 05 | 2011–12 | Bundesliga | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Zürich | 2012–13 | Swiss Super League | 32 | 9 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 15 |
| Zürich | 2013–14 | Swiss Super League | 31 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 17 |
| Zürich | 2014–15 | Swiss Super League | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Zürich | 2015–16 | Swiss Super League | 16 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 4 |
| Zürich | Total | Total | 90 | 26 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 110 | 37 |
| Rijeka | 2015–16 | Prva HNL | 13 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 7 |
| Rijeka | 2016–17 | Prva HNL | 29 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 18 |
| Rijeka | 2017–18 | Prva HNL | 17 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 6 | — | — | 29 | 15 |
| Rijeka | Total | Total | 59 | 25 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 6 | — | — | 80 | 40 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2017–18 | Prva HNL | 15 | 8 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 9 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2018–19 | Prva HNL | 24 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 2 | — | — | 40 | 12 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2019–20 | Prva HNL | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 7 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2020–21 | Prva HNL | 27 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 1 | — | — | 40 | 19 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2021–22 | Prva HNL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 1 |
| Dinamo Zagreb | Total | Total | 88 | 39 | 11 | 6 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 133 | 48 |
| Kayserispor | 2021–22 | Süper Lig | 26 | 10 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 12 |
| Kayserispor | 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 22 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 25 | 5 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 350 | 129 | 52 | 33 | 51 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 461 | 172 |
* ↑ Includes Swiss Cup, DFB-Pokal, Croatian Football Cup, Turkish Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
* 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Six appearances and three goals in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Five appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearance in Croatian Football Super Cup
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of match played 5 June 2022
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Switzerland | 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 2012 | 3 | 4 |
| Switzerland | 2013 | 4 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 2014 | 2 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 2015 | 0 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 2016 | 0 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 2017 | 0 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 2018 | 9 | 2 |
| Switzerland | 2019 | 2 | 1 |
| Switzerland | 2020 | 4 | 3 |
| Switzerland | 2021 | 11 | 6 |
| Switzerland | 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 41 | 16 |
    As of 12 October 2021
    Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gavranović goal.
List of international goals scored by Mario Gavranović :
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 15 August 2012 | Stadion Poljud, Split, Croatia | 3 | Croatia | 3–1 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 15 August 2012 | Stadion Poljud, Split, Croatia | 3 | Croatia | 4–2 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 12 October 2012 | Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf, Bern, Switzerland | 4 | Norway | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 16 October 2012 | Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland | 5 | Iceland | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 27 March 2018 | Swissporarena, Luzern, Switzerland | 13 | Panama | 5–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 12 October 2018 | King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium | 18 | Belgium | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League A |
| 7 | 8 September 2019 | Stade Tourbillon, Sion, Switzerland | 22 | Gibraltar | 4–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 8 | 7 October 2020 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | 23 | Croatia | 1–0 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 9 | 13 October 2020 | RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany | 25 | Germany | 1–0 | 3–3 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A |
| 10 | 13 October 2020 | RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany | 25 | Germany | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A |
| 11 | 31 March 2021 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | 29 | Finland | 1–0 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 12 | 3 June 2021 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | 30 | Liechtenstein | 1–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 13 | 3 June 2021 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | 30 | Liechtenstein | 5–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 14 | 3 June 2021 | Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland | 30 | Liechtenstein | 6–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 15 | 28 June 2021 | Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania | 34 | France | 3–3 | 3–3 (a.e.t.) | UEFA Euro 2020 |
| 16 | 12 October 2021 | LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania | 36 | Lithuania | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours

Schalke 04
* DFB-Pokal: 2010–11
Zürich
* Swiss Cup: 2013–14, 2015–16
Rijeka
* Prva HNL: 2016–17
* Croatian Cup: 2016–17
Dinamo Zagreb
* Prva HNL: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
* Croatian Cup: 2017–18, 2020–21
* Croatian Super Cup: 2019
Switzerland U21
* UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 2011
Individual
* Croatian Cup top scorer: 2016–17
* Football Oscar – Prva HNL Team of the Year: 2017, 2018