# Josip Elez

Josip Elez (Croatian pronunciation:; born 25 April 1994) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Hajduk Split.

## Career

Elez started his career at NK Solin, his hometown club. At the age of 14 he moved to HNK Hajduk Split, where he spent five years as a youngster and also collected three first team caps in the Croatian First Football League.
In July 2013, age 19, Elez was transferred to S.S. Lazio for a fee €400,000. Elez spent the 2014–15 season on loan at Grosseto and Honvéd in Hungary, where he was a regular starter. He spent the following season on loan at Aarhus Gymnastikforening in Denmark, where he made 29 appearances and scored two goals. AGF were interested in keeping him at the club but were unable to agree a permanent move. In June 2016, Elez was sent to HNK Rijeka in Croatia on a season-long loan, with a buying option for €450,000. It was revealed in early May 2017 that HNK Rijeka exercised the buying option.
On 1 July 2017, Elez signed a three-year contract with HNK Rijeka, effectively tying him with the club until June 2020.
In January 2018, Elez was transferred to Hannover 96 on loan for the rest of the season. Hannover 96 was also given a buying option part of a transfer that would involve €3 million transfer fee.
Elez rejoined Hajduk Split for the 2021–22 season on a four-year contract. He scored his first goal for Hajduk Split against his former club Rijeka

## Career statistics

    As of 1 July 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Hajduk Split | 2011–12 | 1. HNL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Hajduk Split | 2012–13 | 1. HNL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Hajduk Split | Total | Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Lazio | 2013–14 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grosseto (loan) | 2014–15 | Lega Pro | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| Honvéd (loan) | 2014–15 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| AGF (loan) | 2015–16 | Superligaen | 25 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 |
| Rijeka (loan) | 2016–17 | 1. HNL | 34 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 2 |
| Rijeka | 2017–18 | 1. HNL | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 26 | 2 |
| Rijeka | Total | Total | 47 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 66 | 4 |
| Hannover 96 | 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Hannover 96 | 2018–19 | Bundesliga | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Hannover 96 | 2019–20 | 2. Bundesliga | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 0 |
| Hannover 96 | 2020–21 | 2. Bundesliga | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 17 | 0 |
| Hannover 96 | Total | Total | 61 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 662 | 0 |
| Hajduk Split | 2021–22 | 1. HNL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 164 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 189 | 7 |
* ↑ Appearances in the Europa League
* ↑ Six appearances in the Champions League, five appearances and two goals in the Europa League

## Honours

HNK Rijeka
* Croatian First Football League: 2016–17
* Croatian Football Cup: 2016–17
Hajduk Split
* Croatian Football Cup: 2021–22