# Stjepan Lončar

Stjepan Lončar (pronounced; born 10 November 1996) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Croatian Football League club Istra 1961.
Lončar started his professional career at Široki Brijeg, before joining Rijeka in 2018. Three years later, he moved to Ferencváros, who loaned him to Kortrijk in 2022 and to Astana in 2023. The following year, he signed with Lech Poznań. In 2025, he was transferred to Istra 1961.
A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lončar made his senior international debut in 2018, earning 11 caps until 2021.

## Club career
### Early career

Lončar came through Široki Brijeg's youth academy, which he joined in 2003. He made his professional debut against Vitez on 24 July 2016 at the age of 19. On 20 September 2017, he scored his first professional goal against Radnik Bijeljina, which sent his team through in their cup tie.

### Rijeka

In June 2018, Lončar signed a three-year deal with Croatian side Rijeka. He made his official debut for the squad on 3 August against Inter Zaprešić. On 10 February 2019, he scored his first goal for Rijeka against the same opponent. He won his first trophy with the club on 22 May, by beating Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian Cup final.
On 3 March 2021, he played his 100th game for the team against Osijek.

### Ferencváros

In July, Lončar was transferred to Hungarian outfit Ferencváros for an undisclosed fee. He made his competitive debut for the side against Kisvárda on 31 July. On 19 September, he scored his first goal for Ferencváros in a Magyar Kupa match against Hatvan. Seven weeks later, he scored his first league goal in a triumph over Kisvárda. He won his first title with the club on 24 April 2022, when they were crowned league champions.
In September, Lončar was sent on a season-long loan to Belgian team Kortrijk.
In July 2023, he was loaned to Kazakh side Astana until the end of the season.

### Lech Poznań

On 6 September 2024, Lončar moved to Polish club Lech Poznań on a contract until June 2025. He debuted officially for the team on 14 September in a 5–0 win over Jagiellonia, and provided an assist to Lech's fourth goal.

### Istra 1961

On 3 February 2025, after being left out of Lech's roster for the winter training camp, Lončar returned to Croatia to join Istra 1961 on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

## International career

Lončar represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at various youth levels.
In January 2018, he received his first senior call-up, for friendly games against the United States and Mexico. He debuted against the latter on 31 January.
Lončar retired from international football on 30 November 2023.

## Personal life

Lončar married his long-time girlfriend Stela in January 2025.
His father Robert was also a professional footballer.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 8 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Široki Brijeg | 2016–17 | Bosnian Premier League | 23 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Široki Brijeg | 2017–18 | Bosnian Premier League | 25 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 4 |
| Široki Brijeg | Total | Total | 48 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 63 | 4 |
| Rijeka | 2018–19 | Croatian Football League | 27 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| Rijeka | 2019–20 | Croatian Football League | 31 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 6 |
| Rijeka | 2020–21 | Croatian Football League | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 42 | 3 |
| Rijeka | Total | Total | 89 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 113 | 12 |
| Ferencváros | 2021–22 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 19 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
| Ferencváros | 2022–23 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Ferencváros | 2023–24 | Nemzeti Bajnokság I | 12 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| Ferencváros | Total | Total | 32 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 50 | 8 |
| Kortrijk (loan) | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 |
| Astana (loan) | 2023 | Kazakhstan Premier League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 18 | 1 |
| Lech Poznań | 2024–25 | Ekstraklasa | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Lech Poznań II | 2024–25 | III liga, group II | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Istra 1961 | 2024–25 | Croatian Football League | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 206 | 19 | 36 | 4 | 37 | 3 | 279 | 26 |
* ↑ Includes Bosnian Cup, Croatian Cup, Magyar Kupa, Belgian Cup, Polish Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League; six appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League; two appearances in UEFA Europa League; seven appearances, one goal in UEFA Conference League

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 11 | 0 |

## Honours

Široki Brijeg
* Bosnian Cup: 2016–17
Rijeka
* Croatian Cup: 2018–19, 2019–20
Ferencváros
* Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2021–22, 2023–24
* Magyar Kupa: 2021–22