1. Overview
Marin Ljubičić, born on February 28, 2002, is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a centre forward. Standing at 72 in (183 cm) and primarily using his right foot, his club career has seen him develop through the youth ranks of HNK Hajduk Split, make a significant impact on loan and then permanently at LASK in Austria, and subsequently join 1. FC Union Berlin in Germany.
2. Early Life and Youth Career
Marin Ljubičić was born on February 28, 2002, in Split, Croatia. His family originates from Runovići. Early in his career, he earned the nickname "the Split Mbappé" due to his promising talent. Ljubičić was raised and developed within the youth academy of HNK Hajduk Split, making notable progress through their system, including the Hajduk U19s. His strong performances at the youth level led to his promotion to the senior team in the spring of 2021, under the management of Paolo Tramezzani.
3. Club Career
Marin Ljubičić's professional career began at his hometown club, Hajduk Split, before he moved on to play in Austria and Germany, marking various milestones in his progression.
3.1. HNK Hajduk Split
Ljubičić made his senior debut for Hajduk Split on March 2, 2021, at the age of 19, in a Croatian Cup match against NK Zagreb. He entered the game as a substitute in the 79th minute, replacing Mehmet Umut Nayir, in a match that Hajduk won 3-0. His senior league debut in the Prva HNL followed on March 20, 2021, in a Dalmatian derby against HNK Šibenik at Stadion Poljud. Coming on in the 62nd minute for Tonio Teklić, he scored the only goal of the match from a Mario Vušković cross, securing a 1-0 victory for Hajduk. His performance garnered praise from prominent footballers, including Inter Milan winger Ivan Perišić. Just nine days later, on March 29, Ljubičić signed a long-term professional contract with Hajduk Split, committing to the club until 2026. He also made his European debut on July 22, 2021, in a Conference League qualifier, where he scored two goals in a 2-0 win over FC Tobol.
3.2. LASK
On June 28, 2022, Marin Ljubičić made a loan move to Austrian club LASK, which included a buy option. He quickly established himself as a regular starter for the team, often wearing jersey number 11. By the midway point of the 2022-23 season, Ljubičić had demonstrated significant impact, scoring 13 goals in 17 official matches. His impressive performance led LASK to activate their option, making the transfer permanent on December 23, 2022. LASK paid a transfer fee of 3.00 M EUR to Hajduk Split, and Ljubičić signed a five-year contract with the Austrian club.
3.3. 1. FC Union Berlin
Marin Ljubičić subsequently joined German club Union Berlin on February 2, 2024. He began playing for the club in the Bundesliga.
4. Career Statistics
The following table details Marin Ljubičić's appearances and goals across various clubs, seasons, and competitions as of February 22, 2025.
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hajduk Split II | 2020-21 | Druga HNL | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| Hajduk Split | 2020-21 | Prva HNL | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 8 | 1 | |
| 2021-22 | 30 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 8 | ||
| Total | 37 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 44 | 9 | ||
| LASK (loan) | 2022-23 | Austrian Bundesliga | 14 | 9 | 3 | 4 | - | 17 | 13 | |
| LASK | 2022-23 | Austrian Bundesliga | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | 16 | 3 | |
| 2023-24 | 31 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 41 | 15 | ||
| 2024-25 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 23 | 4 | ||
| Total | 61 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 80 | 22 | ||
| Union Berlin | 2024-25 | Bundesliga | 3 | 1 | - | - | 3 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 116 | 32 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 145 | 45 | ||
5. Honours
Hajduk Split
- Croatian Cup: 2021-22