Josip Weber
Encyclopedia
Josip Weber is a Croatia
n-Belgian
retired professional football forward. He is best known for playing with Belgian club Cercle Brugge
while also representing Croatia
and Belgium at international level.
and Anderlecht
. In his international career, Weber became notable as one of the last footballers who played for national teams of two countries after acquiring another nationality. In July 1992, he started his international career with the Croatian national team
during their Australia
n tour, where he appeared in all three of their friendly matches against the Australian national team and also managed to score Croatia's only goal during the tour as he scored in the second match, which they lost 3-1. The other two matches ended with a 1-0 win for Australia and a goalless draw respectively. After that, he never played for Croatia again.
During the 1993-94 season, Weber took Belgian nationality and became eligible to play for the Belgian national team (he was allowed to play for Belgium because the previous matches for Croatia were all friendlies that were not under FIFA. Croatia only joinded FIFA and UEFA in 1993). He made his debut for Belgium on 3 June 1994 in their friendly match against Zambia
, which was highly successful as he managed to score five goals in a 9-0 win for Belgium. He was also a regular member of the Belgian team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
in the United States
and played in all of their four matches at the tournament, starting three of them. He nevertheless did not manage to score any goals before Belgium was eliminated by Germany
in the round of 16. On the final minutes of that match, he was brought down in the penalty area by Thomas Helmer
, but referee Kurt Röthlisberger
did not grant the penalty that could have been the Belgian equaliser. He won a total of eight international caps and scored six goals for Belgium, all in 1994.
While playing for Cercle Brugge in three seasons between 1991 and 1994, Weber became the top goalscorer of the Jupiler League
three times in a row. He has the 2nd most goals ever for Cercle Brugge. Only Marcel Pertry
scored more goals.
Josip Weber was transferred to Anderlecht in the summer of 1994 and finished his career at the club in June 1997.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n-Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
retired professional football forward. He is best known for playing with Belgian club Cercle Brugge
Cercle Brugge K.S.V.
Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging is a Belgian football team from Bruges. Cercle have played in the Belgian Pro League since the 2003-04 season, having previously spent several years in the Belgian Second Division following relegation in 1997. Their matricule is the n°12. The club play...
while also representing Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
and Belgium at international level.
Career
At club level, he played for Belgian clubs Cercle BruggeCercle Brugge K.S.V.
Cercle Brugge Koninklijke Sportvereniging is a Belgian football team from Bruges. Cercle have played in the Belgian Pro League since the 2003-04 season, having previously spent several years in the Belgian Second Division following relegation in 1997. Their matricule is the n°12. The club play...
and Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
. In his international career, Weber became notable as one of the last footballers who played for national teams of two countries after acquiring another nationality. In July 1992, he started his international career with the Croatian national team
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
during their Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n tour, where he appeared in all three of their friendly matches against the Australian national team and also managed to score Croatia's only goal during the tour as he scored in the second match, which they lost 3-1. The other two matches ended with a 1-0 win for Australia and a goalless draw respectively. After that, he never played for Croatia again.
During the 1993-94 season, Weber took Belgian nationality and became eligible to play for the Belgian national team (he was allowed to play for Belgium because the previous matches for Croatia were all friendlies that were not under FIFA. Croatia only joinded FIFA and UEFA in 1993). He made his debut for Belgium on 3 June 1994 in their friendly match against Zambia
Zambia national football team
The Zambia national football team represents the country of Zambia in the sport of association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia. Before independence they were known as the Northern Rhodesia national football team. The side is nicknamed Chipolopolo as copper is one of...
, which was highly successful as he managed to score five goals in a 9-0 win for Belgium. He was also a regular member of the Belgian team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and played in all of their four matches at the tournament, starting three of them. He nevertheless did not manage to score any goals before Belgium was eliminated by Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
in the round of 16. On the final minutes of that match, he was brought down in the penalty area by Thomas Helmer
Thomas Helmer
Thomas Helmer is a former German footballer.His preferred playing position was sweeper, but he was primarily deployed as a central defender....
, but referee Kurt Röthlisberger
Kurt Röthlisberger
Kurt Röthlisberger is a retired football referee from Switzerland. He is mostly known for supervising five matches in the FIFA World Cup...
did not grant the penalty that could have been the Belgian equaliser. He won a total of eight international caps and scored six goals for Belgium, all in 1994.
While playing for Cercle Brugge in three seasons between 1991 and 1994, Weber became the top goalscorer of the Jupiler League
Jupiler League
The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
three times in a row. He has the 2nd most goals ever for Cercle Brugge. Only Marcel Pertry
Marcel Pertry
Marcel Pertry is a Belgian former football player. Pertry is especially remembered for his goalscoring abilities. Pertry is also Cercle Brugge's all-time top scorer....
scored more goals.
Josip Weber was transferred to Anderlecht in the summer of 1994 and finished his career at the club in June 1997.