Ante Budimir (born 22 July 1991) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Osasuna and the Croatia national team. Known for his aerial ability, physical presence, and prolific goalscoring, he has established himself as one of the most consistent forwards in Spanish football.
Early Life and Club Career
Budimir was born in Zenica, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia, but grew up in Croatia. He began his youth career at NK Radnik Velika Gorica before joining the youth setup of HNK Gorica.
- HNK Gorica (2009–2011): Budimir started his senior career with HNK Gorica in the Croatian Second Football League.
- NK Lokomotiva (2011–2014): He moved to Prva HNL club NK Lokomotiva in 2011, where he made his top-flight debut and began to gain recognition for his goalscoring instincts. His performances attracted interest from abroad.
- FC St. Pauli (2014–2015): In 2014, Budimir transferred to German 2. Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli. He struggled to find regular playing time and goals in Germany.
- Crotone (2015–2017): He was loaned to Italian Serie B club Crotone in 2015. Here, Budimir found his form, scoring 16 goals in 40 appearances during the 2015–16 season, helping Crotone achieve promotion to Serie A for the first time in their history. His successful loan spell led to Crotone activating a buy-option. He continued to play for Crotone in Serie A.
- Sampdoria (2016–2017): Following his impressive season with Crotone, Budimir was signed by Serie A club Sampdoria in the summer of 2016 but was immediately loaned back to Crotone for the 2016–17 season.
- Return to Crotone (2017–2018): After his loan, he rejoined Sampdoria but was once again loaned back to Crotone for the 2017–18 season.
- Mallorca (2019–2020): In January 2019, Budimir moved to Spain, joining Segunda División club Mallorca on loan. He played a crucial role in their promotion to La Liga, scoring important goals. Mallorca subsequently signed him permanently. In the 2019–20 La Liga season, he scored 13 goals, despite Mallorca's relegation, attracting significant attention from other Spanish clubs.
- Osasuna (2020–present): In October 2020, Budimir joined Osasuna on loan with an obligation to buy. He quickly became a key player, and the move was made permanent. He has since been a consistent goalscorer for the Pamplona-based club, helping them maintain their status in La Liga and reach the Copa del Rey final in 2023.
International Career
Budimir represented Croatia at various youth levels. He received his first call-up to the senior Croatia national team in August 2020. He made his debut on 7 October 2020 in a friendly against Switzerland. He has since become a regular member of the squad, often serving as a backup striker and providing a valuable option with his physicality. He was part of the Croatia squad for UEFA Euro 2020 and UEFA Euro 2024.
Playing Style
Ante Budimir is primarily known as a traditional centre-forward. His key attributes include:
- Aerial Prowess: Excellent in the air, he is a significant threat from crosses and set-pieces.
- Physicality: Strong and robust, he can hold up the ball effectively and battle defenders.
- Goal Poaching: He possesses good positional sense in the box, allowing him to anticipate chances and score.
- Work Rate: Often contributes defensively, pressing opponents and tracking back.
Honours
Club
- Crotone:
- Serie B runner-up: 2015–16 (promotion to Serie A)
- Mallorca:
- Segunda División play-off winner: 2018–19 (promotion to La Liga)
- Osasuna:
- Copa del Rey runner-up: 2022–23
Individual
- Several nominations for La Liga Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards.
References
- Various football news outlets and official club websites.