The rare feat of winning the Bundesliga with two different clubs
In short: Josip Stanišić achieved a statistical anomaly in German football. By moving from Bayern Munich to Bayer Leverkusen, he became one of only two players in history to secure the Bundesliga title with two separate clubs in consecutive seasons. His journey from a local youth prospect to a continental champion is a study in rapid progression.
Stanišić's path to the top began in the lower tiers of German football. At 15, he was a standout performer for SC Fürstenfeldbruck in the sixth division, where he was noted as a top goalscorer for the B-Juniors. His potential was quickly identified by Bayern Munich, who signed him for their U17s in early 2017. Despite early setbacks, including an ankle fracture that cost him a B-Junior Championship, he remained a consistent presence in Bayern's academy, eventually becoming a captain of the A-Juniors.
His professional breakthrough arrived in 2021. After making his debut for Bayern Munich II in the 3. Liga, he transitioned to the senior team. He made his Bundesliga debut on April 10, 2021, and quickly became a versatile asset, capable of playing as a right-back, left-back, wing-back, or centre-back. His adaptability allowed him to stay with the senior squad during the 2021 pre-season, bypassing an initial plan to send him on loan to Heidenheim.
The most significant chapter of his career unfolded during a one-year loan to Bayer Leverkusen starting in August 2023. During this period, he played a pivotal role in Leverkusen's historic first-ever Bundesliga title in April 2024. By winning the trophy with Leverkusen following his tenure at Bayern, he joined August Starek (1968, 1969) as the only players to achieve this consecutive feat with different clubs. He also contributed to a record-breaking 49-match unbeaten streak for Leverkusen, scoring a 97th-minute goal in a Europa League semi-final in May 2024.
Internationally, Stanišić represents Croatia, the country of his parents' heritage. Despite being born in Munich and representing Germany at the U19 level, he debuted for the senior Croatian national team on October 8, 2021. He has since been a regular fixture in their major tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he featured in the third-place play-off victory over Morocco.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Josip Stanišić
- Also: Wikidata — Josip Stanišić · CC0
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