Adam Bugarija Cardeno (born 22 February 2005) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Perth Glory in the A-League Men.
Club career
Born in Baulkham Hills in New South Wales,[1] Bugarija was a youth player at Sydney United and played for two years at Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia before returning to Sydney to play for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2023.[2]
Bugarija played for Western Sydney Wanderers' reserve team in the National Premier Leagues NSW before joining fellow A-League Men team Perth Glory on a three-year deal in June 2024, having been convinced to join by director of football Stan Lazaridis.[3] He made his debut on 3 August in the round of 32 of the Australia Cup, at home to Melbourne City; coming on in the 70th minute, he scored the equaliser as the match finished 4–4 in regulation time, with the Western Australian side scoring the winning goal in extra time.[4] In the next round 25 days later away to Moreton City Excelsior of the National Premier Leagues Queensland, he was sent off for two yellow cards in 42 minutes in a 3–2 loss.[5]
Bugarija made his A-League debut on 20 October as the season opened with a 6–1 loss away to Macarthur. He came on as a half-time substitute and scored a consolation goal.[6] He was one of 18 teenagers in the league, a record for an opening day of the league season.[7]
International career
In July 2024, Bugarija was called up by the Australia under-19 team for the 2024 ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship in Indonesia.[8] Five months later, he was one of three Perth Glory teammates called up for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China.[9]
References
- ^ "Adam Bugarija Cardeno". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "Glory sign talented teens in double transfer swoop: "I'd liken him to Mo Salah!"". A-Leagues. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "Perth Glory stock up on youth as NSW teens Adam Bugarija and Abdelelah Faisal sign on". The West Australian. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "Australia Cup: Perth Glory come from two goals down to beat Melbourne City 5-4 in extra-time". The West Australian. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ Cattell, Adam (29 August 2024). "Millar's Moreton City show what they are all about in incredible Glory cupset". Front Page Football. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "A-League Men: Only three Perth Glory players rated higher than six out of 10 following horror Macarthur loss". The West Australian. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ Pisani, Sacha (20 October 2024). "Remember the names: Isuzu UTE A-League teenagers at the centre of a history-making opening round". A-League. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "Subway Young Socceroos Squad Update – ASEAN U-19 Boys' Championship". Football Australia. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "Subway Young Socceroos squad named for AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025™". Football Australia. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.