The FC Bayern defender can do many things on the pitch…
This guest post was written by Zach Lowy, Chief Editor and Social Media Manager of BreakingTheLines.com. Zach is a successful journalist and can be followed at @ZachLowy on X and @zachlowy.bsky.social on Bluesky. Zach’s work can also be found on FotMob, BetUS and others.
It has been a 2025 to remember for Josip Stanišić.
Born in Munich to Croatian parents, Stanišić joined Bayern Munich’s academy in 2017 and ascended the ranks before making his Bundesliga debut in April 2021 and signing a professional contract. Initially tipped to make the move to Heidenheim on loan, he instead remained put in Bavaria and emerged as a valuable squad player, impressing in multiple positions across defense under Julian Nagelsmann and racking up 17 and 23 appearances. Desperate for a place where he could start week in week out, Stanišić then made the move to Bayer Leverkusen on loan, where, after riding the bench in the Bundesliga for the majority of the first half of the 2023/24 season, he locked down a starting spot in the backline.
Whether playing as a right-sided center-back or a wing-back on either flank, Stanišić’s versatility and footballing intelligence shone through under Xabi Alonso, scoring 4 goals and 6 assists in 38 appearances and proving instrumental in a historic season for Leverkusen. Die Werkself ended a three-decade-long wait for silverware and put an end to Bayern’s run of 11 straight Bundesliga titles, with Stanišić twisting the knife into Thomas Tuchel’s side’s wounds after scoring in a 3-0 win vs. Bayern in February 2024 to all but secure Leverkusen’s maiden league title. Stanišić proved to be a real headache for opposition managers like Marco Rose and Thomas Grønnemark, in addition to also leading them to the UEFA Europa League Final and the successful conquest of the DFB-Pokal title. He then returned to Bayern, where, after missing the near-entirety of the first half of the campaign with a torn lateral knee ligament, he returned to action in late January and emerged as a key figure under Vincent Kompany, registering two assists and helping Bayern reclaim the league title from Leverkusen’s grasp.
Out of Stanišić’s 26 appearances in 2024/25, 10 came at left back, eight came at center back, whilst eight came at right back. He started the 2025/26 season as Bayern’s first-choice left back before suffering a partial rupture of the medial ligament in his right knee against Chelsea and missing a month of action. However, since returning to action in late October, Stanišić has proven essential in Bayern’s sensational first half of the campaign, allowing them to establish a seemingly insurmountable advantage. Bayern sit atop the Bundesliga table with 41 points, nine above second-placed Borussia Dortmund, whilst they also sit second in the UEFA Champions League table, three points behind Arsenal, and they’ll be facing off against RB Leipzig in February’s DFB-Pokal Final. The Bavarians are well on their way to surpassing last season’s single trophy haul, and if they are to end up with a historic silverware collection, they’ll need Stanišić to continue deliver the goods.
At just 25 years of age, Stanišić has established himself as a difference-maker in defense for Bayern and an increasingly indispensable figure. Similarly to others like Branislav Ivanović and Danny Higginbotham, Stanišić is a no-nonsense fullback who’s more than willing to step in with a well-executed tackle in order to prevent his man from making a break down the byline, and he’s always got his head on a swivel, ready to track back or push up if necessary in order to snuff out the danger. He’s also showcased a newfound efficiency in front of the back of the net in recent weeks, scoring against Stuttgart on December 6 before closing out the year with a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win at Heidenheim.
All things considered, Stanišić’s main attribute is his versatility. It doesn’t matter whether he’s slotting in for the injured Alphonso Davies on the left side of defense, or playing at right back so that Joshua Kimmich can play in his preferred midfield role, or putting in a shift in central defense to make up for a suspended Dayot Upamecano or Jonathan Tah or Kim Min-jae, Stanišić is happy to do whatever it takes to help the team pick up the three points. He’s the textbook definition of a team player, and it’s precisely these skills that have seen him become a key figure in the backline, establishing himself in the XI ahead of the likes of Konrad Laimer and Sacha Boey.
Whilst he was an unused substitute for the bulk of Croatia’s run to the FIFA World Cup semifinals, Stanišić has nevertheless registered 27 appearances for his national team, and all signs point to him having a starting role to play as they get set to face off against England, Panama and Ghana. But first, he’ll be looking to lead Bayern to what could very well end up being one of the greatest seasons in the club’s entire history.
This guest post was written by Zach Lowy, Chief Editor and Social Media Manager of BreakingTheLines.com. Zach is a successful journalist and can be followed at @ZachLowy on X and @zachlowy.bsky.social on Bluesky. Zach’s work can also be found on FotMob, BetUS and others.
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Category: General Sports
