Adam Bugarija

Adam Bugarija
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-02-22) 22 February 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Perth Glory
Number 21
Youth career
Sydney United
–2023 Dinamo Zagreb
2023–2024 Western Sydney Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024 Western Sydney Wanderers NPL
2024– Perth Glory 14 (0)
International career
2024 Australia U19 3 (0)
2024– Australia U20 6 (4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 29 October 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 29 October 2025

Adam Bugarija Cardeno[1] (Croatian: [buˈɡarija], Spanish: [kaɾˈðeno];[2] born 22 February 2005) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Perth Glory in the A-League Men.

Club career

[edit]

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7] He was one of 18 teenagers in the league, a record for an opening day of the league season.[8]

International career

[edit]

In July 2024, Bugarija was called up by the Australia under-19 team for the 2024 ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship in Indonesia.[9] Five months later, he was one of three Perth Glory teammates called up for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China.[10] He was an unused substitute as Australia won the title for the first time, defeating Saudi Arabia in the final.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Adam Bugarija Cardeno". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Instagram".
  3. ^ "Glory sign talented teens in double transfer swoop: "I'd liken him to Mo Salah!"". A-Leagues. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Subway Young Socceroos Squad Update – ASEAN U-19 Boys' Championship". Football Australia. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  10. ^ "Subway Young Socceroos squad named for AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025™". Football Australia. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  11. ^ "Subway Young Socceroos clinch first-ever AFC U20 Asian Cup title in historic shootout victory". Football Australia. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.