After triumph in Belgium
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Exactly a year ago, striker Franjo Ivanović (22) spoke to Transfermarkt about his remarkable path to professional football. This was followed by his big breakthrough at Union SG, the championship title in Belgium and a historically expensive move to Benfica in Lisbon. Now we asked the Croatian, who was born in Austria, to talk again about the triumph in Saint-Gilles, his new market value and the start with the Portuguese record champion, where he initially felt like he was in Disneyland.
In the last market value update, Ivanović was valued at 20 million euros for the first time on Transfermarkt. “The last few years have been just amazing. When I was rated at 5 million euros for the first time, I thought: Wow,” he says. “The subsequent updates were surreal for me and the current one is just awesome.”
High goals with a wink: Ivanović hopes for a market value of 100 million
On the subject of increasing market value, Ivanović said with a grin: “As a player, you always want to improve and market values are a good indicator. I’m now trying to aim for 30 million, but the final goal would be 100 or 150 million euros. I think you should set yourself high goals.”
Looking back at last summer: the traditional Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise had to wait 90 years for this moment; After almost a century, the club celebrated winning the championship again in the summer. The Tyrolean Ivanović also played a large part in this success. The success story began last year. When he played for the Croatian first division club HNK Rijeka, he landed on the radar of the Belgians, who were looking for young, promising players due to their club philosophy. “For me, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise was an absolute stroke of luck and I am still very grateful that the club gave me the chance,” Ivanović tells us.
He rates the Belgian league as “an absolute top league for young players. You can see it from Ardon Jashari or me this year that the league is a good springboard. Looking back, this year has helped me extremely to develop in a wide variety of areas, both sporting and human.”
Ivanović on title triumph and championship celebration with Union SG
When we last spoke to Ivanović, in October 2024, the Union striker had already made his first mark in the European Cup and the Jupiler Pro League. It was not yet foreseeable that the blue and yellow would be able to call themselves Belgian champions today, and it remained that way for quite a while, although Ivanović alone subsequently contributed almost a dozen goals.
Ivanović’s breakthrough at Union Saint-Gilloise was a stepping stone to Benfica
At the end of the regular season, KRC Genk with German head coach Thorsten Fink was at the top, nine points ahead of second-placed Club Brugge. Union took third place. Ivanović remembers: “We were not yet solid as a team at that moment. In the final situations we were too careless or not consistent enough, and we conceded goals unnecessarily. Although I never had the feeling that the other clubs were superior to us. I knew that when we found ourselves as a team, when we were well-coordinated, then no opponent could stop us.”
That’s how it happened. The championship in Belgium will be decided in playoff mode and Union really got off to a flying start here. The club won nine of ten games and Ivanović scored more goals. Across all competitions, the Croatian had 21 goals and seven assists. He scored probably the most important goal on the last matchday in a 1-0 win against Gent (see Union’s complete schedule for the championship season).
Ivanović: Playoff system in Belgium “stupid and unfair”
“In games like this you obviously have to deal with the pressure of expectations and fear of failure. When you’ve come this far, you don’t want to lose,” states the young striker. “It may sound simple: one more game and you are champions – but this one game could just as easily backfire. But in the end everything went well.”
About the championship celebration that followed, Ivanović says: “I had actually bought cigars for the celebration in advance because I was convinced that we would become champions. So it would have been pretty stupid if we hadn’t grabbed it. I was also shocked at how expensive the cigars were. We celebrated all night long and I’m still sorry to this day that I went to the championship gala the next day without a shower. I don’t think the smell was celebratory.”
Although Union benefited greatly from the playoff system by winning the championship, Ivanović is critical of the mode. “Of course, a playoff mode brings a lot more excitement to the league, no question about it, but from a player’s point of view and in a completely neutral way, I find the mode stupid and unfair. Genk really had a strong phase and played strong football for months. Not being able to reward yourself at the end is tough.”
His personal development did not go unnoticed by the top European clubs. Ivanović had matured into a complete striker in Belgium, who was also on the radar of numerous Bundesliga clubs in the summer. Among other things, Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Bayern Munich were said to have concrete interest. However, the Austrian-born player instead moved to Benfica for a fee of 22.8 million euros – record earnings for Union, just ahead of Victor Boniface. At Benfica, higher amounts were paid for players up to 21 years of age like Ivanović, only for later stars Enzo Fernández and Darwin Núñez (among the most expensive Benfica transfers).
Ivanović also held talks with German clubs
“Of course it makes you incredibly proud when you read your name in connection with such clubs,” says Ivanović. “It’s true that there were discussions with some German clubs. But at Benfica I not only had the best feeling, but also the future plan that was shown to me was the one that convinced me the most.”
Already in the first few days after arriving in Lisbon, the 22-year-old felt that everything was a lot bigger with the Portuguese record champions. In terms of members, the club is one of the largest clubs in the world. On February 26, 2025, Benfica becomes the first sports club to announce the world record of 400,000 members. FC Bayern was the first club in Germany to exceed this mark.
“Benfica has a special myth and the dimension is also completely different,” says Ivanović. “When I arrived at the airport before I signed, there were already 30 or 40 journalists and a few camera teams waiting. I had thousands of messages on Instagram when the transfer was perfect. I notice the status that the club has in the country every day. No matter where you go, everyone wants a photo or an autograph from you.”
Ivanović at Benfica: “I thought I was in Disneyland”
Ivanović describes his first impressions of the new working environment as follows: “When I entered the training ground for the first time, I thought I was in Disneyland. The training complex is gigantic and the conditions are top-notch. But what impressed me most was the first home game. The stadium is like a real cauldron every time. Because of this atmosphere, you run even faster and do an extra meter.”
An important contribution to the Croatian international’s move to the Eagles was the persistence of Benfica President Rui Costa, who was involved from the start. “When he enters the room, he takes it over with his aura,” says Ivanović about the Benfica boss. “He is an absolute football legend and it was very impressive to have conversations with him. In every conversation I noticed how much he burns for Benfica and tries to pass on this fire.”
With the transfer fee of 22.8 million euros, Ivanović moved into fifth place in the history of the Portuguese record champions. He also wears the jersey number 9, which usually has high expectations among fans. Does this add additional pressure? “If a club pays a high fee for you, then it doesn’t matter what jersey number you wear,” says Ivanović. “The pressure doesn’t get any less if you play with the 25 instead of the 9. You also have to ignore the transfer fee, otherwise you’ll build up an incredible amount of pressure that will prevent you from performing at your best. When I’m on the pitch, I basically don’t feel any pressure, but rather joy and satisfaction. For me, there’s nothing better than being a professional footballer.”
Ivanović wants to remain at peace with himself
Despite his new standing in world football, Ivanović wants to stay on the ground. He says: “Why should I change just because I’m a professional footballer now and perhaps earn a little more money than other people. There are players who spend thousands of euros on holidays, cars or luxury symbols, that won’t be the case for me. Before I treat myself to a luxury holiday, I rent a holiday apartment in Croatia and enjoy the time with my family. A saying has shaped me over the years: I don’t have to do anything except make sure that I’m at peace with myself and feel inner satisfaction.”
Ivanović looks back with humility, especially on his first appearances in the premier class. “The Champions League, especially the anthem, creates a special fascination. It is the biggest stage that you can reach as a club player. As a child, I was allowed to take a tour of Stamford Bridge (Chelsea FC stadium, editor) and even visit the changing rooms. It was really surreal when I was allowed to be in these changing rooms as a professional footballer myself a few weeks ago (final score 0-1, editor).” The center forward explains with a laugh: “I was probably like so many children; I never felt like I was allowed to watch a Champions League game until the end. They always said: Franjo, there’s school tomorrow. After the first half you go to bed. I’m enjoying the Champions League all the more now.”
But 2025 not only had Europe’s elite competition in store for Ivanović, but also his debut in the Croatian national team in March. He now has eight appearances and two international goals. He says: “I’ve been following the Croatian national team since I was a child and of course I’m an absolute fan. In fact, at the beginning I felt like I was in a commercial for a sporting goods manufacturer where a fan is living the dream of being a national player.” Ivan Perišić made a lasting impression on him. “He gave me so many tips, and I’m very grateful to him for that. When you see him on the pitch, when you see his body, you see an absolute machine. He tore his cruciate ligament two years ago. Others would have ended their careers, but he fights back and simply delivers.”
Ivanović “grateful” to have Mourinho as coach
The former FC Augsburg youth player particularly wants to learn and benefit from one of the star coaches in professional football – José Mourinho. The two-time Champions League winner took over as coach at Benfica in September. “He has two faces,” reports Ivanović. “Off the pitch he’s an absolutely nice, easy-going guy who you can joke with. On the pitch he’s consistent, serious, very meticulous. I’m incredibly grateful to have him as a coach. When he talks to me, I just listen. I try to soak up every word because it can contain potential knowledge. He achieved as a coach what I want to achieve as a player – winning the Champions League.”
Interview by Henrik Stadnischenko