Tomislav Uskok

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Tomi Uskok

| image = Tomislav_Uskok_on_the_ball.jpg

| upright = 1.2

| caption = Uskok on the ball with Melbourne Knights in 2015

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1991|06|22}}

| birth_place = Williamstown, Victoria, Australia

| height = 1.96 m

| position = Central defender

| currentclub = Macarthur FC

| clubnumber = 6

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Melbourne Knights

| years1 = 2009–2010 | caps1 = 16 | goals1 = 0 | clubs1 = Richmond SC

| years2 = 2010–2011 | caps2 = 19 | goals2 = 1 | clubs2 = St Albans Saints

| years3 = 2011–2015 | caps3 = 86 | goals3 = 7 | clubs3 = Melbourne Knights

| years4 = 2015–2016 | caps4 = 6 | goals4 = 0 | clubs4 = Central Coast Mariners

| years5 = 2016–2017 | caps5 = 34 | goals5 = 1 | clubs5 = Sydney United

| years6 = 2017–2019 | caps6 = 41 | goals6 = 14 | clubs6 = Melbourne Knights

| years7 = 2019–2020 | caps7 = 13 | goals7 = 1 | clubs7 = Sydney United

| years8 = 2020–2021 | caps8 = 33 | goals8 = 2 | clubs8 = Western United

| years9 = 2021– | caps9 = 82 | goals9 = 6 | clubs9 = Macarthur FC

| club-update = 5 February 2025

}}

Tomislav Uskok (born 22 July 1991) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Macarthur FC in the A-League.

Career

=Early years=

Uskok came through the junior ranks at local club Melbourne Knights. He departed the club in 2009 in search of first team football, subsequently joining Victorian Premier League side Richmond SC. With first team opportunities scarce for the 18-year-old, he then joined Victorian State League Division 1 side St Albans Saints for the second half of the 2010 season.

=Melbourne Knights=

In 2011, Uskok returned to Melbourne Knights. In 2014, Uskok scored in a 2–0 win over traditional rivals South Melbourne, a win that saw the Knights qualify for the Round of 32 of the 2014 FFA Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.melbourneknights.com.au/news/club-news/uskok-alinejad-goals-return-knights-to-national-stage/|title=Uskok, Alinejad goals return Knights to national stage | Melbourne Knights FC|date=27 June 2014|publisher=melbourneknights.com.au|accessdate=25 November 2015}} Uskok went on to score a 120th-minute winner in the 2014 Dockerty Cup final, as Melbourne Knights beat South Springvale SC to claim their first piece of major since 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.melbourneknights.com.au/news/club-news/knights-triumph-in-dockerty-cup-final/|title=Knights triumph in Dockerty Cup Final | Melbourne Knights FC|date=September 2014|publisher=melbourneknights.com.au|accessdate=25 November 2015}}

In February 2015, Uskok was handed the captaincy at his boyhood club, stating "It's a great honour and a privilege."{{cite web|url=http://www.melbourneknights.com.au/news/club-news/uskok-to-become-club-captain-in-2015/|title=Uskok to become Club Captain in 2015 | Melbourne Knights FC|date=12 February 2015|publisher=melbourneknights.com.au|accessdate=25 November 2015}} Uskok departed Knights in September 2015, as he relocated to Sydney, and was set to join a club in the National Premier Leagues NSW in 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.melbourneknights.com.au/news/uskok-departs-somers-street/|title=Uskok departs Somers Street | Melbourne Knights FC|date=September 2015|publisher=melbourneknights.com.au|accessdate=25 November 2015}} before his career took a turn.

=Central Coast Mariners=

Uskok signed for A-League club Central Coast Mariners on 23 November 2015, as the club sought a replacement to the recently released Eddy Bosnar.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4021/a-league/2015/11/23/17605352/mariners-reinforce-defence-with-uskok|title=Central Coast Mariners reinforce defence with ex-Melbourne Knights captain Tomislav Uskok - Goal.com|publisher=goal.com|accessdate=25 November 2015}} The contract was to end in June 2016 and was the 24-year-old's first shot at professional football.{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/11/23/uskok-lands-central-coast-mariners-deal|title=Uskok lands Central Coast Mariners deal | : The World Game|publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au|accessdate=25 November 2015}}

Uskok made his competitive first team debut for Central Coast Mariners in their home clash against Melbourne City on 3 December 2015.{{cite web|title=Team News: Central Coast vs Melbourne City|url=http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/matchcentre/Central-Coast-Mariners-v-Melbourne-City-FC/811649#widget-match-day-tabs|website=Melbourne City|accessdate=3 December 2015}} The former Knights captain made his starting debut in Round 15, playing the full 90 minutes as his side went down 3–1 to Adelaide United.{{cite web|title=Resurgent Reds down Mariners to consolidate sixth|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/article/resurgent-adelaide-united-down-central-coast-mariners-3-1-at-coopers-stadium/1fvx63um1jkmu1jqutpctl8wud|website=Hyundai A-League|date=16 January 2016|accessdate=27 January 2016}} Uskok was named in the A-League team of the week in Central Coast's 2–0 loss to Melbourne Victory, a match in which he made a very good showing, keeping marquee Victory striker Besart Berisha quiet.{{cite web|title=Hyundai A-League team of the week: Round 22|url=http://www.a-league.com.au/photo-gallery/hyundai-a-league-team-of-the-week-round-22-csdle4g8dgg1l80956bbmpkg/tomislav-uskok--mariners--another-npl-name-making-the-most-of-his-chance--the-powerful-former-melbourne-knights-man-marked-one-of-the-greatest-ever-a-league-strikers-in-berisha-and-uskok-proved-he-can-handle-the-best-3|website=A-League|accessdate=9 March 2016}}

On 11 April 2016, Uskok was released by the Mariners after making seven appearances in his time at the club.{{cite web|title=Mariners part ways with three players|url=http://www.mfootball.com.au/mariners-part-ways-with-three-players/|website=MFootball|accessdate=11 April 2016}}

=Sydney United 58=

On 15 April 2016, National Premier Leagues NSW club Sydney United 58 announced that they had signed the imposing central defender for the remainder of the 2016 NPL NSW season.{{cite web|title=Sydney United 58 snap up Uskok|url=http://www.nswpl.com.au/index.php?id=243&L=0%2Fmember%2Fregister%2FRS&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2016&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=04&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=11011&cHash=171c352eee24481508d3b6bc36bae47a|website=NSWPL.com|accessdate=15 April 2016}} Uskok scored on debut for Sydney United in a 3–0 win over Blacktown Spartans on 16 April 2016, coming on as a substitute to tuck in the third goal.{{cite web|last1=Windon|first1=Jacob|title=Sydney United 58 sizzle at Spartans|url=http://www.nswpl.com.au/index.php?id=243&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2016&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=04&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=11017&cHash=9424f82b050f40c1eeda73921bb9d2f8|website=NSWPL|accessdate=17 April 2016}} On 10 July 2016, Uskok claimed the 2016 Waratah Cup with United, achieving an 8.5 match rating from FourFourTwo Australia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/shin-magic-seals-waratah-win-sydney-united|title = Football news, features and statistics | FourFourTwo}}

=Return to Melbourne Knights=

Uskok returned to Melbourne Knights for the 2018 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbourneknights.com.au/news/uskok-comes-home/|title=Uskok comes home|publisher=Melbourne Knights FC|date=6 November 2017|accessdate=6 November 2017}}

=Return to Sydney United 58=

Uskok departed Melbourne Knights midway through the 2019 season and re-signed with Sydney United in National Premier Leagues NSW.{{cite news|url=https://mens.nplnsw.com.au/2019/05/30/sydney-united-58-snap-up-tomislav-uskok/|title=Sydney United 58 snap up Tomislav Uskok|publisher=NPLNSW|date=30 May 2019|accessdate=26 June 2019}}

=Western United=

Uskok joined A-League club Western United FC in January 2020 as their second signing for that month.{{cite news|url=https://www.wufc.com.au/news/western-united-signs-melbourne-born-defender|title=Western United signs Melbourne born defender|publisher=Western United FC|date=23 January 2020|accessdate=23 January 2020}} Uskok scored his first A-League goal in a 2–1 derby win over Melbourne Victory FC.{{Cite web|date=25 July 2020|title=Western United begin A-League restart with win over Melbourne Victory|url=https://www.wufc.com.au/news/match-report|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Western United|language=en}} Prior to his second season with Western United, he was named the club's vice-captain.{{Cite web|date=27 December 2020|title=Western United announce captain and vice-captain for new A-League season|url=https://www.wufc.com.au/news/western-united-announce-captain-and-vice-captain-new-a-league-season|access-date=28 December 2020|website=Western United|language=en}} Manager Marko Rudan commented: "Tomi came in halfway through the season and he was an exceptional leader for us, a great communicator. He’s one for the future as far as we’re concerned, we can build a club around Tomi. In a very short space of time he’s got the respect of all the players and the coaching staff as well."

=Macarthur FC=

Uskok joined Macarthur FC on a two-year contract in July 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.macarthurfc.com.au/news/bulls-bolster-defensive-structure-uskok|title=Bulls bolster defensive structure with Uskok|website=Macarthur FC|date=11 July 2021|accessdate=11 July 2021}}

Honours

Melbourne Knights

Dockerty Cup: 2014

Sydney United

National Premier Leagues: 2016
National Premier Leagues NSW Premiership: 2016
Waratah Cup: 2016

Macarthur

Australia Cup: 2022{{cite news|url=https://thefootballsack.com.au/2022/10/macarthur-prevail-in-australia-cup-final-against-sydney-united.html|first=Timothy|last=Gibson|website=The Football Sack|date=2 October 2022|access-date=4 October 2022|title=Macarthur prevail in Australia cup final against Sydney United}}