Sandi Lovrić


Sandi Lovrić is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian club Hellas Verona, on loan from Udinese, and for the Slovenia national team. After playing for Austria at all youth levels, he decided to represent Slovenia at senior level.
IG sandilovric

Club career

Lovrić joined Sturm Graz in 2012 from SV Rapid Lienz. He made his league debut on 17 August 2014 in a 1–1 home draw against Austria Wien by coming on as a substitute for Marko Stanković. On 9 May 2018, he won the Austrian Cup with Sturm after defeating Red Bull Salzburg 1–0 in the final.
On 3 July 2019, Lovrić signed a three-year deal with Swiss side Lugano after he decided to not extend his contract with Sturm Graz.
On 28 March 2022, he signed a five-year contract with Serie A side Udinese.
On 30 January 2026, Lovrić moved on loan to Hellas Verona until the end of the 2025–26 season.

International career

Eligible to represent Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia internationally, Lovrić represented Austria in all youth selections from under-16 to under-21, making over 50 appearances between 2013 and 2019. He stated that he was never approached by anyone from the Croatian Football Federation.
In September 2020, he decided to represent Slovenia at senior level after being approached by their coach Matjaž Kek. He debuted for Slovenia on 7 October 2020 in a friendly game against San Marino, playing for 59 minutes before being substituted by Benjamin Verbič.
On 14 October 2020, Lovrić scored his first goal in a 4–0 UEFA Nations League victory over Moldova. On 24 March 2021, he scored his second goal, the only goal in the 1–0 World Cup qualifying victory over his fatherland Croatia. The upset victory was notably Slovenia's first victory over Croatia in history.

Personal life

Lovrić's parents are of Croatian descent. His father hails from Slavonski Brod and his mother is a Bosnian Croat from Modriča. They moved to Piran, Slovenia as migrant workers, and later to Austria, where Lovrić was born. Alongside German, he also fluently speaks Croatian and Italian.
As a youngster, Lovrić often spent summer vacations in Slovenia, and cited his connection to the country as the main reason to represent the Slovenia national team.
Lovrić named Luka Modrić as his football idol.

Career statistics

International

No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
114 October 2020Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova31–04–02020–21 UEFA Nations League C
224 March 2021Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia71–01–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
34 September 2021Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia131–01–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
410 September 2023San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino303–04–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
55 September 2025Stožice Stadium, Ljubljana, Slovenia431–12–22026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Sturm Graz
Lugano