Marcel Heister is our new addition at left-back

We have strengthened the left side of our defence with Marcel Heister, an experienced player who has played in several different leagues and represented a number of clubs throughout his career. Born on 29 July 1992, Marcel will celebrate his 34th birthday at Opus Arena next week. Immediately after signing his contract (1+1 years), he made himself available to the coaching staff. He is a familiar name to everyone who follows the Croatian Football League, as he joins us from Istra 1961. He has made a total of 176 appearances in the Croatian league and national cup competitions. His first club in Croatia was Zadar, after previously coming through the youth ranks of German side Reutlingen and spending time with Hoffenheim II.

He also represented Hungarian clubs Ferencváros, Fehérvár and Videoton, making a combined 136 appearances for those teams. He also had shorter spells with Israeli side Beitar Jerusalem and Bulgarian champions Ludogorets. He featured in the UEFA Champions League group stage with Ferencváros, where their opponents included Barcelona, Juventus and Dynamo Kyiv, while he also played in the UEFA Europa League group stage against teams such as Espanyol and CSKA Moscow.

When I first started talking with Osijek, they immediately presented what the club was looking for and explained the vision of both the coach and the sporting director. That is something that suits me because I enjoy playing with young players and helping them on the pitch. I always give my maximum, and I can see from my physical condition that I am still capable of performing at the level expected from me. I have already spoken with the coach and understood how he wants to build the game and what he expects from his full-backs. That completely suits me because I like playing attacking, aggressive and dynamic football, and I believe everything will come together very well. I can see that the coach is energetic, and I like that energy. I would say he has brought something new to the team, and I really like what I have seen, said Heister.

“As soon as Osijek contacted me, I knew what my decision would be”

From the left-back position, Heister has often found himself in goalscoring situations, scoring goals himself and providing a notable number of assists for his teammates. This is something he wants to continue doing in the White and Blue shirt.

Yes, exactly. That is something I enjoy, and it is the way I have played throughout my entire career, for every team I have represented. That is my style of play, and it is something my coaches have always expected from me. I know the Osijek team very well because we have faced each other many times as opponents. Even when I was playing for Istra, it was strange for me to see Osijek down near the bottom of the table. This club certainly deserves much more, and personally, I am very happy to have the opportunity to help us start moving upwards. I know what NK Osijek means to the people who live here and support this club.

As he explained, after his contract with the Pula-based side expired, it did not take him long to decide what his next destination would be…

Players always have certain options, and that was the case with me this summer as well. However, when I heard that Osijek were interested and that I could stay in Croatia, I knew that would be my choice. Osijek has a special status in the Croatian league. In my opinion, it is a big club, and that is how I approach it. I did not spend much time thinking about it – my decision was clear: I am going to Opus Arena. I did not even consider the other offers after that.

He already likes everything about the city on the Drava

His new teammates are not unfamiliar to him, which is expected considering the many encounters they have had in previous seasons.

I played with Petrusenko at Istra, and I know many other players who welcomed me here quite well. I am familiar with the league, so I do not have to go through that type of adaptation process, which is also important. I do not need to adjust to the stadium either. The conditions here are truly at a high level, even well above the average in Croatia. I had not really spent time in the city before, apart from coming here for matches, but after these few days I have been here, I have been pleasantly surprised. Osijek is a very beautiful city, the people are friendly and very kind, and I do not feel like an outsider.

He also mentioned his connection with Slavonia, which comes from his family background:

My father was born in Cerna, which is the hometown of my grandparents. I have Slavonian roots, and I am very happy and proud of that.

In many aspects, Marcel exceeds the league average

Based on his performances last season and compared with the average full-back in the Croatian Football League, Marcel Heister recorded strong numbers in several important areas of the game. His passing accuracy stands at 80.3% (league average: 77.9%), demonstrating his composure and reliability in possession. Opponents rarely manage to beat him in one-on-one situations, while his duel success rate of 71.6% (compared to the average of 72.3%) confirms that he is stable and responsible in defensive situations.

He averages 4.64 interceptions per match (league average: 3.80), highlighting his excellent anticipation and reading of the game. He records 2.08 defensive clearances in front of his own penalty area per 90 minutes (average: 1.77) and wins 2.05 aerial duels (compared to 1.69), providing additional defensive security, especially against long balls and set pieces. He averages 2.93 recovered balls per match (compared to 2.79), underlining his strong work ethic. He is also comfortable keeping possession under pressure, and it is important to highlight that he played more than 2,200 league minutes last season, confirming his consistency and physical endurance.

Because of his experience and profile as a player, sporting director Kenneth Zandvliet is pleased with Marcel’s arrival and the addition he brings to the squad.

We are very happy to have Marcel with us. Heister is the kind of player you always want to have in your team – he is competitive, works hard, supports and guides his teammates, and never lets anyone down. Considering his age and experience in the Croatian league, he is a great asset for this young team. Marcel is strong both offensively and defensively, and he understands exactly what kind of attitude we need on the pitch. We have great confidence in him and we are convinced that he will help us achieve our goals. Good luck in the White and Blue, Marcel!