Jozo Simunovic’s season has been just about as much of a roller coaster ride as is imaginable.
From the lows of a sending off in Champions League duty, to the euphoria of doing Billy McNeill proud against Kilmarnock. It’s been one heck of a ride for our Bosnian centre-back.
Simunovic had just come off an inconsistent 2017/18 campaign. The emergence of Kristoffer Ajer meant that Simunovic was often watching the pairing of he and Dedryck Boyata. He dropped out of the side in almost monthly spells, and was looking to reinstate himself as a major Parkhead player this term.
He was given that chance early on by Brendan Rodgers, particularly during the early part of the season when Rodgers hadn’t chosen a first-choice pairing. Simunovic was given his opportunities when he featured in the Champions League qualifiers.
However, a red card at Celtic Park against Alashkert was followed up by being knocked out of the competition by AEK Athens. Simunovic featured against both, and also proved shaky in slip-ups against Suduva, Hearts, and Leipzig respectively.
Simunovic once again found himself out of the team under Rodgers. He played just two games between August 24th and December 2nd. Rodgers had found a solid defensive trio in Filip Benkovic, Ajer, and Boyata respectively.
It was a bleak final few months of 2018 for him. He had only racked up 15 appearances, despite a mini-renaissance in December.
What saved Simunovic at first, however, was Benkovic’s injury knock picked up in January. He would be out for the next couple of months, and this gave the Bosnian some regular game-time once again.
This time partnered with Boyata or Ajer as opposed to Jack Hendry, Simunovic was regaining confidence. He went on a run of six consecutive clean sheets stretching back to December. Rodgers was finally giving him a chance due to Benkovic’s injury.
The Neil Lennon effect
Then, however, Neil Lennon came in the door after Rodgers’ departure. Initially, Simunovic was tossed to the side for the Boyata and Ajer partnership once again. He found himself out of the side for a good month despite not doing anything wrong.
But, yet another injury would spell Simunovic’s return once again. This time, it was Boyata, who was sidelined with a hamstring knock picked up against Rangers.
Simunovic came right back in to partner Ajer, and together the pair’s dominance saw them concede just three goals in the final nine games of the season. He also became something of a goalscorer, notching two important headed goals in two weeks against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen respectively.
Simunovic would get starts in both the Scottish Cup semi-final and final, playing a key part in the treble treble success.
To sum up, it was another year of being in and out of the team for the former Dinamo Zagreb man. Injuries helped him remain a key player at Parkhead, but big work could be ahead next season.
With Boyata and Benkovic leaving, you have to imagine Lennon will look to recruit at centre-back. That could leave Simunovic with more convincing to do in order to keep his position in the team.
But once again, he can look back on the campaign delighted with his own contribution. He continues to be a fine servant of the club.
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