Bayern's Stanišić receives high praise from ex-Bundesliga stars Olić and Rakitić

Two former Croatian and Bundesliga legends Ivica Olić and Ivan Rakitić sung the praises of versatile Bayern Munich defense Josip Stanišić in a recent interview. 

“Josip has become my absolute favorite player here in Croatia. When he joined our national team in 2022, I was still an assistant coach," Olić told Sports BILD.

"Because of my time as a player in the Bundesliga, it was my job at the time to look after the Croatian players who were playing in Germany. That's why I followed Josip very closely.

"His development at Bayern was surprisingly fast for us – from being the 12th or 13th man in the squad to a really important player. He benefits a lot from being able to play well in any defensive position and always being willing to do so.

“That's why Josip is a player every coach wants. His qualities are extremely important for a team,” explained Olić, who featured for Hertha BSC, Hamburger SV, VfL Wolfsburg and Bayern in his long career.

Meanwhile, fellow compatriot and former Schalke 04 midfielder Ivan Rakitić also subjected the 25-year-old Bayern star to plenty of further adulation. 

“Josip has developed extremely well – and that's no coincidence. The loan to Leverkusen was smart. I believe he became a better footballer there because he had less pressure than at Bayern and was thus able to develop calmly under Xabi Alonso.

"The big success there has also made him much more self-confident. And now he's in such good form that you can't imagine FC Bayern without him. We Croatians are very proud of Josip.

“He's already indispensable to our national team, and I'm sure that he will increasingly develop into one of the leaders of our new generation,” said Rakitić.