Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 1, 2026

Adam Bugarija

Adam Bugarija Cardeno is an Australian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Sydney Olympic in the National Premier Leagues NSW.

Last revised
Jul 1, 2026
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Adam Bugarija
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-02-22) 22 February 2005
Place of birth Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Sydney Olympic
Number 21
Youth career
Sydney United
–2023 Dinamo Zagreb
2023–2024 Western Sydney Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2024 Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 28 (9)
2024–2026 Perth Glory 17 (1)
2026– → Marconi Stallions (loan) 11 (1)
2026– Sydney Olympic 1 (0)
International career‡
2024 Australia U19 3 (0)
2024– Australia U20 6 (4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 June 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 29 October 2025

Adam Bugarija Cardeno1 (Croatian: [buˈɡarija], Spanish: [kaɾˈðeno];2 born 22 February 2005) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Sydney Olympic in the National Premier Leagues NSW.34

Club career

Born in Baulkham Hills in New South Wales,1 Bugarija was a youth player at Sydney United and played for two years at Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia before returning to Sydney to play for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2023.5

Bugarija played for Western Sydney Wanderers' reserve team in the National Premier Leagues NSW before joining fellow A-League Men team Perth Glory on a three-year deal in June 2024, having been convinced to join by director of football Stan Lazaridis.6 He made his debut on 3 August in the round of 32 of the Australia Cup, at home to Melbourne City; coming on in the 70th minute, he scored the equaliser as the match finished 4–4 in regulation time, with the Western Australian side scoring the winning goal in extra time.7 In the next round 25 days later away to Moreton City Excelsior of the National Premier Leagues Queensland, he was sent off for two yellow cards in 42 minutes in a 3–2 loss.8

Bugarija made his A-League debut on 20 October as the season opened with a 6–1 loss away to Macarthur. He came on as a half-time substitute and scored a consolation goal.9 He was one of 18 teenagers in the league, a record for an opening day of the league season.10

On 29 January 2026, Bugarija joined National Premier Leagues NSW side Marconi Stallions on loan from Perth Glory.11

International career

In July 2024, Bugarija was called up by the Australia under-19 team for the 2024 ASEAN U-19 Boys Championship in Indonesia.12 Five months later, he was one of three Perth Glory teammates called up for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China.13 He was an unused substitute as Australia won the title for the first time, defeating Saudi Arabia in the final.14

References

References

  1. "Adam Bugarija Cardeno". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  2. "Instagram".
  3. "Adam Bugarija Signed". Sydney Olympic Official Instagram. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  4. "Midfielder Bugarija completes loan move to Marconi". Perth Glory. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  5. "Glory sign talented teens in double transfer swoop: "I'd liken him to Mo Salah!"". A-Leagues. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  6. "Perth Glory stock up on youth as NSW teens Adam Bugarija and Abdelelah Faisal sign on". The West Australian. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  7. "Australia Cup: Perth Glory come from two goals down to beat Melbourne City 5-4 in extra-time". The West Australian. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  8. Cattell, Adam (29 August 2024). "Millar's Moreton City show what they are all about in incredible Glory cupset". Front Page Football. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  9. "A-League Men: Only three Perth Glory players rated higher than six out of 10 following horror Macarthur loss". The West Australian. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  10. Pisani, Sacha (20 October 2024). "Remember the names: Isuzu UTE A-League teenagers at the centre of a history-making opening round". A-League. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  11. "Midfielder Bugarija completes loan move to Marconi". Perth Glory. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  12. "Subway Young Socceroos Squad Update – ASEAN U-19 Boys' Championship". Football Australia. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  13. "Subway Young Socceroos squad named for AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025™". Football Australia. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  14. "Subway Young Socceroos clinch first-ever AFC U20 Asian Cup title in historic shootout victory". Football Australia. 1 March 2025. Retrieved 1 March 2025.