Martin Puà ¡ià(born 24 October 1987) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Puà ¡iàbegan his career in the youth team of Austria Wien. In 2004, he crossed the city to join First Vienna FC, with whom he made his professional debut in 2005 in the Austrian Regional League. His performances attracted attention from higher divisions, and in 2007 he made a switch to SK Schwadorf in the First League, the second tier of the Austrian pyramid.
In the summer of 2008, SK Schwadorf and VfB Admira Wacker Mödling merged to form the new FC Admira Wacker Mödling, and Puà ¡iàbecame a regular player on their left wing. In 2008âÂÂ09 he managed to make 24 league appearances, scoring 7 goals. The team also reached the 2009 Austrian Cup Final, which they lost 3âÂÂ1 to the club where he began his career, Austria Wien.
On 8 August 2010, he signed with SC Rheindorf Altach, initially for only half a season but with an option to extend the contract through to the end of the 2010âÂÂ11 season.
In July 2011, he began a trial with English Championship team Hull City. He played his first game for the club on 27 July 2011; a 3âÂÂ1 win over Yorkshire rivals Bradford City, Pusic scored the final goal of the match. On 9 August 2011, the club announced that Puà ¡iàhad signed a deal until the end of the 2011âÂÂ12 season. He went on to make his debút on the same day in a 2âÂÂ0 loss at home to Macclesfield Town in the League Cup First Round tie. He made his league debut on 1 October 2011 at the KC Stadium, in a 2âÂÂ1 win against Cardiff City.
After injuries stalled his progression, Puà ¡iàwas released from his contract at the KC Stadium on 9 January 2012.
On 18 March 2012, he signed a one-year contract with the Norwegian club VÃÂ¥lerenga. He became the match winner in his first game, against FK Haugesund. However, after only five months in the club, his contract was mutually terminated by both parts. VÃÂ¥lerenga manager Martin Andresen stated that the termination came as a result of Puà ¡iÃÂ's unwillingness to sign a new contract with the club, combined with the fact that the club had a full foreign player quota.
On 30 August 2012, the same day he was released by VÃÂ¥lerenga, he signed a short-term contract until the end of the season with the Norwegian club Fredrikstad in hope that he could save them from relegation. Although he stepped up the challenge and was hyped by the Norwegian media as Fredrikstad's potential saviour, the club was relegated in the final match of the season, losing 2âÂÂ0 at home against Molde. His short-term contract expired shortly after, and was not renewed as Puà ¡iàhimself did not want to play in the Adeccoliga.
On 17 January 2013, he signed with a third Norwegian club, Brann on a free transfer. He was signed as a striker to replace Brann's previous season's top scorer Kim Ojo, following his transfer to the Belgian club KRC Genk.
On 16 January 2014, he signed a three-year contract with the Danish club Esbjerg fB for an unknown fee. During his first season at the club, Puà ¡iàmade 12 league appearances, scoring 5 goals.
Halfway through the 2014âÂÂ15 Danish Superliga, Puà ¡iàwas sold to FC Midtjylland, for a reported fee of 7.5 million Danish kroner (approximately ã0,9 million). Ultimately, Puà ¡iàscored 17 goals during the season and finished as the league overall top scorer, while Midtjylland won the championship for the first time in its history.
In 2015âÂÂ16, Puà ¡iàwas a regular starter as Midtjylland finished third in the league. He played 25 competitive games and scored 13 goals. He was, however, deemed surplus to requirements during the following season and joined the Dutch Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on a half year loan on 28 January 2017.
On 26 August 2017, Puà ¡iàsigned a one-year contract with the Danish defending champions F. C. Copenhagen.
On 15 July 2018, AC Horsens announced they had signed Puà ¡iàon a free transfer and handed him a two-year deal. Four days later, on 19 July 2018, this deal was annulled on Puà ¡iÃÂ's request.
Puà ¡iàjoined 3. Liga club TSV 1860 Munich on a one-year contract in summer 2020. He agreed the termination of his contract in December due to personal issues, having made 8 appearances for the club.
Born in Austria, Puà ¡iàis of Croatian descent. Whilst playing for Vienna in 2007, Puà ¡iàwas called up to the Austrian U-20 squad in preparation for the U-20 World Cup in Canada and played his first and, to date, only international game for the Austrian U-20 team. He ultimately failed to make the squad for the tournament, and was not part of the team which went on to finish fourth.
On 12 April 2022, Puà ¡iàannounced in an interview with the Danish media outlet Tipsbladet that he had retired from football, and was coaching an under-18 team near his home in Vienna.
Midtjylland