It has taken a little longer than expected, but Union St Gilloise are starting to look like their old selves under young head coach Sebastien Pocognoli. The former West Brom defender was under pressure early but has found the right formula to get the side going.
Part of their success in recent years has been unearthing a star striker every season, with that player usually leaving the following summer. Last year it was Mohamed Amoura, this year it might just be Franjo Ivanovic. The 21-year-old Croatian scored a hat-trick on Sunday afternoon as the side beat Westerlo 3-1 in Brussels. The third was a goal of real class, with Ivanovic latching on to a ball over the top before dinking it over goalkeeper Nick Gillekens.
Ivanovic came through the Augsburg academy but never made any appearances for the first team. During the 2022/2023 season he scored 18 goals for the second team, leaving to join Croatian side Rijeka that summer. In 51 games for the side he scored 16 goals, with Union then snapping him up this summer. He has now scored six goals in 19 games for the side, but five of these have come in the past week. He hit a double against Nice in the Europa League as the side won 2-1.
It appears that the 21-year-old is hitting form at the right time for the Brussels side. While they are 11 points off the title, one that they have been competing for in recent years, that situation may well suit them. The side have been the frontrunners for the title in the past few seasons before being beaten by a team that finds form at the back end of the campaign. Perhaps Union have learned that the league cannot be won in the opening phase, but that it is how they perform next March that is key. They will certainly need Ivanovic to be the sides next top striker to have a chance of the title.
