Famous Croatian Football Players

Vote for Your Favourite Croatian Football Players

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 1 
Mario Mandžukić
(Croatian Footballer Who Played as a Striker)
Mario Mandžukić
7
Birthdate: May 21, 1986
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Slavonski Brod, Croatia

Mario Mandžukić is a Croatian former footballer who played as a striker for the Croatia national team from 2007 to 2018. In 2018, he helped his team win the silver medal at the World Cup. As a player, he became renowned for his aerial prowess and aggressiveness. In 2012 and 2013, Mario Mandžukić was adjudged Croatian Footballer of the Year.                

 2 
Ivan Rakitić
(Swiss Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Central / Attacking Midfielder)
Ivan Rakitić
9
Birthdate: March 10, 1988
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Rheinfelden, Switzerland

Popular Croatian central midfielder Ivan Rakitić now represents FC Barcelona. Though born in Switzerland, the talented footballer has never played for the country. Known for his energy on the field, he was instrumental in taking his team to the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

 3 
Ivan Perišić
(Croatian Footballer Who Plays as a Midfielder)
Ivan Perišić
9
Birthdate: February 2, 1989
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Split, Croatia

Ivan Perisic is a Croatian football player who plays as a midfielder for the Croatia national football team and Tottenham Hotspur. Best known for his versatility, Perisic can play as an attacking midfielder, defender, or second striker. Ivan Perišić has represented his nation at important tournaments, such as the UEFA European Football Championships and World Cups.

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 4 
Mateo Kovačić
(Croatian Footballer Who Plays as a Midfielder)
Mateo Kovačić
6
Birthdate: May 6, 1994
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Linz, Austria

Mateo Kovačić is a Croatian football player who plays as a midfielder for the Croatia national football team and Premier League club Chelsea. He has represented Croatia at the World Cups and the UEFA European Football Championships. A versatile midfielder, Mateo Kovačić has also won several titles for Chelsea.

 5 
Davor Šuker
(Iconic Croatian Former Footballer and Sports Administrator)
Davor Šuker
6
Birthdate: January 1, 1968
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Osijek, Croatia

Legendary Croatian former footballer Davor Šuker has also headed the Croatian Football Federation as its president. His illustrious career saw him spend successful stints at both Real Madrid and Arsenal. He was also part of the 1998 FIFA World Cup third place-winning Croatian squad and remains Croatia’s all-time top goal-scorer.

 6 
Luka Modrić
(Croatian Professional Football Player Who Plays as a Midfielder)
Luka Modrić
37
Birthdate: September 9, 1985
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Zadar, Croatia
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modrić has won 17 big trophies for his club. He had a difficult childhood, growing up amid the Croatian War of Independence. He has played for Tottenham Hotspur, and in 2018, he led Croatia to their first football World Cup final and won the Golden Ball.
 7 
Niko Kovač
(Former Croatian Footballer and Coach)
Niko Kovač
4
Birthdate: October 15, 1971
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany

Retired Croatian footballer and coach Niko Kovač has headed the Croatian national team as its captain for a long time. He has also had successful stints with Bayern Munich and Red Bull Salzburg as a player. He later tasted success as a manager of Bayern Munich, among other clubs.

 8 
Domagoj Vida
(Croatian Football Defender)
Domagoj Vida
5
Birthdate: April 29, 1989
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Našice, Croatia

Croatian footballer Domagoj Vida is best known as a defender for the Greek club AEK Athens. Starting his senior career with Osijek, he later had successful stints with Dinamo Zagreb, Dynamo Kyiv, and Beşiktaş. He has also been part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup runner-up Croatian squad.

 9 
Darijo Srna
(Former Croatian Football Legend Known for His Association with Shakhtar Donetsk)
Darijo Srna
3
Birthdate: May 1, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Metković, Croatia

Retired Croatian footballer Darijo Srna now heads the Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk as its director of football. He has previously represented Shakhtar Donetsk as a player for 15 years, winning the Ukrainian Premier League 10 times with them. During his retirement, he was the most-capped Croatian player in history.

 10 
Siniša Mihajlović
(Retired Serbian Footballer and Coach)
Siniša Mihajlović
5
Birthdate: February 20, 1969
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Vukovar, Croatia

Former Serbian footballer Siniša Mihajlović turned to coaching after retirement. The former head coach of the Italian club Bologna was fired mercilessly only months after undergoing treatment for cancer. As a player, he had successful stints with Lazio and Red Star Belgrade. He has also coached the Serbian national team.

 11 
Marko Pjaca
(Croatian Football Winger/Midfielder)
Marko Pjaca
3
Birthdate: May 6, 1995
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia

Croatian footballer Marko Pjaca is best known as a winger/midfielder for the Italian club Empoli. Born to a wrestler father and a judoka mother, he grew up in a sporting environment, before starting his football career with Lokomotiva. He has represented Juventus and was part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup runner-up Croatian squad.

 12 
Robert Prosinečki
(Retired Croatian Footballer and Manager)
Robert Prosinečki
4
Birthdate: January 12, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Schwenningen, Germany

Former Croatian footballer Robert Prosinečki played as a midfielder for clubs such as Real Madrid and Red Star Belgrade. He was also part of the Croatian squad that secured the third place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Post-retirement, he turned to coaching and has managed teams such as Azerbaijan.

 13 
Mario Pašalić
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Midfielder)
Mario Pašalić
1
Birthdate: February 9, 1995
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mainz, Germany
 14 
Zvonimir Boban
(Croatian Former Footballer Who Played as a Midfielder)
Zvonimir Boban
3
Birthdate: October 8, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Imotski, Croatia
 15 
Ivica Olić
(Croatian Professional Football Manager and Former Player)
Ivica Olić
4
Birthdate: September 14, 1979
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Davor, Croatia
 16 
Nikola Kalinić
(Croatian Footballer Striker)
Nikola Kalinić
4
Birthdate: January 5, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Solin, Croatia

Croatian footballer Nikola Kalinić is best known as a striker for the club Hajduk Split. He has also represented teams such as Blackburn Rovers, AC Milan, and Atlético Madrid. He was part of the FIFA World Cup runner-up Croatian squad in 2018. He was named the 2008 Prva HNL Player of the Year.

 17 
Edin Terzić
(German-Croatian Professional Football Coach and Former Football Forward)
Edin Terzić
1
Birthdate: October 30, 1982
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Menden, Germany
 18 
Dejan Lovren
(Croatian Professional Football Player Who Plays as a Centre-Back)
Dejan Lovren
3
Birthdate: July 5, 1989
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Zenica, Bosnia

Following his 6-year stint with Liverpool, Croatian footballer Dejan Lovren has now moved to Russia to captain Zenit Saint Petersburg. He spent his early childhood in the war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina and then escaped to Germany and eventually to Croatia. He led Croatia to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.

 19 
Niko Kranjčar
(Former Croatian Football Midfielder)
Niko Kranjčar
4
Birthdate: August 13, 1984
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia

Retired Croatian footballer Niko Kranjčar played mainly as an attacking midfielder, but could also function as a winger or second striker. After a successful stint with Dinamo Zagreb, he played for clubs such as Hajduk Split, Portsmouth, and Tottenham Hotspur. He is the son of renowned Croatian footballer and manager Zlatko.

 20 
Milan Badelj
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Midfielder)
Milan Badelj
2
Birthdate: February 25, 1989
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
 21 
Nikica Jelavić
(Croatian Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Forward)
Nikica Jelavić
3
Birthdate: August 27, 1985
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 22 
Josip Stanišić
(German Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Defender)
Josip Stanišić
1
Birthdate: April 2, 2000
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
 23 
Igor Tudor
(Croatian Professional Football Manager and Former Player)
Igor Tudor
2
Birthdate: April 16, 1978
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Split, Croatia
 24 
Dado Pršo
(Croatian Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Forward)
Dado Pršo
2
Birthdate: November 5, 1974
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Zadar, Croatia
 25 
Antonio Čolak
(Football foCroatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Forwardrwarder)
Antonio Čolak
1
Birthdate: September 17, 1993
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Ludwigsburg, Germany
 26 
Marko Rog
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Central Midfielder)
Marko Rog
2
Birthdate: July 19, 1995
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Varaždin, Croatia
 27 
Robert Jarni
(Croatian Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Left Winger)
Robert Jarni
2
Birthdate: October 26, 1968
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Čakovec, Croatia
 28 
Raúl Ruidíaz
(Peruvian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Striker)
Raúl Ruidíaz
5
Birthdate: July 25, 1990
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Villa María del Triunfo, Lima
 29 
Tin Jedvaj
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Defender)
Tin Jedvaj
2
Birthdate: November 28, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
 30 
Stipe Pletikosa
(Croatian Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Goalkeeper)
Stipe Pletikosa
2
Birthdate: January 8, 1979
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Split, Croatia
 31 
Dario Šimić
(Croatian Former Football Player Who Played as Defender)
Dario Šimić
2
Birthdate: November 12, 1975
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
 32 
Borna Sosa
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Left-Back or a Left-Wing Back)
Borna Sosa
1
Birthdate: January 21, 1998
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
 33 
Robert Kovač
(Croatian Professional Football Manager and Former Player Who Played as a Centre-Back)
Robert Kovač
2
Birthdate: April 6, 1974
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: West Berlin, Germany
 34 
Luka Sučić
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Midfielder)
Luka Sučić
0
Birthdate: September 8, 2002
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Linz, Austria
 35 
Arijan Ademi
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Defensive Midfielder)
Arijan Ademi
1
Birthdate: May 29, 1991
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Šibenik, Croatia
 36 
Ivan Santini
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Forward)
Ivan Santini
1
Birthdate: May 21, 1989
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Zadar, Croatia
 37 
Roko Šimić
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Forward)
Roko Šimić
1
Birthdate: September 10, 2003
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Milan, Italy
 38 
Ivan Klasnić
(Croatian Former Professional Footballer Who Played as a Striker)
Ivan Klasnić
2
Birthdate: January 29, 1980
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
 39 
Marin Pongračić
(Croatian Footballer Who Plays as a Defender)
Marin Pongračić
1
Birthdate: September 11, 1997
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Landshut, Germany
 40 
Nenad Bjelica
(Croatian Professional Football Manager and Former Player Who Played as a Midfielder)
Nenad Bjelica
1
Birthdate: August 20, 1971
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Osijek, Croatia
 41 
Zlatko Kranjčar
(Croatian Professional Football Manager and Football Player Who Played as Forward)
Zlatko Kranjčar
0
Birthdate: November 15, 1956
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
Died: March 1, 2021
 42 
Vladimir Beara
(Serbian Football Goalkeeper and Manager)
Vladimir Beara
1
Birthdate: August 26, 1928
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Zelovo Sutinsko, Croatia
Died: August 11, 2014
 43 
Gordon Schildenfeld
(Croatian Retired Footballer Who Played as a Centre-Back)
Gordon Schildenfeld
1
Birthdate: March 18, 1985
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Šibenik, Croatia
 44 
Tino-Sven Sušić
(Bosnian Professional Footballer Who Plays as an Attacking Midfielder)
Tino-Sven Sušić
1
Birthdate: February 13, 1992
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 45 
Ognjen Vukojević
(Croatian Football Manager and Former Professional Player)
Ognjen Vukojević
1
Birthdate: December 20, 1983
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Bjelovar, Croatia
 46 
Marin Leovac
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Left Back)
Marin Leovac
0
Birthdate: August 7, 1988
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina
 47 
Marko Simić
(Croatian Professional Football Defender)
Marko Simić
0
Birthdate: June 16, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pakrac, Croatia
 48 
Robert Ljubičić
(Austrian Footballer Midfielder)
Robert Ljubičić
0
Birthdate: July 14, 1999
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
 49 
Cheick Keita
(Croatian Professional Footballer Who Plays as a Left Back)
Cheick Keita
1
Birthdate: April 16, 1996
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Paris, France
 50 
Igor Jovićević
(Croatian Football Manager and Former Footballer Forward)
Igor Jovićević
1
Birthdate: November 30, 1973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia