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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
