Ante Rukavina
Encyclopedia
Ante Rukavina is a Croatia
n footballer
currently playing for Dinamo Zagreb. He also played at Šibenik
, Hajduk Split
and Panathinaikos earlier in his career.
. He was linked to Lyon
who offered 12 million euros for Rukavina, but the deal never materialized. Instead, he moved to the Croatian Prva HNL side Hajduk Split in 2007. On 5 July 2008, he signed for the Greek side Panathinaikos FC
who saw him as a 'useful addition to their offensive lineup for the next season', considering him to be an 'impressive young prospect'. The 4-year deal was reportedly worth €2.8M.
He made his debut for the club on 4 August 2010 at home to Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol
in the return leg of the third qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League
. On 7 August 2010, he made his domestic league debut for the club in a 1-1 draw at NK Varaždin, netting the opening goal of the match in the 5th minute. Later that month, he scored a brace to give the club a 2-0 win at Hungarian Győr FC
in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-offs. He went on to make five appearances in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win at home to Villarreal
on 16 September 2010.
between 2007 and 2008, Rukavina was called up to the senior side
squad for the first time on 12 March 2007, but to date has not appeared for his country at full international level.
Dinamo Zagreb
Individual
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
currently playing for Dinamo Zagreb. He also played at Šibenik
HNK Šibenik
HNK Šibenik is a Croatian football club based in the city of Šibenik on the Croatian coast.The club was formed in 1932. In 2006 the club finished first in the Croatian Second League's southern division and was promoted to the Prva HNL...
, Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
and Panathinaikos earlier in his career.
Club career
He started his career with his hometown club HNK ŠibenikHNK Šibenik
HNK Šibenik is a Croatian football club based in the city of Šibenik on the Croatian coast.The club was formed in 1932. In 2006 the club finished first in the Croatian Second League's southern division and was promoted to the Prva HNL...
. He was linked to Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
who offered 12 million euros for Rukavina, but the deal never materialized. Instead, he moved to the Croatian Prva HNL side Hajduk Split in 2007. On 5 July 2008, he signed for the Greek side Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
who saw him as a 'useful addition to their offensive lineup for the next season', considering him to be an 'impressive young prospect'. The 4-year deal was reportedly worth €2.8M.
Dinamo Zagreb
On 26 July 2010, Rukavina returned to Croatia and signed for champions Dinamo Zagreb in a transfer worth €700,000.He made his debut for the club on 4 August 2010 at home to Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol
FC Sheriff Tiraspol
FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a football club based in Tiraspol, Moldova. They play in the Divizia Naţională, the top division in Moldovan football. The team is sometimes referred to as simply FC Sheriff and should not be confused with FC Tiraspol, a rival team based in the same city.-History:The club...
in the return leg of the third qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. On 7 August 2010, he made his domestic league debut for the club in a 1-1 draw at NK Varaždin, netting the opening goal of the match in the 5th minute. Later that month, he scored a brace to give the club a 2-0 win at Hungarian Győr FC
Gyori ETO FC
Győri ETO FC , Győri Egyetértés Torna Osztály Football Club or just Győr, is a Hungarian sports club from Győr, a mid-size town in the north-west of the country. In 1904 the club was founded as Győri Vagongyár ETO and has undergone many name changes since...
in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-offs. He went on to make five appearances in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win at home to Villarreal
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
on 16 September 2010.
National team
He played for the Croatian national under-21 teamCroatia national under-21 football team
The Croatia national under-21 football team, also known as Croatia under-21 or Croatia U21 is a youth association football national team which represents Croatia at this age level and is a feeder team for the Croatia national football team....
between 2007 and 2008, Rukavina was called up to the senior side
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
squad for the first time on 12 March 2007, but to date has not appeared for his country at full international level.
Honours
Panathinaikos- Superleague Greece (1): 2009–10
- Greek Football CupGreek football CupThe Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
(1): 2009–102009–10 Greek Cup-Calendar:-First round:-Second round:-Third round:-Fourth round:-Fifth round:-Quarter-Finals:------------The match had been interrupted in the 69th minute due to bad condition of grass, that came from continuous raining...
Dinamo Zagreb
- Croatian First League (1): 2010–112010–11 Prva HNLThe 2010–11 Prva HNL season was the twentieth season of the Prva HNL since its establishment in 1992. It began on 23 July 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011...
- Croatian CupCroatian CupThe Croatian Cup is an annually held football tournament for Croatian football clubs and is the second most important competition in Croatian football after the Prva HNL league championship. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation and usually runs from late August to May...
(1): 2010–112010–11 Croatian CupThe 2010–11 Croatian Cup is the twentieth season of Croatia's football knockout competition.The defending champions are Hajduk Split, having won their 5th title the previous year by defeating Šibenik in the final....
Individual
- Croatian Hope of the Year: 2006