Mateo Kovačić
Encyclopedia
Mateo Kovačić is a Croatian
professional footballer who currently plays for Prva HNL team Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatia national under-17 football team
in the Attacking Midfielder role.
in Austria
to Bosnian Croat parents who had moved there in 1991 from Kotor Varoš
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
, Kovačić began playing at an early age at the local LASK Linz
's academy. In 2007, when Kovačić was 13, the talented midfielder was spotted by scouts from several prominent European clubs including VfB Stuttgart
, Ajax, Juventus
and Bayern Munich
, but his family opted to move to Zagreb
instead where he joined Croatian giants' Dinamo Zagreb academy.
Kovačić suffered a serious injury in 2009 in which his leg was broken, but he returned to the pitch after a lengthy recovery on 31 May 2010, appearing in the last match of the Croatian U17 academy league, a 5–0 win against RNK Split
U17s.
The young midfielder started training with the club's senior squad under manager Vahid Halilhodžić
four months later on 6 October 2010, but continued to appear for the club in academy league matches during October. Later that month it was reported by the local sports daily Sportske novosti
that Arsenal
's chief scout Steve Rowley had arrived in Zagreb to watch him perform in U17 matches against Cibalia
and NK Zagreb
.
Kovačić eventually had his professional league debut in the 2010–11 Prva HNL
away match against Hrvatski Dragovoljac
on 20 November 2010, in which he scored Dinamo's fourth goal in their 6–0 win. This made him the youngest debutant and goalscorer in the history of the league, at the age of 16 years and 198 days, breaking the record set only a week earlier by Dino Špehar
who had scored for NK Osijek
at the age of 16 years and 278 days on 13 November 2010.
He also appeared for the Croatian national team at various youth levels, debuting in May 2008 in a U15 friendly match against Slovakia. As of October 2010 he is a regular member of the Croatia U17 team. His fast development and huge talent drew comparisons with Diego Maradona
, Lionel Messi
and Wayne Rooney
by local sports pundits, and the Croatia under-17 manager Martin Novoselac
reportedly said of Kovačić: "I haven't seen a youngster with so much talent since the days of Robert Prosinečki
".
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
professional footballer who currently plays for Prva HNL team Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatia national under-17 football team
Croatia national under-17 football team
The Croatia national under-17 football team represents Croatia in international football at this age level and is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Croatia.The Head Coach is Ivan Gudelj...
in the Attacking Midfielder role.
Career
Born in LinzLinz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
to Bosnian Croat parents who had moved there in 1991 from Kotor Varoš
Kotor Varoš
Kotor Varoš is a town and municipality in northwestern Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:The city was first mentioned in the 10th century, when it was called Kotor. Varoš, added later, means "town" in Hungarian...
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Kovačić began playing at an early age at the local LASK Linz
LASK Linz
LASK Linz is an Austrian association football club, from the Upper-Austrian state capital Linz. It is the oldest football club hailing from that region, and currently plays in the Austrian Football First League. The club's colours are black and white...
's academy. In 2007, when Kovačić was 13, the talented midfielder was spotted by scouts from several prominent European clubs including VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
, Ajax, Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
and Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, but his family opted to move to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
instead where he joined Croatian giants' Dinamo Zagreb academy.
Kovačić suffered a serious injury in 2009 in which his leg was broken, but he returned to the pitch after a lengthy recovery on 31 May 2010, appearing in the last match of the Croatian U17 academy league, a 5–0 win against RNK Split
RNK Split
RNK Split is a Croatian football club based in the city of Split.-History:Radnički nogometni klub means "Workers' football club".The club was known as workers' club. The club had a strong fanbase in the Split's shipyard...
U17s.
The young midfielder started training with the club's senior squad under manager Vahid Halilhodžić
Vahid Halilhodžic
Vahid "Vaha" Halilhodžić is a former Bosnian football player and now a manager, currently managing the Algeria national football team....
four months later on 6 October 2010, but continued to appear for the club in academy league matches during October. Later that month it was reported by the local sports daily Sportske novosti
Sportske novosti
Sportske novosti is a Croatian daily sports newspaper based in Zagreb.It was first published as a weekly magazine on 9 August 1945 . It changed its name to Narodni sport on 10 December 1945...
that Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
's chief scout Steve Rowley had arrived in Zagreb to watch him perform in U17 matches against Cibalia
HNK Cibalia
HNK Cibalia, or just Cibalia, is a Croatian football club from the town of Vinkovci in eastern Croatia. Cibalia currently play in the Prva HNL, Croatia's top flight. Their stadium is located in the south part of their home town and can hold 12,000 spectators...
and NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
.
Kovačić eventually had his professional league debut in the 2010–11 Prva HNL
2010–11 Prva HNL
The 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...
away match against Hrvatski Dragovoljac
NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac
NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac is a Croatian football club based in the Novi Zagreb neighbourhood of the country's capital city of Zagreb. The team's fans are known as the "Black Warriors"...
on 20 November 2010, in which he scored Dinamo's fourth goal in their 6–0 win. This made him the youngest debutant and goalscorer in the history of the league, at the age of 16 years and 198 days, breaking the record set only a week earlier by Dino Špehar
Dino Špehar
Dino Špehar is a Croatian football forward, currently playing for Dinamo Zagreb in the Prva HNL. His father is Robert Špehar, former Croatian international footballer and the ex-chairman of NK Osijek.-NK Osijek:...
who had scored for NK Osijek
NK Osijek
NK Osijek is a Croatian football club, from Osijek in eastern Croatia.- History :NK Osijek's early roots are found in club called NK Udarnik that was formed in 1945 under FPR Yugoslavia's new communist authorities on the ashes of dissolved HŠK Slavija...
at the age of 16 years and 278 days on 13 November 2010.
He also appeared for the Croatian national team at various youth levels, debuting in May 2008 in a U15 friendly match against Slovakia. As of October 2010 he is a regular member of the Croatia U17 team. His fast development and huge talent drew comparisons with Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
, Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and captains the Argentina national team, mainly as a striker. Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21, and won in 2009 and 2010...
and Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
by local sports pundits, and the Croatia under-17 manager Martin Novoselac
Martin Novoselac
Martin Novoselac is a former Croatian footballer known best for his solid defensive skills in clubs throughout Europe. Novoselac began his career at Second League club Dinamo Vinkovci, but in 1972 he moved Yugoslav First League club Vojvodina Novi Sad where he impressed so quickly, he earned a...
reportedly said of Kovačić: "I haven't seen a youngster with so much talent since the days of Robert Prosinečki
Robert Prosinecki
Robert Prosinečki is a Croatian football manager and former football midfielder. Prosinečki is regarded by many as the player with best technique that ever played in and for Croatia. Former national squad teammate Zvonimir Boban, humbly, also agreed with this. His dribbling is considered...
".
Career statistics
Last update: 12 August 2011| Club | Season | Prva HNL | CC Croatian Cup The 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... |
CSC Croatian Supercup The Croatian Supercup is a football match between the winners of the Prva HNL and the Croatian Cup. The Supercup serves as a curtain raiser of the new football season and is only held when different clubs happen to win the two most important competitions during the previous season The Croatian... |
Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... |
Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| GNK Dinamo Zagreb | 2010–11 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 2011–12 2011–12 GNK Dinamo Zagreb season This article shows statistics of individual players and lists all matches that Dinamo Zagreb will play in the 2011–12 season.-Current squad:Sources: , , , 1Played for Dinamo Zagreb in 1997-20002Played for Dinamo Zagreb in 1999-2003... |
14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 25 | 3 | |
| Total | 21 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 34 | 4 | |
External links
- Mateo Kovačić profile at Transfermarkt.de