Mirko Braun
Encyclopedia
Mirko Braun was a Croatia
n association football player.
Born in Hrvatska Dubica
, Braun began playing as a youngster for the local club NK Una. While playing for Una in Bjelovar
he was spotted by NK Dinamo Zagreb's scouts who invited the talented left back to come to Zagreb
for a trial in late 1960. After impressing Dinamo's manager Márton Bukovi
he signed for the Blues and quickly went on to establish himself as a regular member of the team's defensive line in the 1961–62 season.
By 1964 Braun had 57 appearances and 2 goals for the club in the Yugoslav First League
and was an important member of the squad which won the 1963 Yugoslav Cup
and reached the 1962–63 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final, in which they lost to Valencia CF
4–1 on aggregate. Led by the prolific goalscorer Slaven Zambata
the team also finished runners up in the 1962–63 Yugoslav First League.
Braun's good performances earned him a call-up for the Yugoslavia national football team
and he had his international debut in a crucial 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifier against Sweden
on 18 September 1963. Although Braun's club teammate Zambata scored to put Yugoslavia 1–0 up in the opening minutes, the game eventually ended in a 3–2 defeat. Nevertheless, Braun earned his second and third cap in friendlies against Romania
and Czechoslovakia
in October and November, and in December 1963 he played in Dinamo's 1963–64 European Cup Winners' Cup first round second leg win over Celtic F.C.
at Maksimir Stadium
- although Celtic progressed through due to the Scots' earlier 3–0 win in Glasgow.
In early 1964 Braun was seriously injured in a car accident. He then spent the entire 1964–65 and 1965–66 seasons recovering away from the pitch. He tried to return to football in the following season and even had 15 appearances in the 1966–67 Yugoslav First League, but his good form never returned. After a single league appearance in 1967–68 Braun decided to retire from the game in his mid-twenties.
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 association football player.
Born in Hrvatska Dubica
Hrvatska Dubica
Hrvatska Dubica is a village and a municipality in central Croatia in the Sisak-Moslavina county. It is located on the northern bank of the river Una, east of Hrvatska Kostajnica and southwest of Jasenovac and Novska. The municipality of Hrvatska Dubica has a population of 2,341 , 90.13% which are...
, Braun began playing as a youngster for the local club NK Una. While playing for Una in Bjelovar
Bjelovar
Bjelovar is a city in central Croatia. It is the administrative centre of Bjelovar-Bilogora County. During the 2001 census, there were 41,869 inhabitants, 90.51% which are Croats....
he was spotted by NK Dinamo Zagreb's scouts who invited the talented left back to come 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...
for a trial in late 1960. After impressing Dinamo's manager Márton Bukovi
Márton Bukovi
Márton Bukovi was a Hungarian association football player and manager. After playing for Ferencvárosi TC, FC Sète and Hungary he became a coach, most notably with Građanski Zagreb, MTK Hungária FC and Hungary...
he signed for the Blues and quickly went on to establish himself as a regular member of the team's defensive line in the 1961–62 season.
By 1964 Braun had 57 appearances and 2 goals for the club in the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
and was an important member of the squad which won the 1963 Yugoslav Cup
Yugoslav Cup
The Yugoslav Cup, officially the Marshal Tito Cup, was one of two major football competitions in the former Yugoslavia, the other one being the Yugoslav League Championship. The Yugoslav Cup took place after the league championships when every competitive league in Yugoslavia had finished, in order...
and reached the 1962–63 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final, in which they lost to Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
4–1 on aggregate. Led by the prolific goalscorer Slaven Zambata
Slaven Zambata
Slaven Zambata is a former Croatian football player. He earned 31 caps and scored 21 goals for Yugoslavia....
the team also finished runners up in the 1962–63 Yugoslav First League.
Braun's good performances earned him a call-up for the Yugoslavia national football team
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
and he had his international debut in a crucial 1964 European Nations' Cup qualifier against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
on 18 September 1963. Although Braun's club teammate Zambata scored to put Yugoslavia 1–0 up in the opening minutes, the game eventually ended in a 3–2 defeat. Nevertheless, Braun earned his second and third cap in friendlies against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
and Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
in October and November, and in December 1963 he played in Dinamo's 1963–64 European Cup Winners' Cup first round second leg win over Celtic F.C.
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
at Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium
Maksimir Stadium is a stadium in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. It takes its name from the neighbourhood of Maksimir. It is primarily the home of Dinamo Zagreb, the top football team in the country. It is also home to Dinamo Zagreb's farm team NK Lokomotiva....
- although Celtic progressed through due to the Scots' earlier 3–0 win in Glasgow.
In early 1964 Braun was seriously injured in a car accident. He then spent the entire 1964–65 and 1965–66 seasons recovering away from the pitch. He tried to return to football in the following season and even had 15 appearances in the 1966–67 Yugoslav First League, but his good form never returned. After a single league appearance in 1967–68 Braun decided to retire from the game in his mid-twenties.
External links
- Mirko Braun profile at the Serbia national football teamSerbia national football teamThe Serbia national football team represents Serbia in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia, the governing body for football in Serbia. Serbia's home ground is Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and their last head coach was Vladimir Petrović...
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