croatian football player

Nikola Kalinić ( croatian pronunciation : [ nǐkola kǎlinitɕ ] ; [ 4 ] [ 5 ] born 5 January 1988 ) is a croatian professional football player who plays as a striker for italian club Hellas Verona. Kalinić began his career with Hajduk Split in his native Croatia before moving to English club Blackburn Rovers for £6 million in 2009. After scoring rarely in two Premier League seasons, he left for ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, helping them reach the 2015 UEFA Europa League Final. He then played in Serie A for Fiorentina and Milan, before signing for spanish clubhouse Atletico Madrid ahead of the 2018–19 season, winning the 2018 UEFA Super Cup. [ 6 ]

Kalinić made his debut for Croatia in 2008 and represented the nation at three UEFA european Championships. He was region of their english that came runner-up at the 2018 FIFA World Cup but was sent home after one game. [ 7 ]

Club career [edit ]

early on career [edit ]

Born in Split, Kalinić began his playing career at Hajduk Split. He made his Prva HNL introduction in the 2005–06 season at age 17. On 1 August 2006, he was sent on loan to Pula Staro Češko ( immediately Istra 1961 ) to receive more first-team action. In his loanword time at Pula, he had a dull but fair start considering his young age. Despite not playing all excessively regularly in a short one season with them, he even managed to adapt and find goalscoring shape, scoring 3 goals in 12 league appearances. Kalinić ‘s inaugural goals in the Prva HNL came in the 2–0 victory against Kamen Ingrad on 23 September 2006 as he scored a brace to give his side the victory. [ 8 ] Upon ending his short clock time at Pula, coach Krunoslav Jurčić was largely impressed with him, stating he could become the next Zlatan Ibrahimović. [ 9 ] Despite his intentions to stay at Pula, Kalinić returned to Hajduk and was immediately sent out on loanword to Šibenik, where he saw occasional first team action and immediately impress with all-around performances and a goal-scoring ability, scoring three goals in eight appearances .

Hajduk Split [edit ]

After intelligibly showing the ability to adapt well to the Croatian league, Kalinić returned to Hajduk and immediately saw plenty of beginning team action. He made his returning debut against Cibalia as a substitute, then secured his beginning startle in the squad during the 2–1 victory against Osijek at the Poljud Stadium. His 17 league goals in his first season with Hajduk was only beaten by league topscorer Želimir Terkeš, who scored 21 goals. [ 10 ] however, it was a great accomplishment for the child, who had initially set a target of scoring 15 goals. He finished the 2007–08 season in fifth place with Hajduk in the league, [ 11 ] besides helping them reach the concluding of the croatian Cup in the lapp season. In all competitions, he ended the class with 26 goals, receiving the coveted Swan d’or Award from the Croatian Press Association. Kalinić began the next season by scoring the moment goal in Hajduk ‘s 0–4 away victory against maltese side Birkirara, frankincense advancing them to the next round of qualification for the 2008–09 UEFA Cup. [ 12 ] In Hajduk ‘s bowler hat match over league rivals Dinamo Zagreb, Kalinić scored the first goal with a penalty recoil. Hajduk went on to win the match 2–0 and overtake Dinamo in the league table. [ 13 ] Kalinić went for a one-week trial at English club Portsmouth in deep July 2009, whereupon a fee think to be in the region of £6 million was agreed between Hajduk and Portsmouth. however, the move fell through due to fiscal reasons. On 31 July 2009, Kalinić was heavily linked with another Premier League club, Blackburn Rovers. late that day, the player ‘s agent confirmed Kalinić had been at Blackburn ‘s ground talking to the baseball club on the 30th and 31st with attentiveness to the cover to take the player to Ewood Park. The actor ‘s agent besides confirmed that the fee was €7 million should the consider be completed ; the shrink had been agreed and his customer was due to sign for the club. The player besides made sparkle that the Lancashire -based club expected “ big things ” from the highly rated Croat. [ 14 ] On 1 August 2009, the act stepped closer when Hajduk club president Mate Peroš confirmed Blackburn had an offer accepted by the golf club, the best from any club. He besides said, “ very quickly we finished the talks with the club [ Blackburn ]. ” [ 15 ]

Blackburn Rovers [edit ]

On 3 August 2009, Kalinić signed for Blackburn Rovers on a four-year deal. [ 16 ] The transfer fee is believed to be in the region of £6 million. [ 17 ] One week late, Kalinić was successfully awarded a work permit and formally signed for the club. [ 18 ] however, his debut was delayed as he had to return from his fatherland to collect his license, meaning he was not formally registered in prison term for Rovers ‘ opening pit of the temper, against Manchester City. On 13 August, he was officially confirmed as a Blackburn player and was assigned the number 22 new jersey for the 2009–10 season, making his introduction against Sunderland nine days later. On 27 October, Kalinić scored his first base goal for Blackburn against Peterborough United in the League Cup. [ 19 ] He scored his second finish in the quarter-final of the rival against Chelsea, but missed a punishment in the gunfight which Blackburn went on to win regardless. [ 20 ] His estimable cup form continued in January, scoring three goals against Aston Villa – one in the FA Cup and then the two hatchway goals in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final, which ended 6-4 to Villa. Kalinić scored his first Premier League goal against Wigan Athletic with a header from a result corner taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen in the 76th infinitesimal of a 2–1 victory. He was handed the number nine shirt by coach Sam Allardyce at the begin of the newfangled Premier League political campaign. Despite missing much of pre-season, Kalinić started the 2010–11 season good, scoring the only goal in Blackburn ‘s afford day victory over Everton at Ewood Park on 14 August. On 28 December 2010, he netted his beginning brace in Blackburn colours in their 1–3 away win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, though he was late sent off in this game. After Sam Allardyce was sacked as Blackburn coach, Kalinić fell out of favor with Blackburn ‘s newly appointed director Steve Kean. [ 21 ]

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk [edit ]

Nikola Kalinic with Dnipro On 11 August 2011, Kalinić signed for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk of the ukrainian Premier League for an undisclosed fee. [ 22 ] He made his debut for the club on 13 August 2011 as a second-half stand-in against league champions Shakhtar Donetsk in a 3–1 frustration. He marked his first appearance for the club with a goal but was red carded for elbowing merely two minutes after scoring. [ 23 ] Kalinić netted ten goals in all competitions in both his first and second seasons with the ukrainian side. On 27 May 2015, Kalinić opened the scoring with a header in the Europa League Final against holders Sevilla in Warsaw, although his team finally lost 2–3. [ 24 ] Kalinić scored six other goals in his sides run to the Europa League final and another 12 league goals, taking his reckoning for the 2014–15 season to 19, the highest of his career .

Fiorentina [edit ]

In August 2015, Kalinić signed a contract with Fiorentina. The fee was reported to be a figure close to €5 million. [ 25 ] His Serie A debut came in a 2–0 acquire over A.C. Milan, [ 26 ] and he then scored the first goal against Bologna in a match which besides ended 2–0. [ 27 ] On 27 September, Kalinić scored a hat-trick away against Internazionale in a 4–1 victory. [ 28 ] due to this win, Fiorentina reached the top of Serie A for the first time since 1998–99. [ 29 ] Eight weeks belated, he scored doubly in a game against Empoli, the doubly earning Fiorentina a 2–2 disembowel. [ 30 ] Another 11 months late, he scored another hat-trick against Cagliari, although his side was beaten 5–3. [ 31 ] During this season ( on 15 April 2017 ), he was sent off for the first gear time, against Empoli. [ 32 ] The reviewer showed him the red card for his protests at the final pennywhistle. [ 32 ] Tianjin Quanjian made an offer of €50 million for Kalinić which was accepted by Fiorentina, but the offer was turned down by the player. [ 33 ] At the startle of 2017–18 temper, Kalinić ‘s number 9 shirt was given to Giovanni Simeone, with Kalinić assigned the number 99 shirt rather. [ 34 ]

loanword to Milan [edit ]

On 22 August 2017, Kalinić joined A.C. Milan on lend with an obligation to purchase for a report tip of about €25 million. [ 35 ] He chose to wear the number 7 shirt, as it was vacant. [ 36 ] He made his debut in a 2–1 victory at the San Siro against Cagliari on 27 August, coming on as a substitute in the 78th moment. [ 37 ] On 17 September, he scored a brace in his first start for Milan in Serie A against Udinese as Milan won 2–1. [ 38 ]

Atlético Madrid [edit ]

On 9 August 2018, Atlético Madrid signed Kalinić on a three-year abridge. [ 39 ] Six days late, he was an unused alternate as they defeated rivals Real Madrid to win the 2018 UEFA Super Cup in Tallinn. [ 40 ] He made his La Liga introduction in a 0–2 loss against Celta Vigo on 1 September, coming on as a substitute in the 56th infinitesimal. On 8 December 2018, he started the crippled against Alaves in place of the injure Diego Costa and scored his team ‘s first base goal in an eventual 3-0 home win, by tapping in ( in fact from the lower part of his abdomen ) a curling thwart from Santiago Arias, which was besides his first league goal of the political campaign. [ 41 ]

He scored his first goal for the clubhouse with a brawny header in the second half to help his team in a 5-0 sum acquire in the second stage of the Round of 32 connect in the season ‘s Copa del Rey collide against fourth tier Sant Andreu. [ 42 ]

lend to Roma [edit ]

On 2 September 2019, Kalinić joined A.S. Roma on a season-long loanword cope which included an optional purchase article. [ 43 ] Roma chose not to activate the article and Kalinić returned to Atlético at the end of the season .

Hellas Verona [edit ]

On 5 October 2020, Kalinić joined Hellas Verona until 2022. [ 44 ]

International career [edit ]

Kalinić was a key musician in the Croatia national under-21 team during his young play years, besides representing his state at the under-17 and -19 degree. He first made a mention for himself at international horizontal surface at age 17 during the 2005 UEFA european Under-17 Championship when he finished the political campaign as the top scorer with 11 goals. At the under-19 tied, he managed another five goals during his side ‘s preliminary round of the lapp tournament. He besides scored a hat-trick against Lithuania in Croatia ‘s 3–0 victory, which secured them a spot in the next elite round of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2006. [ 45 ] initially supposed to be called up by fountainhead coach Slaven Bilić for the few remaining qualifying matches of UEFA Euro 2008, Kalinić missed the chance ascribable to injury and was rather replaced by Mario Mandžukić. [ 46 ] however, his constant impressive abilities earned him a place in Croatia ‘s final police squad for Euro 2008. [ 47 ] He made his first appearance for the elder national team on 24 May 2008, coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute of Croatia ‘s 1–0 friendly acquire against Moldova. [ 48 ] He went on to make his first competitive appearance for his national side at Euro 2008 in Croatia ‘s final group match against Poland, coming on as a substitute for goalscorer Ivan Klasnić in the 1–0 victory. On 17 November 2010, Kalinić scored his first external finish, scoring the one-third goal in Croatia ‘s 3–0 win at home to Malta in the Euro 2012 qualifiers. On 9 February 2011, he scored a brace in a 4–2 victory over the Czech Republic in an international friendly game. In June 2012, Kalinić replaced the hurt Ivica Olić in Croatia ‘s team for Euro 2012 and remained an unused alternate in the tournament. [ 49 ] Kalinić missed the 2014 World Cup, but received a call-up back for a friendly against Argentina in 2014, although he remained an unused ersatz. [ 50 ] In 2015, Kalinić returned to the international degree. At Euro 2016, he scored a goal and assisted in a 2–1 victory in a group stage match against defending champions Spain. [ 51 ] On 4 June 2018, Kalinić was named in Croatia ‘s 23-man police squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. [ 52 ] On the one-fifth day of the tournament, he was sent home after refusing to come on as a deep alternate during Croatia ‘s beginning game of the rival against Nigeria, claiming to have a back injury, ending his international career. [ 53 ] Kalinić had refused to play for the lapp reason previously during a friendly match against Brazil a well as during the previous day ‘s education seance. [ 54 ] [ 55 ] Following the conclusion of the tournament, Kalinić was awarded a silver decoration for being part of the Croatian team, but refused to accept it. [ 7 ] [ 56 ]

style of play [edit ]

Nicknamed condor, Kalinić is normally deployed as an out–and–out striker, and is chiefly known for his reproducible goalscoring ability, courtesy of his composure in front of goal and clinical end inside the box. however, he besides possesses good technique and link-up play, which along with his size and altruistic team-play, enables him to hold up the musket ball with his back to goal, play off of early players, and create chances for teammates ; as such he is adequate to of playing anywhere along the front channel, and has besides been used as a second hitter on occasion, or as a false 9. His movement off the ball allows him to provide depth to his team, exploit gaps in the oppose defenice, or create space for his teammates with his attacking runs. A grandiloquent and physically strong actor, with thoroughly acme, he is besides known for his ability in the air, which makes him a threat on laid pieces. Although he is not gifted with meaning pace, he is besides a mobile player, who is known for his defensive work-rate off the ball when possession is lost, american samoa well as his willingness to track spinal column and press opponents. [ 57 ] [ 58 ] [ 59 ]

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of match played 25 September 2021[60]

1 then known as Pula Staro Češko .

International [edit ]

As of 8 June 2018.[61]
Croatia
Year Apps Goals
2008 2 0
2009 1 0
2010 1 1
2011 8 3
2012 3 1
2013 5 1
2014 0 0
2015 6 2
2016 8 5
2017 6 2
2018 2 0
Total 42 15

International goals [edit ]

Scores and results list Croatia’s goal tally first.[62]

Honours [edit ]

Hajduk Split
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
Atlético Madrid
Croatia
Individual

Notes [edit ]

References [edit ]