Mateo Kovačić

croatian association football musician

Mateo Kovačić ( croatian pronunciation : [ matěo kǒʋatʃitɕ ] ; [ 4 ] [ 5 ] born 6 May 1994 ) is a croatian professional football player who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the Croatia national team. He is normally deployed in a central or box-to-box function, but can play in deep positions. He besides adapted to playing either wide on the leave or as an attacking midfielder earlier in his career. [ 6 ] Kovačić began his professional career with Dinamo Zagreb at the old age of 16, with whom he won two consecutive league titles, before joining Inter Milan in 2013. After the 2014–15 season, he moved to Real Madrid, where he won the 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18 Champions Leagues. He joined Chelsea on annual loan in 2018, signing permanently for the London golf club at the end of the season. With Chelsea, Kovačić won the 2018–19 Europa League and the 2020–21 Champions League, adenine well as the Chelsea Player of the year after the 2019–20 temper.

Reading: Mateo Kovačić

A full Croatian external since 2013, Kovačić represented the state at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, vitamin a well as the UEFA Euro 2016 and 2020, reaching the final of the 2018 tournament. He was nicknamed Il Professore ( The Professor ) by the italian sports journalists. [ 7 ] [ 8 ]

Club career [edit ]

Youth career [edit ]

Kovačić began playing at an early historic period at the local LASK Linz ‘s academy. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] In 2007, when Kovačić was 13, he was spotted by scouts from several outstanding european clubs, including Ajax, Inter Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich, but his family opted to move to Zagreb alternatively, where he joined the academy of croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb. [ 9 ] [ 11 ] Kovačić suffered a serious injury in 2009 in which his peg was broken, but he returned to the cant after a drawn-out recovery on 31 May 2010, appearing in the last catch of the croatian under-17 academy league, in a friendly 5–0 gain against RNK Split under-17s. [ 12 ]

Dinamo Zagreb [edit ]

Kovačić started training with the club ‘s senior team under coach, Vahid Halilhodžić, four months subsequently, on 6 October 2010, [ 13 ] but continued to appear for the club in academy league matches during October. by and by 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 under-17 matches against Cibalia and Zagreb. [ 14 ] Kovačić finally had his professional league introduction 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 acquire. [ 15 ] This made him the youngest goalscorer in the history of the league, at the long time of 16 years and 198 days, breaking the record set only a week early by Dino Špehar who had scored for Osijek at the age of 16 years and 278 days on 13 November 2010. [ 16 ] [ 17 ] In his inaugural senior season with Dinamo Zagreb he managed to appear in 7 matches, making a contribution in winning the league title. In the 2011–12 season, Kovačić quickly established himself as a first team regular. He played chiefly in the position of left midfielder in 4–2–3–1 system. In the begin of the season, he helped the team reach the group stage of the temper ‘s Champions League for the first clock in 12 years. Being only 17 years old, he appeared in the starting batting order of Dinamo ‘s first group meet against Real Madrid. He finished his first base european temper with Dinamo by scoring a goal against Lyon in the last bet on of the group stagecoach in Zagreb and therefore became the second youngest always scorer in the Champions League. In the domestic league, he was a regular appetizer, appearing in 25 league matches and scoring five goals in the process. During a league match against Lučko, he became the youngest player to wear the captain ‘s armband in Dinamo ‘s history, taking the captainship from Leandro Cufré. [ 18 ] It was another successful season for him in domestic competitions as he appeared in 32 domestic league and cup matches during that season, helping Dinamo to win their seventh consecutive league deed. He besides scored in the croatian Cup Final against Osijek at Stadion Maksimir. In December 2011, he was named croatian Football Hope of the Year. [ 19 ] In the begin of 2012–13 season, he suffered a metatarsal bone injury that caused him to miss respective games on the club ‘s qualifying road to another Champions League. He returned just in meter to play in Dinamo ‘s first Champions League game against Porto. Kovačić played in all six Dinamo Zagreb ‘s matches in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League group degree, against Porto, Paris Saint-Germain and Dynamo Kyiv. He continued to impress with his suppurate performances at a young age during the beginning one-half of the temper. In October 2012, he was nominated for Golden Boy, an prize given by sports journalists to a young player from Europe perceived to have been the most impressive during a season. [ 20 ] During the season ‘s winter break, Dinamo ‘s board threw away the speculations about Kovačić leaving the club in the near future by saying they are building a new team around him and another rising star, Alen Halilović. [ 21 ] however, on 30 January 2013, the media amazingly revealed Kovačić was sold to italian Serie A club Inter Milan. During his prison term with Dinamo, Kovačić won two domestic league titles and two croatian Cup titles, appearing in a sum of 73 official matches, including 12 appearances in the UEFA Champions League .

Inter Milan [edit ]

Kovačić with Inter in 2013 On 31 January 2013, Kovačić agreed to a transplant to Inter Milan. It was revealed the deal was worth €15 million in total, with €11 million paid immediately and €4 million when and if Inter qualifies for the UEFA Champions League. [ 22 ] Upon his arrival, Kovačić was given the number 10 shirt, previously worn by Wesley Sneijder. [ 22 ]

2012–13 season [edit ]

Kovačić made his Inter Milan debut three days late on 3 February, coming on as a half-time substitute in a Serie A meet against Siena. [ 23 ] On 14 February, Kovačić made his european debut before the home crowd at San Siro in UEFA Europa League match against CFR Cluj. He provided the victorious help for Rodrigo Palacio, who made it 2–0 for Inter, impressing the push with his operation, and was given standing ovations while being substituted off in the 89th minute. [ 24 ] He besides played full 90 minutes in the 3–0 away win against CFR Cluj as Inter proceeded to the future round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League. [ 25 ] Kovačić made his first domestic league starting signal for Inter in the future round of Serie A in a 1–4 away personnel casualty against Fiorentina. In the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League, Inter was drawn to play against Tottenham Hotspur. After a 3–0 loss in London, Inter needed a 4–0 gain in Milan to proceed to the following polish. The equal ended in a 4–1 acquire for Inter after the pit went into excess clock time, with Kovačić playing as a appetizer. He impressed with his composure and playmaking ability, once again receiving ovations by the fans. [ 26 ] Then-Inter director Andrea Stramaccioni hailed his performances on several occasions, describing him as a “ star for the future ”. [ 27 ] On 30 March, Kovačić was a starter in his first base Derby d’Italia against Juventus at San Siro. The bowler hat ended in a 1–2 win for Juventus, with Kovačić starting the action that resulted in Rodrigo Palacio ‘s 1–1 equalizer. [ 28 ] Kovačić was a crank in Inter ‘s next Serie A match, a 0–2 away win against Sampdoria, equally well as in their surprising 3–4 loss to Atalanta at San Siro, where he provided an aid for Ricky Álvarez ‘s goal. [ 29 ] [ 30 ] By the end of the second half of the season, he was a starter in all of the baseball club ‘s Serie A fixtures, as Inter finished in disappointing one-ninth place on the Serie A postpone. In May, he was given the “ Gentleman Revelation of the year ” prize, awarded by Inter fans. [ 31 ]

2013–14 season [edit ]

Kovačić missed most of the pre-season discipline with the team due to series of humble injuries, [ 32 ] [ 33 ] and made his comeback merely few days before the foremost official match of the modern season, a Coppa Italia match against Cittadella at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. [ 34 ] During the pre-season interviews, newfangled Inter coach Walter Mazzarri hinted Kovačić would be given a newly character on the deliver, a character exchangeable to Marek Hamšík ‘s in Napoli. [ 35 ] During the first half of the season, Kovačić played regularly, although he struggled with adjust to his new tactical character. [ 36 ] Kovačić made his first gear aid of the season in the match against Livorno, when he delivered an assist for Yuto Nagatomo. [ 37 ] Unlike the previous season under coach Andrea Stramaccioni, Kovačić was not a regular starter during the 2013–14 temper. In 32 Serie A matches played, he started alone 14, playing the entire 90 minutes on just eight occasions. [ 38 ] He received the probability to restore his confidence towards the end of the season, as he was Mazzarri ‘s first-choice in the midfield in Inter ‘s last six matches. On 10 May, in Javier Zanetti ‘s last competitive match at the San Siro, Kovačić made three assists in 4–1 victory over Lazio. [ 39 ]

2014–15 season [edit ]

After being subjected to haunting remove speculation over the summer, in September 2014, Kovačić was offered a abridge extension until 2019. [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] He started the season in potent fashion, scoring a hat-trick in the second stage of Europa League play-off round against Stjarnan on 28 August. [ 43 ] [ 44 ] He scored his inaugural league goal for Inter and assisted twice in a 7–0 gain over Sassuolo on 14 September 2014. [ 45 ] He scored the club ‘s alone goal in a 1–1 away withdraw with Palermo. [ 46 ] He besides scored the opening finish in a 2–0 winnings against Chievo and scored a wonder goal in a 2–2 pull against Lazio. On 6 January 2015, he was sent-off in a 1–1 reap with Juventus for a cruddy on Stephan Lichtsteiner. [ 47 ] Three days late, Kovačić renewed his contract with Inter until June 2019. [ 48 ]

real Madrid [edit ]

Kovačić playing for Real Madrid in a Champions League couple against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015. On 16 August 2015, Inter coach Roberto Mancini confirmed the cabaret was forced to sell Kovačić to Real Madrid due to Financial Fair Play regulations. Speaking during a imperativeness league after a friendly against greek club AEK Athens, Mancini said, “ There are rules that have to be respected. I do n’t think anyone wanted this to happen but we have the Financial Fair Play regulations to follow. We ‘re all sorry about it : myself, the president, the management and the players themselves. ” [ 49 ] Real Madrid besides confirmed the transfer two days late, announcing Kovačić had signed a six-year narrow with the golf club. [ 50 ] [ 51 ] The transfer fee was €29 million, according to Inter ‘s fiscal file in the section Management Report ( italian : Relazione sulla Gestione ). [ 52 ] On 19 August, Kovačić was unveiled as a new player by real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where it was revealed he would wear the phone number 16 shirt for the golf club. [ 53 ] Kovačić became the fifth Croatian musician, after Robert Prosinečki, Davor Šuker, Robert Jarni and Luka Modrić, to join actual Madrid. [ 54 ]
Four days after his presentation, he made his debut as a 70th-minute utility for Isco as Real Madrid began the Liga temper with a scoreless pull at promote Sporting de Gijón. [ 55 ] He scored his first goal in an 8–0 home succeed over Malmö FF on 8 December 2015. [ 56 ] On 3 January 2016, Kovačić received a straightaway red card in a 2–2 draw at Valencia for a afoul on João Cancelo. [ 57 ] Until the end of his first gear season with Los Blancos, he made a sum of 34 appearances. In the open months of the season, he was used quite regularly by then Real Madrid coach Rafael Benítez, playing in about every midfield position there is – sometimes central, sometimes wide, sometimes farther forward. however, after Zinedine Zidane replaced Benítez in early January, Kovačić ‘s appearances became increasingly infrequent. With the Frenchman prefer to use a very defined starting 11 whenever possible rather of the more specific-lineups-for-specific-opponents border on employed by his harbinger, there was little room for Kovačić. He made eight appearances and scored one finish en Real Madrid ‘s route to the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League style. [ 58 ] Kovačić scored his first Liga goal on 29 January 2017 in a 3–0 acquire over real Sociedad. [ 59 ] He was a half-time newcomer when Madrid won the 2016–17 La Liga [ 60 ] [ 61 ] and the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League. [ 62 ] During the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, Kovačić made six appearances when Madrid won their third consecutive—and 13th overall—UEFA Champions League title. [ 63 ]

Chelsea [edit ]

On 8 August 2018, Kovačić joined Chelsea on a annual loanword. [ 64 ] [ 65 ] He made his debut in a 3–2 home win against Arsenal on 18 August, appearing as a second-half substitute. [ 66 ] On 29 May 2019, he was named a newcomer for 2019 UEFA Europa League Final in Baku, playing until 78th hour when he was substituted off for Ross Barkley, as Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4–1. [ 67 ] [ 68 ]

International career [edit ]

Kovačić with the national team in 2013 Kovačić appeared for the Croatian national team at assorted young levels, debuting in May 2008 in an under-14 friendly couple against Slovakia. [ 94 ] Since 2011, he was a regular member of the Croatia under-19 and under-21 teams. In August 2012, Kovačić received his first base competitive call-up for the Croatian aged team equal against Switzerland, but did not play because of injury. [ 95 ] subsequently, he received a call up for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in March 2013. He made his senior introduction in a qualification match against Serbia on 22 March 2013, playing as a cardinal midfielder alongside Luka Modrić, alternatively of a regular team starter, Ognjen Vukojević. [ 96 ] Four days late, he played against Wales at the Liberty Stadium, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–2 gain. His third gear match of the campaign came in June, when Croatia faced Scotland in Zagreb and suffered a frustrating defeat as they were unable to score despite a string of dependable chances. By the conclusion of the qualifiers, Kovačić made two more competitive appearances for Croatia, as Croatia scraped into the FIFA World Cup play-offs having taken only one point from their end four qualifiers. Although he did n’t participate in the scoreless foremost stage of the play-off against Iceland in Reykjavík, Kovačić started the second and critical peg between the two national teams in Zagreb, making an assist for the team ‘s second goal as they reached the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals 2–0 on aggregate. [ 97 ] On 2 June 2014, Kovačić was confirmed as a member of Niko Kovač ‘s World Cup squad. [ 98 ] He was in Croatia ‘s starting team for the opening bet on of the tournament, a 3–1 defeat to World Cup hosts Brazil at the Arena Corinthians, São Paulo, where he played for his team for 60 minutes before being substituted. [ 99 ] He went to play all the remaining games in the group stage, as Croatia was eliminated in a group stage. On 7 June 2015, he scored his first external finish in a 4–0 victory over Gibraltar, coming in his twentieth appearance for the team. [ 100 ] On 4 June 2018, Kovačić was selected in Zlatko Dalić ‘s 23-man team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. [ 101 ] On 22 June, Kovačić provided an help to his teammate Ivan Rakitić as he scored Croatia ‘s third base goal in a 3–0 succeed over Argentina in their second group stage match of the tournament. [ 102 ] Croatia was beaten 4–2 by France in the concluding on 15 July. [ 103 ] Kovačić appeared in Croatia ‘s Nations League matches against Spain away and England home, that ended up as 6–0 kill and a scoreless draw, respectively. [ 104 ] [ 105 ] [ 106 ] He featured throughout Croatia ‘s successful euro 2020 qualifying campaign, as they finished top of the group. In a 2–1 win over Wales in Osijek on 8 June 2019, he scored what would have been a goal for 2–0, however it was disallowed as Andrej Kramarić was in an offside position. [ 107 ] [ 108 ] In a return leg on 13 October, in the build-up to Wales ‘ goal, Kovačić was controversially injured by Ben Davies as the match ended up as a 1–1 draw. [ 109 ] [ 110 ] [ 111 ] During 2020–21 Nations League, Kovačić was heavily criticized for his inefficiency in the national team, [ 112 ] [ 113 ] [ 114 ] particularly after making an error that led to Dejan Kuluševski ‘s open finish in Croatia ‘s all-important couple against Sweden on 14 November 2020, that finally finished as a 2–1 get the better of. [ 115 ] [ 116 ] [ 117 ] however, three days late, he scored a brace in a 3–2 frustration to Portugal, which finally saved Croatia from relegation to League B as they achieved better finish difference than Sweden. [ 118 ] [ 119 ] [ 120 ] On 17 May 2021, Kovačić was selected in Dalić ‘s 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 [ 121 ] and started all three group stage matches. In austere contrast to Croatia ‘s Nations League campaign, his performances earned him far-flung praise in the country as Croatia finished as the group runner-up and went through to the Round of 16. [ 122 ] [ 123 ] [ 124 ] [ 125 ] [ 126 ]

style of dally [edit ]

Kovačić has been described as a bang-up technician with excellent dribbling abilities. [ 127 ] [ 128 ] [ 129 ] He is considered to be a versatile midfielder, having played in different midfield positions. He started off as an attacking midfielder at Dinamo Zagreb, but he transformed his game at Inter where he was deployed out wide and besides as a cardinal midfielder, functioning as a deep-lying playmaker, while being coached by Andrea Stramaccioni. [ 128 ] One of his trademarks is dropping thick to receive the ball and then driving forward, much performing his slalom runs. [ 128 ] Under the coach, Walter Mazzarri, he was often used in a more promote position. Former coach Giovanni Trapattoni once claimed that Kovačić knows how to actually reach the ball from deep and drive up the pitch like a ‘raging talk through one’s hat ‘. [ 130 ] Proven by his travel by completion percentages, Kovačić is known for distributing the ball up the flip. [ 130 ]

reception [edit ]

The Croatia under-17 director, Martin Novoselac, reportedly said of Kovačić, “ I have n’t seen a child with so much endowment since the days of Robert Prosinečki, ” referring to his fast development and endowment. [ 9 ] [ 13 ] Kovačić revealed that precisely Prosinečki is the player he admired the most while growing up. [ 131 ] His compatriot, Zvonimir Boban, who played for Milan for over a ten, in an interview with Sky Italia in 2013 said, “ He has talents that could make him even better than me, he is an fabulously serious professional for person his age. Kovačić is a complete player. He is not a behave regista but he is playing there now. He is a dispatch endowment that can still grow — he has incredible potential. ” [ 132 ] Trapattoni described him as “ a mix of Kaká and Clarence Seedorf “, because of his expressive style of play and technical characteristics. [ 133 ] Long-time Inter captain Javier Zanetti stated that, with the exception of Ronaldo, who had arrived to Inter when he was 21, Kovačić was the most predict child he had seen in his 19 years at the cabaret. [ 134 ]

personal life [edit ]

Kovačić was born in Linz, Austria, to Bosnian Croat parents Stipo and Ružica who had moved there from Zabrđe near Kotor Varoš, [ 135 ] Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the Yugoslav Wars. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 136 ] He is a dear Roman Catholic and he attends church every Sunday. [ 137 ] He speaks five languages : croatian, German, English, italian and spanish. [ 138 ] He named Luka Modrić his football paragon. [ 139 ] In 2017, Kovačić married his longtime girlfriend Izabel Andrijanić. [ 140 ] On 12 October 2020, Andrijanić gave parturition to their first child, a baby boy named Ivan. [ 141 ] [ 142 ] The child was christened in July 2021, with Luka Modrić being his godfather. [ 143 ] He made a cameo appearance in Jakov Sedlar ‘s 2021 film The Match, aboard Croatia teammate Dejan Lovren. [ 144 ]

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of match played 26 October 2021[145][146]

International [edit ]

As of match played 8 October 2021[148]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

Croatia

2013
7
0

2014
12
0

2015
5
1

2016
8
0

2017
5
0

2018
12
0

2019
7
0

2020
7
2

2021
12
0

Total
75
3

Scores and results list Croatia’s goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kovačić goal.[148]

Honours [edit ]

Dinamo Zagreb
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Croatia
Individual
Orders