Zvonimir Boban: the story of a Croatian footballer

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Zvonimir Boban (his photo is presented below) is a Yugoslav (Croatian) professional ex-footballer who played as an attacking midfielder in European clubs such as Dinamo Zagreb (Yugoslavia, now Croatia), Milan and Bari (Italy), Celta (Spain).

Twice he became the best player in Croatia. He currently holds the position of Deputy Secretary General of FIFA. Zvonimir Boban spent the majority of his professional career with AC Milan, with whom he won four Serie A titles and one Champions League title.

Between 1990 and 2000 He played for the Croatian national team, where he was captain for a long time. Previously, Boban played in the national youth team of Yugoslavia (1987), and from 1988 to 1991. – in the main team.

It is worth noting that in 1987 the Yugoslav youth team (a team that includes players under 20 years old) won the World Cup. Zvonimir Boban then scored three goals in the tournament, including the goal against West Germany in the championship final also belongs to him.

After the end of his football career (in 2002), Zvonimir Boban graduated with a degree in History from the University of Zagreb. For a long time he worked as a football expert on Croatian and Italian television. Among sports experts and specialists, Zvonimir has authority in terms of sports (in particular, in football) analytics, he is considered very successful in this matter.

Biography

Zvonimir Boban was born on October 8, 1968 in Imotski (Yugoslavia, now Croatia). Since childhood, he has shown interest in football. His parents sent him to the sports section, where the guy began to improve his skills and fall in love with the game even more. His first youth club was Mrakash Runovich, where he played until 1981. From 1981 to 1982 he played in the youth squad of Hajduk Split, after which he transferred to Dinamo Zagreb.

Zvonimir Boban - football career

Boban started his professional career in 1985 at Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 17. Two seasons later, he got into the youth team of Yugoslavia, where in 1987 he won the World Cup. This success led to the fact that upon returning to Dinamo Zagreb, Zvonimir was appointed team captain, at that time he was only 18 years old. Thus, the midfielder left a mark in history, setting an absolute record. However, in 2001, football player Niko Kranjcar surpassed this achievement.

National Hero of Croatia

Zvonimir Bobanis considered a national hero of Croatia after one scandalous episode that happened in May 1990 in a duel against Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star. At some point, the football match turned into a real massacre between the fans. All this was explained by the acute political situation that preceded the split of the country into separate states. The police intervened. Boban hit one of the law enforcement officers after he raised his hand to a Dinamo Zagreb fan. This story has become very resonant among the public. She is still remembered today, as this episode led to many political disputes, which turned into a series of drastic measures. The football player received a suspension for a period of six months and could not take part in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. In the 1990/91 season, Croatian clubs played for the last time in the Yugoslav championship, where Dinamo Zagreb won silver medals, and Zvonimir Boban scored fifteen goals in 26 matches.

Transfer to Italian AC Milan, loan to Bari

In the summer of 1991, the Croatian signed a contract with the Serie A club Milan. The total cost of the player was about eight million euros. In the Italian top division, there was a restriction on legionnaires, which stated that they could only be declared in their squad in the amount of three players maximum. The Rossoneri management have decided to loan the Croatian midfielder to Bari so that he can adaptto Italian football.

At the end of the season, Bari placed 15th in the championship and were relegated, but the quality of Zvonimir Boban's play satisfied Milan's coaches. The next season, the Croatian continued in the shirt of the "red-blacks". Over time, Boban became a key and main player in Milan. Here he played for nine seasons and achieved incredible victories with the club. Between 1991 and 2001 "Devils" 4 times became champions of Serie A, and also won the Champions League Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

Season at Celta and the end of a footballer's career

In the summer of 2001, Zvonimir Boban was loaned out again, this time by the Spanish Premier League - Celta. Here, the Croatian had difficulty getting into the main squad. For the whole season, Boban played only four matches.

Given his age and difficulties, the 33-year-old midfielder has decided to end his football career. Now Zvonimir's activities are very diverse - he is a successful commentator and football analyst. In an interview, Boban said that he did not want to become a football coach, as he had given too much time and nerves to this sport.