GNK Dinamo Zagreb talents

[DebeliOtac]

The introduction
Well, i have to say that Liverpool and Dinamo Zagreb are clubs that i supported all my life, after last nights game(Dinamo Zagreb-Malmo) Dinamo has qualified for the Champions League after 12 long years.
The last time Dinamo played the Champions League was in season 1999/2000, after a successful 98/99 season where Dinamo got 8 pts. in Group stage after winning the likes of Porto, Ajax(at Amsterdam arena) and drawing to Olympiakos and Ajax at home( stadium called Maksimir). The season of 99/00 was starting and Dinamo with the likes of : Ladić(CRO 1. goalie), Bišćan( ahhhh you all know this fella), Šokota( later Porto, Benfica), Štefulj, Jurić, Sedloski, Mujčin, Prosinečki(played for Barca, Real Madrid and Red Star Belgrade when they won the CL), Jurčić(current Dinamo coach), Banović, Šimić(Inter Milan, Milan), Tokić, Rukavina, Šabić, Tomas, Mikić, Kozniku, Mikulenas, Cvitanović(best scorer of the CRO national league) was a very good team. Dinamo played the Scum in their first game and played 0:0 on Old Trafford, at the end ot that stage Dinamo had 5 pts.
After that year Dinamo didnt play the CL for 12 years, but didnt stop producing players and earned a spot for being the top 5 in Europe in producing talented players. Dinamo also produced and nurtured(some players they bought when they were young, or established players that they sold on) players that made impact in strong leagues like: Ivica Olic, Niko Kranjcar, Vedran Ćorluka, Luka Modrić, Ognjen Vukojević, Eduardo Da Silva, Mario Mandzukic,Dejan Lovren, etc.
In this thread i will put information about Dinamo and Dinamos talents.
Current squad:
GK:Ivan Kelava, Filip Loncaric, Oliver Zelenika
Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Tonel, Sime Vrsaljko, Igor Biscan, Luis Ibanez, Leandro Cufre, Dino Skvorc, Walid Atta, Tomislav Barbaric, Karlo Brucic
Midfield: Sammir, Milan Badelj, Mehmed Alispahic, Jerko Leko, Mateo Kovacic, Nikola Pokrivac, Ivan Tomecak, Adrian Calello, Pedro Morales, Arijan Ademi, Mathias Chago, Antun Palic
Forwards: Andrej Kramaric, Fatos Beqiraj, Ivan Krstanovic, Mario Situm, Ante Rukavina, Jakub Sylvestr, Dino Špehar
Coach: Krunoslav Jurcic

[Matt-CM]

One of the unexpected, but very welcome, aspects of this board has been the way Reds around the world have shared other aspects of football, from Brazil, to Slovenia and now Dinamo Zagreb.

Thanks for a good introduction, look forward to seeing how they do

[pete752]

Any good young Croatian strikers with pace who can come off the bench for us and turn games?

[DebeliOtac]

One of the unexpected, but very welcome, aspects of this board has been the way Reds around the world have shared other aspects of football, from Brazil, to Slovenia and now Dinamo Zagreb.

Thanks for a good introduction, look forward to seeing how they do

Thanks alot, really appreciate it

Any good young Croatian strikers with pace who can come off the bench for us and turn games?

Well, Dinamo had just signed a striker from Osijek called Dino Špehar, hes just 17 years old and he will be one of the leaders in the future alongside Mateo Kovačić who is also 17 and maybe Andrej Kramarić whos 20( that should be the attacking force in the future). The other strikers are solid performers but not Liverpool caliber

[DebeliOtac]

Goalkeepers
Ivan Kelava-Born February, 20. 1988 in Zagreb. He started training soccer in 1997 at GNK Dinamo Zagreb, after going through all youth selections at Dinamo and for Croatia Kelava was brought in the first team in 2006. Kelava played his first game in September, 2007 in the Croatian national cup. During those first couple of years in the first team Kelava had few chances to prove his quality, so in the season of 2009/2010 he went on a year long loan at NK Lokomotiva. After that year and the injury of Filip Lončarić, Kelava was the number one keeper at Dinamo and proved his worth in numerous games in the national league and Europe.Kelava was fantastic in last years Europa League games vs Villareal, Brugge and PAOK, but especially in the game that Dinamo lost to Villareal-away(Dinamo won them at home ) 3:0 and Kelava was the player of the game, and in the last game of the qualifications of CL Kelava was an absolute hero, Dinamo had an advantage of 4:1 from the first game vs Malmo FC, in the second game Malmo got a 2:0 lead after Šime Vrsaljko got a red card in the 50.min. then Kelava saved Dinamo numerous times and secured CL football this season.Kelava just got called up for Croatia national team.
He is also a recorder of the Croatian soccer league where in 1008 minutes he didnt concede a goal, until the game with Villareal.

[Themessangernr1]

i like Sammir from dinamo zagreb. good player

[robinredshanks]

Hi DebliOtac, great to have you here as one of out international correspondents

I have great memories of a first visit to the old Yugoslavia, back in the 70s'. Too many stories to tell.

I think you are going to be asked to expand your coverage, to Serbia, Bosnia etc. So get ready for all the questions.

As Matt said, we have a number of threads, on this board, from all over the world.

The thread I started, is the 'Letter from Brazil' and I now have great support from a number of fellow posters who share the thread, and keep it up to date. It's been running just under a year, and has received over 50k views.

The Copa America thread, I started, was crazy, more so; when our own Luiz Suarez was a big part of the winning team, and we are (I hope) poised to sign one of his fellow Countrymen.

So it proves that these, International threads are well received.

Great OP, and I look forward to reading more news from Croatia. You could also keep us posted about any Brazilians playing there, in either this, or the Brazil thread.

I don't know of any Croats playing in Brazil or South America, do you?

Good luck with the thread,

[RodgersThat]

The introduction
Well, i have to say that Liverpool and Dinamo Zagreb are clubs that i supported all my life, after last nights game(Dinamo Zagreb-Malmo) Dinamo has qualified for the Champions League after 12 long years.
The last time Dinamo played the Champions League was in season 1999/2000, after a successful 98/99 season where Dinamo got 8 pts. in Group stage after winning the likes of Porto, Ajax(at Amsterdam arena) and drawing to Olympiakos and Ajax at home( stadium called Maksimir). The season of 99/00 was starting and Dinamo with the likes of : Ladić(CRO 1. goalie), Bišćan( ahhhh you all know this fella), Šokota( later Porto, Benfica), Štefulj, Jurić, Sedloski, Mujčin, Prosinečki(played for Barca, Real Madrid and Red Star Belgrade when they won the CL), Jurčić(current Dinamo coach), Banović, Šimić(Inter Milan, Milan), Tokić, Rukavina, Šabić, Tomas, Mikić, Kozniku, Mikulenas, Cvitanović(best scorer of the CRO national league) was a very good team. Dinamo played the Scum in their first game and played 0:0 on Old Trafford, at the end ot that stage Dinamo had 5 pts.
After that year Dinamo didnt play the CL for 12 years, but didnt stop producing players and earned a spot for being the top 5 in Europe in producing talented players. Dinamo also produced and nurtured(some players they bought when they were young, or established players that they sold on) players that made impact in strong leagues like: Ivica Olic, Niko Kranjcar, Vedran Ćorluka, Luka Modrić, Ognjen Vukojević, Eduardo Da Silva, Mario Mandzukic, etc.
In this thread i will put information about Dinamo and Dinamos talents.
Current squad:
GK:Ivan Kelava, Filip Loncaric, Oliver Zelenika
Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Tonel, Sime Vrsaljko, Igor Biscan, Luis Ibanez, Leandro Cufre, Dino Skvorc, Walid Atta, Tomislav Barbaric, Karlo Brucic
Midfield: Sammir, Milan Badelj, Mehmed Alispahic, Jerko Leko, Mateo Kovacic, Nikola Pokrivac, Ivan Tomecak, Adrian Calello, Pedro Morales, Arijan Ademi, Mathias Chago, Antun Palic
Forwards: Andrej Kramaric, Fatos Beqiraj, Ivan Krstanovic, Mario Situm, Ante Rukavina, Jakub Sylvestr
Coach: Krunoslav Jurcic

Fantastic post mate and looking forward to your thoughts on trends and stories from Croatia !

Who knows, one of these days Matt will just mention a Croation up and comer and lo and behold, we sign him.

[DebeliOtac]

i like Sammir from dinamo zagreb. good player

Yes, Sammir is our best performer, he literally cant lose the ball, you should see him against Malmo in the first leg in Zagreb, just sick

Hi DebliOtac, great to have you here as one of out international correspondents

I have great memories of a first visit to the old Yugoslavia, back in the 70s'. Too many stories to tell.

I think you are going to be asked to expand your coverage, to Serbia, Bosnia etc. So get ready for all the questions.

As Matt said, we have a number of threads, on this board, from all over the world.

The thread I started, is the 'Letter from Brazil' and I now have great support from a number of fellow posters who share the thread, and keep it up to date. It's been running just under a year, and has received over 50k views.

The Copa America thread, I started, was crazy, more so; when our own Luiz Suarez was a big part of the winning team, and we are (I hope) poised to sign one of his fellow Countrymen.

So it proves that these, International threads are well received.

Great OP, and I look forward to reading more news from Croatia. You could also keep us posted about any Brazilians playing there, in either this, or the Brazil thread.

I don't know of any Croats playing in Brazil or South America, do you?

Good luck with the thread,

Thanks alot, Im planing to expand my coverage in other threads, The Croatian National Team thread and The Bosnia and Herzegovina thread, ill try to be ready for the questions, just hope i dont dissapoint, yes theres currently one Brazilian player in Dinamo and he is our best player and i will post about him on this thread when it comes to MIDFIELDERS and on the Brazil thread before mine also i will post about Brazilians who played and made impact for Dinamo, as for Croatians in South America or Brazil, i dont know any, but i knew some players had their roots from Croatia(either their grandma or grandpa, mom or dad) it is said but im not sure that Maradona´s grandma was from Croatia, but not sure about this, anyways thanks for the good review and for posting i hope you post sometimes again

[DebeliOtac]

Fantastic post mate and looking forward to your thoughts on trends and stories from Croatia !

Who knows, one of these days Matt will just mention a Croation up and comer and lo and behold, we sign him.

Hey, thanks alot, ill keep you posted about those things it would be a dream for another Croat(after Biscan) to play for Liverpool, ill be honest, i think this kid Mateo Kovacic will be a beast, hes only 17 and already awesome, hes a player for the future, hed be a great buy
Scouts from Arsenal and Chelsea have been watching this player, and the Arsenal scout said that they are very interested in Kovacic but that they doupt they can cope with the millions that have been dancing around him

[DebeliOtac]

GNK Dinamo Zagreb
Real Madrid
Lyon
Ajax

Champions League group D

[MarasLFC]

Good thread DebeliOtac!

I myself am a hajduk supporter, although i am on holiday in zagreb at the moment. I know very well that dinamo have a great youth academy so i expect this thread to be very busy in the future. As you said kovacic is a great player and in my opinion Badelj will leave for a bigger club very soon.

Tell me do you know anything about any of the academy players? im interested to know how Josip Konyit is going. Thankyou.

[DebeliOtac]

Good thread DebeliOtac!

I myself am a hajduk supporter, although i am on holiday in zagreb at the moment. I know very well that dinamo have a great youth academy so i expect this thread to be very busy in the future. As you said kovacic is a great player and in my opinion Badelj will leave for a bigger club very soon.

Tell me do you know anything about any of the academy players? im interested to know how Josip Konyit is going. Thankyou.

Thank you, i also like Vukušić and that new guy Kukoč from Hajduk Split, i also think Badelj will go soon, but we have Kovačić there so no sweat . Ill try to get more info on the youth ranks in the future, as for the greatest talent at the moment is Halilović, Atletico Madrid is after him.

[DebeliOtac]

Goalkeepers
Filip Lončarić-Born September, 17, 1986 Zagreb. Started his career at Dinamo as defender, he was moved to be a goalkeeper by the coaches initiative.
His first game was in the biggest Cro derby Dinamo-Hajduk in 2006. At his time in the first team Lončarić was most of the time the second keeper due to injuries and because the squad had more expirienced keepers at times.
With Tomislav Butina leaving the club in 2010, Lončarić became the number 1 keeper in Dinamo, but suffered another injury setback vs Hajduk in September 2010, Lončarić went to surgery. After that Kelava impressed which made Lončarić yet again the secong keeper in the squad.

[DebeliOtac]

Fixtures out for CL

1.round Dinamo-Real Madrid
2.round Lyon-Dinamo
3.round Dinamo-Ajax
4.round Ajax-Dinamo
5.round Real Madrid-Dinamo
6.round Dinamo-Lyon

[DebeliOtac]

Goalkeepers
Oliver Zelenika- Born on May, 14, 1993 in Zagreb. Oliver played for Dinamo youth ranks and was in the Croatia U-14 and U17 squads. Oliver was called up in the first squad in 2011, and at the moment he is the third keeper.

[DebeliOtac]

Next fixture: GNK Dinamo Zagreb-NK Lučko
Competition: First Cro national league
Round: 6
Date: August, 27. 2011
Time: 18:00
Season: 2011/2012

Possible lineup:
Goalkeeper: Kelava
Defenders: Vrsaljko, Tonel, Vida, Ibanez
Midfielders: Leko, Badelj, Kovačić, Sammir
Forwards: Krstanović, Beqiraj

[pete752]

Fixtures out for CL

1.round Dinamo-Real Madrid
2.round Lyon-Dinamo
3.round Dinamo-Ajax
4.round Ajax-Dinamo
5.round Real Madrid-Dinamo
6.round Dinamo-Lyon

That's a tough group there for Dinamo!

[Themessangernr1]

dinamo will struggle in that group unless they make a few signings. any updates on potential recruits or are they skint ?

[DebeliOtac]

That's a tough group there for Dinamo!

Yeah, it is, but i think they can catch a couple of points, Dinamo can play vs Ajax and they showed that before, well battle them for third place, probably

[DebeliOtac]

dinamo will struggle in that group unless they make a few signings. any updates on potential recruits or are they skint ?

Well, Dinamo brought in Nikola Pokrivač(midfielder, former Dinamo player) and Dino Špehar(striker) but it is also great that Šitum started to score goals, 2 against Osijek and 1 against Lučko.
Dinamo is after Josip Šimunić(Hoffenheim, defender) but that is uncertain.

[DebeliOtac]

Next fixture: GNK Dinamo Zagreb-NK Lučko
Competition: First Cro national league
Round: 6
Date: August, 27. 2011
Time: 18:00
Season: 2011/2012

Possible lineup:
Goalkeeper: Kelava
Defenders: Vrsaljko, Tonel, Vida, Ibanez
Midfielders: Leko, Badelj, Kovačić, Sammir
Forwards: Krstanović, Beqiraj

GNK Dinamo Zagreb-NK Lučko 1-0
Lineup:
GK: Lončarić
DF:Vrsaljko, Vida, Tonel, Cufre(41.min.Sylvestr)
MF: Calello, Pokrivač, Kovačić, Šitum
FW: Rukavina, Krstanović(61.min.Beqiraj)
Scorer: Šitum 28.min.

Coach Jurčić decided to rotate the squad a little bit and gave a chance to couple of players that werent starters this season.
Lončarić was given a chance on goal, Pokrivač had his debut, and the most interesting part of the game(apart from the goal) was when Kovačić became the youngest captain in the history of Dinamo(at the age of 17 and 3 months) now thats somethin.
Dinamo controlled the game and failed to convert a couple of more chances in goals.
Dinamo now top the table with 18 pts. given 16 goals and conceded 0.

P.S. sorry havent had time these days, my cousin is here so weve been going out and drinking alot(everyday is a hangover) , ill make a post about something from the history of Dinamo before i go onto presenting the defenders in Dinamo.

[DebeliOtac]

History
Allright, this post is about leagues and cups that Dinamo won and also the biggest successes in European cups.

Leagues-23
League of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia-1923., 1926., 1928., 1937., 1940.
League of NDH in soccer-1943
League of Yugoslavia-1948., 1954., 1958., 1981/82.
League of the Republic of Croatia-1992/93., 1995/96., 1996/97., 1997/98., 1998/99., 1999/2000., 2002/03., 2005/06., 2006/07., 2007/08., 2008/09., 2009/10., 2010./11.

Cups-21
Cup of Yugoslavia-1925., 1940., 1951., 1960., 1963., 1965., 1969., 1979/80., 1982/83
Croatian soccer Cup-1941., 1993/94., 1995/96., 1996/97., 1997/98., 2000/01., 2001/02., 2003/04., 2006/07., 2007/08., 2008/09., 2010/11.

SuperCups-4
Croatian SuperCup-2002., 2003., 2006., 2010.

European Cups-2
UEFA Cup-1967.(in 1963. finalists)
Balkan Cup-1977.

More successes in Europe:

1961/62. UEFA Cup- 1/8 vs FC Barcelona 1-5, 2-2
1962. Mitropa Cup-after playing the likes of Juventus and Ferencvaros, Dinamo loses in 1/2 vs Bologna 1-1, 1-2
1962/63. UEFA Cup- after beating the likes of Porto 1R, 2-1, 0-0, Bayern Munchen 1/4, 4-1, 0-0, Ferencvaros 1/2, 1-0, 2-1, Dinamo loses to Valencia CF in the finals 1-2, 0-2
1966/67. UEFA Cup- after beatin the likes of Juventus 1/4, 2-2, 3-0, Eintracht Frankfurt 1/2, 0-3, 4-0, Dinamo wins the UEFA Cup vs. Leeds United in finals, 2-0, 0-0
1970/71. UEFA Cup- 1/8, FC Twente, 2-2, 0-1
1997/98. UEFA Cup- 1/8 Atletico Madrid, 1-1, 0-1
1998/99. CL- Group stage
1999/00. CL- Group stage
2011/12. CL..................? group stage until now, but maybe a miracle happens

[DebeliOtac]

Now for the
Defenders
Domagoj Vida-born April, 29. 1989. ex clubs-Osijek, Bayer Leverkusen.
At the age of 7, Vida started training soccer at his hometown Donji Miholjac. Quickly after that Osijek scouted him and brought him to their team, Vida traveled 50 kilometers everyday to trainings.
At the age of 17 he makes his first appearance for Osijek and after 4 years of playing in the first team, Germanys Bayer Leverkuses buys him. Despite making appearances in the Europa League, Vida didnt get much minutes in the Bundesliga, so choses to return to Croatia to restore his career.
After playing a couple of games for Dinamo and making some excellent displays, Vida was called up for Cro A team for who he has made three appearances.

[pete752]

GNK Dinamo Zagreb-NK Lučko 1-0
Lineup:
GK: Lončarić
DF:Vrsaljko, Vida, Tonel, Cufre(41.min.Sylvestr)
MF: Calello, Pokrivač, Kovačić, Šitum
FW: Rukavina, Krstanović(61.min.Beqiraj)
Scorer: Šitum 28.min.

Coach Jurčić decided to rotate the squad a little bit and gave a chance to couple of players that werent starters this season.
Lončarić was given a chance on goal, Pokrivač had his debut, and the most interesting part of the game(apart from the goal) was when Kovačić became the youngest captain in the history of Dinamo(at the age of 17 and 3 months) now thats somethin.
Dinamo controlled the game and failed to convert a couple of more chances in goals.
Dinamo now top the table with 18 pts. given 16 goals and conceded 0.

P.S. sorry havent had time these days, my cousin is here so weve been going out and drinking alot(everyday is a hangover) , ill make a post about something from the history of Dinamo before i go onto presenting the defenders in Dinamo.

Dinamo's captain is 17 yrs old? Damn, he must be one really good player

If I remember correctly, he's also one of your most promising strikers right? I'll try to catch some Dinamo games this season. Always good to have someone who can guide you through the team and thanks a lot for taking time to introduce Croatian football to all of us on here

[-Cymru-]

I have heard of Kovacic, and in my opinion, he will be a very good player.

[Panic-Button]

I signed Kovacic on FM a while back. Didn't do too well

[DebeliOtac]

Dinamo's captain is 17 yrs old? Damn, he must be one really good player

If I remember correctly, he's also one of your most promising strikers right? I'll try to catch some Dinamo games this season. Always good to have someone who can guide you through the team and thanks a lot for taking time to introduce Croatian football to all of us on here

Yeah, well, Dinamo was resting some players against Lučko and when Cufre got injured Kovačić became captain, well he plays in midfield, but as an attacking midfielder and is one of the most promising players if not the most promising player in Croatia, alot of top clubs have been watching him and Dinamo rejected a bid from Arsenal apparently.
No problem about this, its a pleasure to do this and thank you very much for having time to read this thread and posting

I have heard of Kovacic, and in my opinion, he will be a very good player.

Good, so hes known out of Croatia, thats fantastic yes, he is already a very good player at the age of 17, imo he will me a monster after a couple of years.

[DebeliOtac]

I signed Kovacic on FM a while back. Didn't do too well

hehehehe, wait for a couple of years, he'll be great, FM's biggest picks, Suarez and Kovačić

[DebeliOtac]

Defenders
Tonel-Born on April,13.1980. in Lourosa, Portugal. Ex clubs-FC Porto, Academica de Coimbra, Maritimo, Sporting Lisbon.
Tonel, his full name being António Leonel Vilar Nogueira Sousa, though he started his career at FC Porto, Tonel has made his first professional appearance for Academica de Coimbra where e was on loan in year 2000. In year 2004. Tonel signs for FC Maritimo where after one year of good displays signs for Sporting CP where he playerd 117 matches. After his long career in Portugal Tonel signs for GNH Dinamo Zagreb in 2010 and has been one of the key players since.
Tonel has 2 appearances for tha Portugal A selection, one in 2008 Euro qualifiers, and the other in a friendly against China in 2010.