Mateo Kovacic - Croatia, Analysis, Facts, Birthday, Transfer news, injury news, Biography, awards, Chelsea, Midfielder, jersey number,
Mateo Kovacic
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Mateo Kovacic
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Mateo Kovačić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the Croatia national team.
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Kovačić began his professional career with Dinamo Zagreb at the 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.
With Chelsea, Kovačić won the 2018-19 Europa League and the 2020-21 Champions League, as well as the Chelsea Player of the Year after the 2019-20 season.
Kovačić suffered a serious injury in 2009 in which his leg was broken, but he returned to the pitch after a lengthy recovery on 31 May 2010, appearing in the last match of the Croatian under-17 academy league, in a friendly 5-0 win against RNK Split under-17s. [edit].
Kovačić started training with the club's senior squad under manager, Vahid Halilhodžić, four months later, on 6 October 2010, but continued to appear for the club in academy league matches during October.
Kovačić eventually had his professional league debut 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 win.
After the 2014-15 season, he moved to Real Madrid, where he won the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 Champions Leagues.
With Chelsea, Kovačić won the 2018-19 Europa League and the 2020-21 Champions League, as well as the Chelsea Player of the Year after the 2019-20 season.
Kovačić suffered a serious injury in 2009 in which his leg was broken, but he returned to the pitch after a lengthy recovery on 31 May 2010, appearing in the last match of the Croatian under-17 academy league, in a friendly 5-0 win against RNK Split under-17s. [edit].
Kovačić started training with the club's senior squad under manager, Vahid Halilhodžić, four months later, on 6 October 2010, but continued to appear for the club in academy league matches during October.
Kovačić eventually had his professional league debut 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 win.
This made him the youngest goalscorer in the history of the league, at the age of 16 years and 198 days, breaking the record set only a week earlier by Dino Špehar who had scored for Osijek at the age of 16 years and 278 days on 13 November 2010.
In his first senior season with Dinamo Zagreb he managed to appear in 7 matches, making a contribution in winning the league title.
In the beginning of the season, he helped the team reach the group stage of the season's Champions League for the first time in 12 years.
He finished his first European season with Dinamo by scoring a goal against Lyon in the last game of the group stage in Zagreb and thus became the second youngest ever scorer in the Champions League.
In the domestic league, he was a regular starter, 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 captaincy from Leandro Cufré.
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 title.
In the beginning of 2012-13 season, he suffered a metatarsal bone injury that caused him to miss several games on the club's qualifying road to another Champions League.
He returned just in time to play in Dinamo's first Champions League game against Porto.
In his first senior season with Dinamo Zagreb he managed to appear in 7 matches, making a contribution in winning the league title.
In the beginning of the season, he helped the team reach the group stage of the season's Champions League for the first time in 12 years.
He finished his first European season with Dinamo by scoring a goal against Lyon in the last game of the group stage in Zagreb and thus became the second youngest ever scorer in the Champions League.
In the domestic league, he was a regular starter, 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 captaincy from Leandro Cufré.
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 title.
In the beginning of 2012-13 season, he suffered a metatarsal bone injury that caused him to miss several games on the club's qualifying road to another Champions League.
He returned just in time 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 stage, against Porto, Paris Saint-Germain and Dynamo Kyiv.
During his time with Dinamo, Kovačić won two domestic league titles and two Croatian Cup titles, appearing in a total of 73 official matches, including 12 appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
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.
On 14 February, Kovačić made his European debut before the home crowd at San Siro in UEFA Europa League match against CFR Cluj.
He also played full 90 minutes in the 3-0 away win against CFR Cluj as Inter proceeded to the next round of the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League.
Kovačić made his first domestic league start for Inter in the next round of Serie A in a 1-4 away loss against Fiorentina.
In the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League, Inter was drawn to play against Tottenham Hotspur.
In 32 Serie A matches played, he started only 14, playing the entire 90 minutes on just eight occasions.
He started the season in strong fashion, scoring a hat-trick in the second leg of Europa League play-off round against Stjarnan on 28 August.
He scored his first league goal for Inter and assisted twice in a 7-0 win over Sassuolo on 14 September 2014.
During his time with Dinamo, Kovačić won two domestic league titles and two Croatian Cup titles, appearing in a total of 73 official matches, including 12 appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
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.
On 14 February, Kovačić made his European debut before the home crowd at San Siro in UEFA Europa League match against CFR Cluj.
He also played full 90 minutes in the 3-0 away win against CFR Cluj as Inter proceeded to the next round of the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League.
Kovačić made his first domestic league start for Inter in the next round of Serie A in a 1-4 away loss against Fiorentina.
In the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League, Inter was drawn to play against Tottenham Hotspur.
In 32 Serie A matches played, he started only 14, playing the entire 90 minutes on just eight occasions.
He started the season in strong fashion, scoring a hat-trick in the second leg of Europa League play-off round against Stjarnan on 28 August.
He scored his first league goal for Inter and assisted twice in a 7-0 win over Sassuolo on 14 September 2014.
He made eight appearances and scored one goal en Real Madrid's route to the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League title.
Kovačić scored his first Liga goal on 29 January 2017 in a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad. He was a part-time starter when Madrid won the 2016-17 La Liga and the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League.
During the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League, Kovačić made six appearances when Madrid won their third consecutive-and 13th overall-UEFA Champions League title.
On 29 May 2019, he was named a starter for 2019 UEFA Europa League Final in Baku, playing until 78th minute when he was substituted off for Ross Barkley, as Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4-1.
Kovačić scored his first goal for Chelsea on 27 November, in a 2-2 Champions League draw against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium.
On 7 December, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 1-3 away loss to Everton.
Ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Porto, Kovačić sustained a tendon injury and was forced to miss the semi-final tie against his former club Real Madrid, which Chelsea won 3-1 on aggregate.
Despite previously winning three Champions Leagues, on 29 May 2021, Kovačić played in a Champions League Final for the first time in his career, coming on for Mason Mount in the 80th minute, as Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1-0.
Kovačić scored his first Liga goal on 29 January 2017 in a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad. He was a part-time starter when Madrid won the 2016-17 La Liga and the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League.
During the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League, Kovačić made six appearances when Madrid won their third consecutive-and 13th overall-UEFA Champions League title.
On 29 May 2019, he was named a starter for 2019 UEFA Europa League Final in Baku, playing until 78th minute when he was substituted off for Ross Barkley, as Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4-1.
Kovačić scored his first goal for Chelsea on 27 November, in a 2-2 Champions League draw against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium.
On 7 December, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 1-3 away loss to Everton.
Ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Porto, Kovačić sustained a tendon injury and was forced to miss the semi-final tie against his former club Real Madrid, which Chelsea won 3-1 on aggregate.
Despite previously winning three Champions Leagues, on 29 May 2021, Kovačić played in a Champions League Final for the first time in his career, coming on for Mason Mount in the 80th minute, as Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1-0.
He later won the Premier League Goal of the Month for this goal.
Kovačić appeared in Croatia's Nations League matches against Spain away and England home, that ended up as 6-0 defeat and a goalless draw, respectively.
During 2020-21 Nations League, Kovačić was heavily criticized for his inefficiency in the national team, especially after making an error that led to Dejan Kuluševski's opening goal in Croatia's crucial match against Sweden on 14 November 2020, that eventually finished as a 2-1 defeat.
Three days later, he scored a brace in a 3-2 defeat to Portugal, which eventually saved Croatia from relegation to League B as they achieved better goal difference than Sweden.
In stark contrast to Croatia's Nations League campaign, his performances earned him widespread praise in the country as Croatia finished as the group runners-up and went through to the Round of 16.
Kovačić appeared in Croatia's Nations League matches against Spain away and England home, that ended up as 6-0 defeat and a goalless draw, respectively.
During 2020-21 Nations League, Kovačić was heavily criticized for his inefficiency in the national team, especially after making an error that led to Dejan Kuluševski's opening goal in Croatia's crucial match against Sweden on 14 November 2020, that eventually finished as a 2-1 defeat.
Three days later, he scored a brace in a 3-2 defeat to Portugal, which eventually saved Croatia from relegation to League B as they achieved better goal difference than Sweden.
In stark contrast to Croatia's Nations League campaign, his performances earned him widespread praise in the country as Croatia finished as the group runners-up and went through to the Round of 16.
His compatriot, Zvonimir Boban, who played for Milan for over a decade, in an interview with Sky Italia in 2013 said, "He has talents that could make him even better than me, he is an incredibly serious professional for someone his age. Kovačić is a complete player. He is not a born regista but he is playing there now. He is a complete talent that can still grow - he has incredible potential." Trapattoni described him as "a mixture of Kaká and Clarence Seedorf", because of his style of play and technical characteristics.
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