It appears that Croatia has become the latest buzz recruitment ground for Hyundai A-League clubs, with so far a quartet of Croatians entering our local league with the hope of re-energizing their stalled careers.
While Brazil was the clear flavour of the month in previous seasons, season eight will have a prominent Croatian vibe.
The dominant Australian dollar and economy, relaxed lifestyle and allure of the unknown are the most logical reasons behind the move to Terra Australis for these Croatian footballers.
English being compulsory in Croatian schooling means the language barrier is also no longer poses an issue. Josip Tadić, Kruno Lovrek and Western Sydney’s latest signings Dino Kresinger and Mateo Poljak can say farewell to the ćevapčići and say g’day to the meat pie.
As a Melbourne Heart supporter, the signing of 24 year old Josip Tadić definitely has me excited. Boasting a high class pedigree and a deft first touch it has me thinking that perhaps we have nabbed the best Croatian of the four. Tadić boasts on his resume spells in the leagues of Germany, France, and Poland, and of course the national league in his native Croatia.
The standout spell clearly has to be the 2006 – 2009 seasons that Tadić spent at Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb. Scoring a highly credible 20 goals in 62 appearances for the club, Tadić was playing regularly alongside Croatian stars Luka Modric, Mario Mandžukić and Vedran Ćorluka. Claiming titles was a regular habit for this particular Dinamo Zagreb team, with Tadić surely learning how to taste success, while playing the beautiful game at the same time.
While recent spells in France, Germany and most recently Poland being far less productive for Tadić, well definitely from a goal scoring aspect, the skilful forward has a chance to rejuvenate his career. More than just a finisher Tadić can play wide, second striker or even as a playmaker, so let’s hope he recaptures that lethal hunger that was shown at his time at Dinamo Zagreb. At only 24, almost the prime footballing age, youth is certainly on his side.
Sydney FC was the next A-League club to lure a Croatian down under, with the signing of veteran hitman Kruno Lovrek, who has previously had stints all over Europe and even in Korea and China. Brought up through the highly acclaimed Croatian youth system not dissimilar to Tadić, Lovrek’s footballing journey began at rival Croatian club, NK Zagreb.
Lovrek would depart the homeland for disappointing spells in Japan and Belgium before returning to NK Zagreb for a more stable stint in 2006. It was the club of his youth where Lovrek would recapture his love for the game and parade a stunning return to form. It would be these 32 goals in 47 appearances in the Prva Liga that generated a big money move to Turkey for Lovrek after he signed for Super Lig club Eskişehirspor in 2008.
Limited playing time in Turkey led Lovrek to Asia, with time spent in Korea and China before he decided to take the punt and head down under.
At 32 years old, Lovrek has a chance to end his career on a high note, and has the ability to play several more good seasons in Australia. While his recent form has been uninspiring, Lovrek certainly has shown ability over his career. Let’s hope Sydney F.C have unearthed a real gem.
On Monday the Western Sydney Wanderers were the next club to announce the signing of two Croatians, both at very different stages of their careers. Dino Kresinger and Mateo Poljak have taken the total number of Croatians in the A-League to four.
Dino Kresinger has come to Australia as a 30 year old, looking for a renewed challenge to his career before he considers retirement. Closely monitored by Tony Popovic over the past few months, his total of 11 goals for Cibalia in the Croatian Prva Liga last season showed that he still plenty to offer. Spending his entire career in his native Croatia, this veteran striker looms a very promising signing.
Mateo Poljak comes to Australia at the ripe young age of 22. After beginning his career at Dinamo Zagreb, he was loaned out to rival club NK Lokomotiva and has played in the first and second divisions of Croatia. The defensive midfielder has come through a proven system and will be looking for regular game time under Tony Popovic who obviously sees him as talented young prospect.
Perhaps there will be even more Croatians to come before the season starts in October. It is certainly uplifting to see this previously untapped talent pool finally getting the attention it deserves. While everyone knows about South America, recruiters are finally looking abroad to more diverse countries. Let’s hope that this latest influx of Croatians is a successful one and many more Europeans look to Australia as viable career path.
Mato-Bateman
Guest
They will have no problem fitting in. Burek you can buy at Ivan's Butchery, along with Sarma. Or just go to Newtown or the Balkan in the city. Croatians will have no problem fitting in, especially in Sydney and Melbourne which has a big Croatian population. I think the pick of the bunch is Poljak. The guy came through the Dinamo youth system and played with Lokomotiva Zagreb who are in the same division as Dinamo. He should really shine here. As should Tadic, who has injury problems ever since he left Dinamo. If he stays injury free, he will be a pick and a half for the Heart. Lovrek I am excited to see play, his a no nonsense striker who will cause defenders plenty of problems. Goal scoring machine in Croatia.
Ian
Guest
i'm all for different styles, but because Spain are better than England doesn't make EPL the way it should be. EPL may be more 'famous' and have more coverage but they aren't the best league. 'as designed by the english'.......is that actually true? so it can't change and evolve? what would the modern day EPL be without the increase in foreign players going there for cash to make the EPL better than what it was? its called the world game for a reason, obviously i must be less than a rookie for this unpopular opinion
Futbanous
Guest
Personally I dont care where players come from, Brazil last year, Croatia this,Chile next as long as they are giving an added ingredient to the A-League. Australia is blessed with a variety of cuisines as a result of post war migration,it adds to the Meat pie,no need for any one dish to dominate,thats also how I see football in Australia.
Kasey
Guest
It’s a controversial opinion I guess but… The Brazilian national team sh*t me to tears. Every WC without fail, they become the lazy pundit’s pick for champions, but really, when was the last great Brazilian team? The three Rs of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo in 2002? In 2010 I was at Soccer City to watch the African team with the hopes of a continent (Didier Drogba’s Elephants of the Cote d’Ivoire) take on the Selecào. The behaviour of the Brazilians was disrespectful and petulant to say the least. As the Africans went about their business you could see the Brazilian players getting more and more frustrated, they repeatedly turned to the referee with appeals for free kicks after every innocuous challenge, almost as if they couldn’t believe the temerity of the African in actually tackling them, the precious nature really turned me off the Brazilian NT as I began to see the behaviour repeated in the other games they played.
Roger Rational
Guest
Well said, Vic. Brilliant comment. Football as designed by the English was intended to be aggressive and full of contact. This namby pamby modern game full of tippy tappy divers like Barcelona leaves me cold.
Vic
Guest
Here, here. The Brazilians play pretty but cannot take the beating. I prefer the physical, traditional British style. It was never intended to be this non contact, never tackle style advocated by the TWG brigade. They have lost the plot I am afraid. What wrecked it is the 1990 world cup. The lack of goals forced FIFA to either make the goals bigger or to crack down on any tackling likely to interfere with a scoring attempt. The nett result is diving, diving and more bloody diving.
Stefanov
Roar Pro
Hahaha love it. My uncle's parents are Slovenia and they make insane cevapi...would love to see them at A-League grounds. Yum. I think you are right in them not taking up the meat pie...
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Yes, if I had a problem with this article it was the relegation of cevapi for the meat pie. NEVER! And recently I found a supplier of kranjska sausages and with the saukraut and mash makes an awesome meal washed down with your favourite ale. Now if only we could get these things at HAL games we'd get a heck of a lot more spectators. Listening BB and Frank?
Cpaaa
Guest
There is no way that these players will replace the cevapcici for a meat pie. When you have tasted the cevap u will know what i mean. Now available at Coles and woolies Australia wide. Never thought id see the day Australia embrase the cevap as they have the foreign Footballer from wherever. one thing they might miss is the Burek or sarma, might have to go to Edensor park or punchbowl for that one. The Brasilians have been left out in the cold this season, lets see how the croats do in 2012.... great write up Stef, just makes me love this game even more. Which other sport let alone code has this kind of access? 2012 The year of the Croat! Perhaps in 2013 the year of Japanese or Malaysian, Argentinian, Qatarian, Bulgarian, American or Scandanavian or who knows, the list just continues and every year we have fresh exciting imports. Bring on A-League 2012 !
Kasey
Guest
I'm sure from an Agent's POV for a long time into the future it will be a shedload easier to sell a 'Brazilian' than it will be to sell the equivalent experienced European player(regardless of country of origin), but that's one of the fun aspects to being a football fan in this country. We buy unknowns and 20-odd year olds with something to prove. Take Adelaide United...they've signed a pair of Argentines this off season(Carrusca[28]and Jeronimo[26]). They could both be duds or one of them could be the next Flores. It only takes one to light up a team and allow it to click. Young Aussie Jake Barker-Daish [19] comes with great wraps as a potential no10. I love watching as many games in the opening rounds of the HAL season as I possibly can taking in all the new players and trying to pick which ones are going to shine and rip up the league. This season's crop of unknowns certainly look interesting at this stage. Perhaps the unknown about the new foreigners makes it easier to sell Season Tickets to fans who are traditionally at their most optimistic/delusional in pre-season, before a ball has even been kicked in anger;) One of my favourite all time players in football is from the Balkan region, Former Adelaide City and Australia Sweeper the always classy, Milan Ivanovic, Gee we could really use him in his prime right now for the Socceroos!
grazorblade
Guest
I think we are starting to learn that players a little bit better than the average a league player are for some reason a lot better than superstars. Compare the influence of berisha, shmeltz, ifill and zwaansick compared to robbie fowler, david beckham (in the mls) and some returning socceroos.
pete4
Guest
I think players from countries such as Croatia are a good fit for the A-League. The players there are used to the physical side of things and are technically very good. Not sure we'll see a flood of players from there here but I'm glad we are past the stage of seemlingly recruiting a Brazilian just because they are from Brazil. Looking forward to see how well Lovrek and Yau (from Panama) combine this season for SFC