Croatia mourns Zlatko Kranjčar

Kranjčar, nicknamed ‘Cico’, captained Croatia in their first modern international match against the United States in Zagreb on 17 October 1990.

Born in Zagreb, Kranjčar was recognised as one of Dinamo Zagreb’s greatest ever forwards. In a ten-year career with the club which took in 307 matches and 125 goals, he won Yugoslavia’s domestic title in 1982, as well as two Yugoslav Cups in 1980 and 1983.

Success in Austria

The prolific front-runner moved to Rapid Wien in 1983. He spent seven years with the club in the Austrian capital, playing 201 matches and scoring 106 goals. Kranjčar helped Rapid win two Austrian championships, three Austrian Cups and three Super Cups.

In 1985, Kranjčar reached the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final with Rapid, featuring as the only non-Austrian player in the starting line-up against English opponents Everton. Rapid’s coach in that match in Rotterdam, which Everton won 3-1, was another Croatian - Otto Barić, who died last December.

Rich coaching path

After finishing his playing days in Austria with St. Pölten, Kranjčar went on to a rich coaching career. He was Croatian national team coach from 2004 until 2006, taking the team to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He won two league and cup ‘doubles’ with Dinamo Zagreb in 1996 and 1998, and guided NK Zagreb to a superb Croatian domestic title in 2002. Kranjčar also managed Montenegro’s national team from 2010-11, and his other club posts included spells with HNK Rijeka, DAC Dunajska Streda, NK Mura, NK Marsonia and Sephan (Iran), where he won the Iranian manager of the year award in 2012.