Profile: Vlatko Markovic

Vlatko Markovic

Nationality: Croatian
Date of birth: 1 January 1937
Profession and function in football:
Businessman
President, Croatian Football Federation
Former player with NK Dinamo Zagreb, FK Austria Wien and Wiener SK
Former Yugoslav international
Former Croatian national team coach 

Election statement: “As a football official who has been through all the steps, from national team player and prominent coach to president of the national association,, and as a member of the UEFA Technical Committee, I would like to give priority to the issues that would keep Europe as the permanent leading force in world football. In order to achieve this goal, we need to keep pace with the new times, especially with regard to the work with youth players. We need to create a new financial basis in order to favour football’s future development and help it to keep its position as the leading sport in the world. Also, we need to support member associations financially in order to ensure the optimum development of football in every country. All these issues are closely linked."

Football souvenir: ” I have vivid memories of many great matches in which I took part as a player, such as the European Nations Cup final in Paris in 1960, or as a coach, for example the final of the European Under-23 Championship won by former Yugoslavia in 1973. But I also have good memories of the foundation of strong structures for the Croatian Football Federation, so as to enable the Croatian national team to be constantly present in World and European competitions."