Croatia mourns Ante Pavlović

Pavlović served as general secretary of the former national association in Yugoslavia in the late 1980s and, following Croatia’s independence in 1991, made a significant contribution to the development of the HNS, which became a member of UEFA in 1993.

Previously, as secretary of the Croatian regional association from 1962, he had enjoyed a considerable role in the development of sports infrastructures in Zagreb, as well as in the development of indoor and women's football in Croatia. He founded numerous competitions and tournaments, and initiated various awards, as well as developing relations with Croatian people living abroad.

Dinamo success

In 1982, Metković-born Pavlović became managing director of Dinamo Zagreb, and immediately shared in the club’s first Yugoslavian domestic title for 23 years. He then moved on to duties at the helm of the FA of Yugoslavia.

He took an advisory role with the HNS in 1992. In 1995, he served as the association’s acting general secretary for ten months, and was a member of the executive board in 1995 and 1996.

UEFA Order of Merit

Pavlović was honoured with several domestic awards, and was presented with the UEFA Order of Merit in Emerald in 2009 for his meritorious services to football. He was named as the HNS’s first honorary general secretary in 2018.

The HNS said in a statement that Ante Pavlović had left “a deep mark on Croatian football.”

“Throughout his football career, he maintained a commitment and love for working with younger generations,” the association added.