Niko Kranjcar Profile


Contact Niko Kranjcar

Full Name:Niko Kranjcar

Niko Kranjcar Pictures

Next

Image Viewing a thread   <b>Niko Kranjcar</b> <b>...</b> Picture

Title: 33440p.jpg
Description: Viewing a thread Niko Kranjcar ...

Image <b>Niko Kranjcar</b> picture, <b>Niko Kranjcar</b> <b>...</b> Picture

Title: Niko Kranj269ar .jpg
Description: Niko Kranjcar picture, Niko Kranjcar ...

Image <b>Niko Kranjcar</b> <b>...</b> Picture

Title: 303405758 soccer uefa european ...
Description: Niko Kranjcar ...

Image <b>...</b> <b>Niko Kranjcar</b> chats to Football <b>...</b> Picture

Title: 44704066 kranjcar512.jpg
Description: ... Niko Kranjcar chats to Football ...

Image Portsmouth's <b>Niko Kranjcar</b> Snubs <b>...</b> Picture

Title: 1374 news.jpg
Description: Portsmouth's Niko Kranjcar Snubs ...

Image Sidelined: <b>Niko Kranjcar</b> has been <b>...</b> Picture

Title: niko kranjcar 796783a.jpg
Description: Sidelined: Niko Kranjcar has been ...

Image <b>Niko Kranjcar's</b> future on the south <b>...</b> Picture

Title: NIKO KRANJCAR 1342892c.jpg
Description: Niko Kranjcar's future on the south ...

Image <b>Niko Kranjcar</b> Picture

Title: Niko Kranjcar 7776 .jpg
Description: Niko Kranjcar

Niko Kranjcar Videos

Next

video Niko Kranjcar some of his goals and actions.... Picture

Title: Niko Kranjcar Best of
Description: Niko Kranjcar some of his goals and actions....

video Niko doing what he does best playmaking... Picture

Title: Niko Kranjcar The Playmaker
Description: Niko doing what he does best playmaking...

video The best of Niko Kranjcar   goals and tricks Picture

Title: Niko Kranjcar
Description: The best of Niko Kranjcar goals and tricks

video Some pics of the croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar Picture

Title: Niko Kranjcar
Description: Some pics of the croatian midfielder Niko Kranjcar

video Long shot by Niko Kranjcar, just a bad mistake Scott Carson Picture

Title: England Croatia 2 3 : 1st Goal by Niko Kranjcar
Description: Long shot by Niko Kranjcar, just a bad mistake Scott Carson

video Music: Coldcut   True Skool Picture

Title: Niko Kranjcar Too Cool by CrOaTiAnFlAvA
Description: Music: Coldcut True Skool

video Interview with Niko Kranjcar of Portsmouth FC
preseason  08 in Nigeria
(from www.portsmouthfc.co.uk) Picture

Title: Niko Kranjcar / pre season 08
Description: Interview with Niko Kranjcar of Portsmouth FC preseason 08 in Nigeria (from www.portsmouthfc.co.uk)

video Moves from Croatian Superstar Niko Kranjcar... Picture

Title: Niko Kranjcar Showboat Extended
Description: Moves from Croatian Superstar Niko Kranjcar...

 

Niko Kranjcar News and Gossip

 

Niko Kranjcar Biography

Niko Kranjcar
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Niko KranjÄar
Personal information
Date of birth August 13, 1984 (1984-08-13) (age 24)
Place of birth    Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1â„2 in)
Playing position Winger / Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club Portsmouth
Number 19
Youth career
Dinamo Zagreb
Senior career1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2001–2004
2004–2006
2006–
Dinamo Zagreb
Hajduk Split
Portsmouth
085 0(19)
045 0(12)
079 00(9)   
National team2

2004–
Croatia U21
Croatia
003 00(0)
047 00(7)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 23:06, 11 April 2009 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 15 October 2008.
* Appearances (Goals)

Niko KranjÄar (Croatian pronunciation: [ˈniËkÉ” ˈkraɲtʃaËr]; born 13 August 1984 in Zagreb1) is a Croatian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for English Premier League club Portsmouth and the Croatian national team. Given his international debut by his father Zlatko2, Niko has previously represented two of the biggest clubs in his homeland, sparking controversy while playing for Dinamo Zagreb and then making a move to their fierce rivals Hajduk Split in 2005.3

Contents

Club career

Early years

Niko KranjÄar spent most of his youth playing for Dinamo Zagreb, and later became the youngest captain of the squad for the first time at the age of 17.4 He also became one of the youngest goalscorers in the Prva HNL as he scored on his league debut for Dinamo at the age of 16 before helping them win the double of a Croatian cup and a league title in 2003 and then the Croatian cup again the following season.2 Such abilities and assistance led him to become a fan favorite amongst the fans, he began to receive comparison to French football legend Zinédine Zidane. However, in early 2005, he experienced a disagreement with the management, leading to a surprise transfer to Dinamo's biggest rivals, Hajduk Split.5 Nevertheless, he still managed to focus on his new club as he helped them to the Croatian title in his first season.6

After the 2006 World Cup, the world press hailed him for his talents, and several clubs immediately showed interest in the young star. Among such clubs were Stade Rennais and the Spanish Club Celta de Vigo. In August 2006, Rennes bid €4.5 million for KranjÄar, which Hajduk rejected, stating they felt they should get more for the player. Later on the same day, however, KranjÄar then moved for a reported £3.5million (€5.2 million) to Portsmouth on 31 August 2006.78

Portsmouth

KranjÄar made his Premier League debut for Portsmouth on 1 October 2006 as he played all 90 minutes in their 2-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.He scored his first Premier League goal on 31 March 2007 against Fulham at Craven Cottage, giving Portsmouth an early 1-0 lead in a match that eventually ended in a 1-1 draw. 9 He made a total of 24 appearances and scored two goals in his first Premier League season. His disallowed goal on the final day of the season would, if given, have resulted in Portsmouth qualifying for the UEFA Cup. He also managed to eventually score during his side's decisive 2-1 home victory over Liverpool.

In 2007-08, his second season in England, KranjÄar established himself as a regular in the Portsmouth side, putting in a string of impressive performances on the left of a three man attack, including a stunning 35 yard free-kick in a 2-0 victory against Birmingham City, and a 30 yard free-kick in the 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. He also gained large credential for helping Pompey to the FA Cup title in 2008.10

At the beginning of the 2008-09 season, AS Monaco had a bid of £12 million rejected for KranjÄar. Then-Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp stated that KranjÄar was not going to leave the club at any price. The day after, Kranjcar openly said that he doesn't intend to leave Portsmouth "for years to come" and also publicly thanked Redknapp for the faith that he showed in him. However, Redknapp has since left the club to take over the reigns at Tottenham Hotspur.11 On 12 February 2009, with Portsmouth battling relegation, KranjÄar publicly declared his desire to quit Portsmouth and move to a bigger club.12 Arsenal and AS Monaco have previously been linked with moves for the Croatian International. Everton manager David Moyes has also expressed an interest in signing KranjÄar as a replacement for long-term absentee Mikel Arteta.13

International career

KranjÄar was previously a part of the Croatian national Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 teams before advancing to the senior national team. His senior debut for Croatia came on 18 August 2004 in a friendly match against Israel. He was a regular for Croatia during their qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, making nine appearances and scoring two goals, including a brilliant single effort against Bulgaria. Niko was then chosen for "Young guns firing for World Cup glory" on eurosport.com with some of the greatest talents in the world, such as Lionel Messi, Lukas Podolski and future Pompey team mate Sulley Muntari.14 He went on to play in all of Croatia's three group stage matches at the final tournament, proving to be a prestigious player for his impressive performances.

With the departure of his father as national team manager, KranjÄar became a regular for Croatia in their qualifying campaign for the UEFA Euro 2008, having appeared in all 12 matches, scoring two goals. The most famous of such was his long range opener for Croatia during their final match away to England. Croatia eventually won the game 3-2, resulting in England's failure to qualify for the final tournament.15 He then scored in a friendly game against Scotland with a spectacular effort just from inside the penalty area in a match played that ended 1-1, the equalising goal coming from Kenny Miller.

During the final Euro 2008 tournament, KranjÄar was hardly mentioned as he remained fairly quiet during Croatia's run, combined with three disappointing misses after being given golden opportunities to score against Germany and Turkey, the latter of such eventually led to Croatia's controversial exit from the competition.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
01. 4 June 2005 Vasil Levski Stadium, Sofia  Bulgaria
3 – 1
3 – 1
Q 2006 World Cup
02. 17 August 2005 Poljud, Split, Croatia  Brazil
1 – 0
1 – 1
Friendly
03. 7 September 2005 Ta' Qali Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta  Malta
1 – 0
1 – 1
Q 2006 World Cup
04. 12 September 2007 Estadi Comunal, Andorra la Vella, Andorra  Andorra
4 – 0
6 – 0
Q Euro 2008
05. 21 November 2007 Wembley Stadium, London, England  England
1 – 0
3 – 2
Q Euro 2008
06. 26 March 2008 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland  Scotland
1 – 0
1 – 1
Friendly
07. 11 February 2009 Steaua Stadium, Bucharest, Romania  Romania
2 – 1
2 – 1
Friendly

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb

Hajduk Split

Portsmouth


Personal life

Niko is happily married with Simona Fistrić and the couple is now living in Portsmouth, England where Niko is currently playing.16

References

  1. ^ Jutarnji list, 19. svibanj 2008, „Mamić me je želio uniÅ¡titi kao igraÄa“
  2. ^ a b "Niko Kranjcar, Croatia". http://www.free-football.tv/news/Niko-Kranjcar-Croatia.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-18. 
  3. ^ Niko favored by father
  4. ^ "Player to watch: Niko Kranjcar". http://croatia.worldcupblog.org/group-f/player-to-watch-niko-kranjoar.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-18. 
  5. ^ Kranjcar completes Hajduk move
  6. ^ "Niko Kranjcar stats and news". http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=26740&&cc=3436. Retrieved on 2008-07-18. 
  7. ^ "Pompey complete Kranjcar signing". BBC Sport. 2006-08-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/5301336.stm. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  8. ^ "KRANJCAR & COLE IN AS HARRY GETS BUSY". Mirror.co.uk. 2006-08-31. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=17654403&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=kranjcar---cole-in-as-harry-gets-busy--name_page.html. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  9. ^ "Fulham 1-1 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 2007-03-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6491073.stm. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  10. ^ Portsmouth win FA cup
  11. ^ Tottenham sack Ramos for Redknapp
  12. ^ KranjÄar seeks Pompey exit
  13. ^ "Moyes Targets Kranjcar". http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/70786/Moyes-targets-Kranjcar. 
  14. ^ "Young guns firing for World Cup glory". Eurosport.com (cited at [1]). http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s22/e10046/sport_lng0_spo22_evt10046_sto807663.shtml. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  15. ^ Samuel, Martin (2007-11-22). "Inescapable truths that must not be screened by the Scott Carson horror show". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/euro_2008/article2918100.ece. 
  16. ^ Niko and Simona big wedding in Zagreb , 24sata retrieved on June 26th 2009

External links