Robert Jarni facts for kids
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 October 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Čakovec, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Left wingback | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MTČ Čakovec | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hajduk Split | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1991 | Hajduk Split | 128 | (17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1993 | Bari | 52 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1994 | Torino | 23 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1995 | Juventus | 15 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1998 | Real Betis | 98 | (19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Coventry City | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Real Madrid | 27 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Las Palmas | 43 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Panathinaikos | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 391 | (47) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1987 | Yugoslavia U20 | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | Yugoslavia | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–2002 | Croatia | 81 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Croatia (futsal) | 2 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Hajduk Split | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010-2011 | Istra 1961 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Hajduk Split U19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Sarajevo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Pécs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Puskás Akadémia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Croatia U19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | NorthEast United | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Croatia U17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Jarni (born 26 October 1968) is a famous Croatian former footballer. He played as a left winger or wingback. Jarni was known for his speed and great crosses.
He started his professional career with Hajduk Split in 1986. He then played for many clubs in Italy and Spain for 10 years. Robert Jarni finished his playing career in Greece with Panathinaikos in 2002.
Jarni was a key player for the Croatia national football team from 1990 to 2002. He played 80 international matches for Croatia. He held the record for most appearances for the national team until 2006. Before Croatia became independent, he also played seven matches for Yugoslavia.
He played in three FIFA World Cups. These were in 1990 with Yugoslavia, and in 1998 and 2002 with Croatia. He played a total of eleven World Cup matches. His biggest moment was at the 1998 World Cup in France. He played in all seven of Croatia's matches and helped them win the bronze medal. This was Croatia's first World Cup appearance. He scored his only goal for Croatia in that tournament. It was the first goal in their 3–0 win against Germany in the quarter-finals.
After retiring as a player, Jarni played futsal for several seasons. He even played two international matches for the Croatia national futsal team. He also started his managerial career with Hajduk Split in 2007.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Robert Jarni began his football journey in his hometown of Čakovec. He joined Hajduk Split in 1986. He played for Hajduk until 1991. Then, he moved to Italy to play for Bari.
Playing in Italy and Spain
After two seasons with Bari, Jarni moved to Torino in 1993. He played there for one season. Then, he joined their rivals, Juventus, in 1994. He also stayed at Juventus for just one season.
In 1995, Jarni moved to Spain to play for Real Betis. He had a very good time there. He played in 98 Primera División matches and scored 19 goals over three seasons.
In 1998, Jarni first moved to English club Coventry City. However, Real Madrid wanted him. They bought him from Coventry City for a higher price. Jarni did not play any matches for Coventry City.
At Real Madrid, Jarni found it hard to get a regular spot in the team. He often played as a substitute. Still, he played in 27 Primera División matches. He scored one league goal for Real Madrid in a 5–1 win against Extremadura. He also scored two goals in a UEFA Champions League match against Sturm Graz.
Later Club Years
In 1999, Jarni left Real Madrid for Segunda División team Las Palmas. He helped them get promoted to the Primera División for the 2000–01 season. He played 26 more matches in the top Spanish league, scoring two goals.
In 2002, Jarni moved to Greek club Panathinaikos. He played five matches in the Greek league and three in the UEFA Champions League. He had to stop playing due to a serious head injury. His contract was not renewed, and he retired from professional football at age 33.
International Football Journey
As a young player, Jarni played for the Yugoslavia national under-21 football team. He was part of the Yugoslav team that won the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship in Chile. Many future Croatian stars were on that team, like Davor Šuker and Zvonimir Boban.
In 1990, Jarni started playing for the senior Yugoslavia team. He played seven matches and scored one goal. He was also part of the Yugoslav squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy.
Playing for Croatia
Jarni's first match for Croatia was in December 1990. He quickly became a regular player. He was part of the Croatian team at their first major tournament, UEFA Euro 1996 in England. He played in all four of Croatia's matches.
Two years later, Jarni was in the Croatian squad for their first World Cup, the 1998 finals in France. He was a very important player. Croatia won the bronze medal at this tournament. Jarni played in all seven of Croatia's matches. He scored his only goal for Croatia in their 3–0 win over Germany in the quarter-finals. He also made many assists with his fast runs and accurate crosses. One of his assists helped Robert Prosinečki score in the third-place match against the Netherlands.
Jarni continued to play for Croatia until 2002, when he retired. His last international match was at the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Ecuador. He played in all three of Croatia's group matches at that World Cup. This made him the only player to play in all 10 of Croatia's first two World Cup matches. He played for Croatia for over 11 years and earned 81 caps. He was Croatia's record cap holder until Dario Šimić broke his record in 2006.
During a qualifying match for UEFA Euro 2000, Jarni was involved in an incident that led to him being suspended for three games. This caused him to miss the Euro 2000 tournament.
Managerial Career
After retiring as a player, Jarni became an assistant manager at Hajduk Split in 2007. He later became the head coach. His first match as head coach was a 1–0 win. Hajduk Split finished fifth in the league that season. Jarni was replaced as coach in May 2008.
In 2010, Jarni became the manager of Istra 1961. He resigned after a few matches. In 2012, he coached Hajduk's U-19 team.
Coaching Abroad
In December 2013, Jarni became the head coach of Sarajevo in Bosnia. He helped the team improve their league position. Sarajevo finished third in the league and won the Bosnia Football Cup. Jarni left the club in April 2014.
In November 2014, Jarni became the manager of Hungarian team Pécs. He helped them move up in the league table. However, the club faced financial problems and lost its professional license. This led Jarni to leave the club.
In April 2016, Jarni was dismissed as head coach of Puskás Akadémia after the team fell to last place in the league.
From 2017 to 2019, Jarni coached the Croatia U19 national team. In August 2019, he became the head coach of NorthEast United, an Indian club. He was dismissed in February 2020 after a series of winless matches. Since 2022, he has been coaching the Croatia U17 national team.
Futsal Career
After his professional football career, Jarni played futsal for the Croatian club MNK Split. He played there from 2002 to 2007. He returned to the club in 2008 after his time as Hajduk Split's manager.
He also played two international matches for the Croatia national futsal team in 2003. He scored two goals. As of 2016, he is the only Croatian footballer to have played internationally in both football and futsal.
Other Activities
Jarni also created his own line of sportswear called Jarni. This brand became popular among football and handball clubs in his home region of Međimurje. For some seasons, his brand supplied kits for NK Međimurje, a football club from Čakovec.
Robert Jarni has also worked as a pundit on Croatian TV. He appeared on RTL Televizija to comment on international football matches, especially those of the Croatia national team.
Honours and Achievements
Player
Hajduk Split
- Yugoslav Cup: 1990–91
Juventus
- Serie A: 1994–95
- Copa Italia: 1994–95
Real Madrid
- Intercontinental Cup: 1998
Las Palmas
- Segunda Division: 1999–00
Yugoslavia Youth
- FIFA World Youth Championship: 1987
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Runner-up: 1990
Croatia
- FIFA World Cup Third place: 1998
Awards
- Order of Danica Hrvatska with face of Franjo Bučar: 1995
- Order of the Croatian Trefoil: 1998
See also
In Spanish: Robert Jarni para niños
