Zlatko Kranjčar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Zlatko Kranjčar

Kranjčar as Iran U23 manager in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth	(1956-11-15)15 November 1956
Place of birth	Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Date of death	1 March 2021(2021-03-01) (aged 64)
Place of death	Zagreb, Croatia
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
1966–1973	Dinamo Zagreb
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1973–1983	Dinamo Zagreb	261	(98)
1983–1990	Rapid Wien	201	(106)
1990–1991	VSE St. Pölten	12	(2)
Total		474	(206)
National team
1972–1975	Yugoslavia U19	19	(0)
1977–1983	Yugoslavia	11	(3)
1990	Croatia	2	(1)
Teams managed
1991–1992	Austria Klagenfurt
1992–1994	Segesta
1994–1996	Croatia Zagreb
1996	FC Linz
1997	Slaven Belupo
1997	Segesta
1997–1998	Samobor
1998	Dinamo Zagreb
1999–2000	El-Masry
2000	Mura
2000–2001	Marsonia
2001–2002	NK Zagreb
2002–2003	Rijeka
2003–2004	NK Zagreb
2004–2006	Croatia
2006–2007	Croatia Sesvete
2007	Al-Shaab Sharjah
2009	DAC Dunajská Streda
2009	Persepolis
2010–2011	Montenegro
2011–2014	Sepahan
2015–2016	Al-Ahli
2016	Dinamo Zagreb
2017–2018	Sepahan
2018–2019	Iran U23
Honours Men's football Representing  Yugoslavia Gold UEFA U-21 Euro 1978
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Zlatko "Cico" Kranjčar (born November 15, 1956 – died March 1, 2021) was a famous Croatian football player and manager. He was known for his skills as a striker and later for leading many teams to victory.

Kranjčar began his playing career at Dinamo Zagreb. There, he helped the team win the Yugoslav First League in 1981–82 and the Yugoslav Cup twice. He later became the manager of Dinamo Zagreb and won the Croatian First League and the Croatian Football Cup multiple times.

He also played for Rapid Wien in Austria, where he won the Austrian Bundesliga twice and the Austrian Cup three times. As a manager, Kranjčar led the Croatian national team to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also managed teams in Iran, including Sepahan, where he won the Iran Pro League and the Hazfi Cup.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting with Dinamo Zagreb

Zlatko Kranjčar joined Dinamo Zagreb when he was just 10 years old in 1966. He played for the club until 1983. He made his first team debut at 17, quickly becoming a popular player. He played in 556 matches for Dinamo and scored 256 goals in total.

With Dinamo, he helped them win the 1981–82 Yugoslav First League. This was their first league title in 24 years! They also won the Yugoslav Cup in 1980 and 1983.

Success in Austria

After his time at Dinamo, Kranjčar moved to the Austrian club Rapid Wien. He played there until 1990. During this time, he won the Austrian Championship twice. He even reached the final of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1985. His last club as a player was VSE St. Pölten in 1990.

Playing for His Country

Kranjčar played for the Yugoslavia national team from 1977 to 1983. He played in 11 matches and scored 3 goals.

He also played two matches for the Croatia national team in 1990. He scored one goal for Croatia. He was the first team captain for Croatia in their first international match against the United States on October 17, 1990. These games were not official because Croatia was still part of Yugoslavia at that time.

Managerial Career

Early Coaching Years

Kranjčar started coaching in 1991. He coached Croatian club Segesta from 1992 to 1994. In 1994, he joined Croatia Zagreb (now Dinamo Zagreb). In his first season, he won both the Croatian Championship and the Cup.

He returned to Croatia Zagreb in 1998. He led the club to win the Croatian Championship and Cup again. They also played in the UEFA Champions League. In 2002, he won the Croatian championship with NK Zagreb.

Leading the Croatian National Team

After the UEFA Euro 2004, Kranjčar became the coach of the Croatian national team. He managed them in 25 international matches from 2004 to 2006. Under his leadership, Croatia finished first in their group for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying. They did not lose any of their ten qualifying matches.

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, Croatia did not make it past the group stage. Because of this, his contract was not renewed.

Coaching Abroad

In 2007, Kranjčar coached Al-Shaab in the United Arab Emirates. In 2009, he became the head coach of Persepolis in Iran.

In February 2010, he took over the Montenegro national team. He managed them until September 2011.

Kranjčar in pre-season with Sepahan in Kish Island

Kranjčar signed with Iran Pro League team Sepahan in October 2011. In May 2012, Sepahan won the league title for the fourth time, their first under Kranjčar. They also won the Hazfi Cup in 2013.

Kranjčar at a press conference before a Hazfi Cup match in 2013

He left Sepahan in 2014 but returned in March 2017 for another period.

Kranjčar at Iran under-23 training session before a 2018 Asian Games match

In April 2018, Kranjčar became the head coach of the Iran national under-23 team. He coached them until May 2019.

Personal Life

Zlatko Kranjčar got married in 1983. His son, Niko, also became a professional footballer. Zlatko was also fluent in German.

Sadly, Zlatko Kranjčar passed away on March 1, 2021, at the age of 64, after a short illness.

Honours

Kranjčar after winning Hazfi Cup in 2013 with Sepahan

As a Player

Dinamo Zagreb

• Yugoslav First League: 1981–82
• Yugoslav Cup: 1980, 1983
• Yugoslav Youth Cup: 1973

Rapid Wien

• Austrian Bundesliga: 1986–87, 1987–88
• Austrian Cup: 1984, 1985, 1987
• Austrian Supercup: 1986, 1987, 1988

Individual Awards

• Named to the Dinamo Zagreb all-time best team

As a Manager

Dinamo Zagreb

• Croatian First League: 1995–96, 1997–98
• Croatian Cup: 1996, 1998

NK Zagreb

• Croatian First League: 2001–02

Sepahan

• Iran Pro League: 2011–12
• Hazfi Cup: 2012–13

Individual Awards

• Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 2005
• Iranian Manager of the Year: 2012
• Iran Football Federation Award Coach of the Season: 2012–13

See also

In Spanish: Zlatko Kranjčar para niños