Matija Smrekar

Matija Smrekar

Personal information
Date of birth	8 April 1989 (1989-04-08) (age 22)
Place of birth	Zabok, Croatia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current club	Free agent
Youth career
	NK Zagorec Krapina
–	NK Varteks
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006-2010	NK Varteks	69	(16)
2010-2011	CS Sedan Ardennes	13	(2)
National team
2007-2008	Croatia U-19	5	(1)
2008-2009	Croatia U-21	2	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Matija Smrekar (born 8 April 1989) is a Croatian football forward. He is one of the greatest talents in Croatia. His nickname is "Croatian Marco Van Basten". He was a member of the U-17, U-19 and U-21. He has 31 caps, scored 5 goals and 12 assists in Croatian national team U-17, U-19 and U-21. He was the champion of Croatia U-19 league (Prva HNL Juniori) in 2007/ 2008 with the junior team of NK Varteks when he was one of the best players of the matches against the greatest Croatian clubs NK Dinamo Zagreb and NK Hajduk Split. His father Bozidar Smrekar is former football referee. As professional player of NK Varteks he impressed last season 2007/2008 on 24th matchday of Prva HNL against NK Hajduk Split= 4-0 when he scored 2 goals, had 1 assist and was "the man of match".
After Smrekar's football show the coach of NK Hajduk Split former Real Madrid' left back Robert Jarni has told that Matija Smrekar is great talent who could play in greatest European clubs if he continues his progress. This season on Sunday 3 May 2009 he has scored goal for Varteks against Hajduk Split in Split (1-0) when he was "the man of the match".

Videoclip of his 2 goals and 1 assist (goal for 4-0) for NK Varteks against NK Hajduk Split 4-0 on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BE6r9huCcA

PROFESSIONAL CAREER:
2006/07: Varteks (D-1 Croatia): 1 match,
2007/08: Varteks (D-1 Croatia): 19 matches, 4 goals, 3 assists,
2008/09: Varteks (D-1 Croatia): 29 matches, 6 goals, 4 assists,


CROATIAN NATIONAL TEAM:
2005-07 U-17 years: 19 caps, 3 goals, 8 assists,
2007-08 U-19 years: 7 caps, 1 goal and 3 assists,
2008-09 U-21 years: 9 caps, 2 goal and 1 assist

HONOURS:

• 2007/2008 Champion of Croatia with junior's team U-19 of NK Varteks
• 2004/2005 The best striker of 3rd Croatian league U-16 years - 50 goals
• 2005/2006 Second striker of Croatian First League U-17 years
• 2006/2007 Second striker of Croatian First League U-18 years

External links

• article into Croatian - Matija Smrekar and his teammates of NK Varteks are Champions of Croatia U-19 years on 2007/2008
• Official site of Croatian Football Federation into Croatian on Matija Smrekar and his statistics (31 caps and 5 goals) in Croatian U-17, U-19 and U-21 national team

LINKS ON SOME MATIJA SMREKAR'S CAPS IN CROATIAN NATIONAL TEAM ON THE OFFICIAL SITE OF UEFA.COM:

• Qualifying round - 09 September 2008 UEFA European U-21 Championship Croatia - Italy 1-1
• Qualifying round - 05 September 2008 UEFA European U-21 Championship Croatia - Albania 4-0, Smrekar 3-0 79'
• Elite round - 27 May 2008 UEFA European U-19 Championship Albania - Croatia 0-2
• Elite round - 24 May 2008 UEFA Championship U-19 years, CROATIA - GERMANY 2-2, 59'Smrekar
• Elite round - 24 May 2008 UEFA European U-19 Championship Croatia - Germany 2-2; Smrekar 59'

• Qualifying round - 12 November 2007 UEFA European Championship Under 19 years Croatia - Montenegro 2-1
• Qualifying round - 10 November 2007 UEFA European U-19 Championship: Croatia - Malta 3-0
• Elite round of UEFA U-19 European Championship Slovakia - Croatia: 1-1
• Qualifying round - 16 October 2005 UEFA European Under 17 Championship: Croatia - Macedonia 2-0
• Qualifying round - 20 October 2005 UEFA European U-17 Championship Croatia - Turkey 0-1
• Qualifiyng round 19 October 2005 UEFA European Championship U-17 years Romania - Croatia 0-0

Persondata
Name	Smrekar Matija
Alternative names
Short description	footballer
Date of birth	8 April 1989
Place of birth	Zabok, Croatia
Date of death
Place of death