Franjo Glaser

Franjo Glaser (surname sometimes written "Glazer"; January 13, 1913 in Osijek, Austria-Hungary &mdash – March 1, 2003 in Zagreb, Croatia) was a Croatian football goalkeeper and football manager, who made his name in Građanski Zagreb.

Glaser was born in Osijek where he started playing for the local club NK Slavija at the age of 15. He then moved to Hajduk Sarajevo where he spent 15 seasons and later Concordia Zagreb. During his military service, in the mid-1930s he joined BSK Belgrade, and with them won two Yugoslav titles.

He then moved to Zagreb where he played for Građanski and acquired almost a legendary status. His team won the Yugoslav championship in 1937 and 1940 as well as the Croatian championship in 1943. He played a total of 623 games for Građanski.

After SFR Yugoslavia was formed, he played for Partizan Belgrade where he won another Yugoslav title in 1947. He retired in NK Mornar Split, and later coached the team in 1949.

Glaser acquired 35 caps in the Yugoslavia national football team and a further eleven times for Croatia during the Independent State of Croatia.

Glaser later managed Dinamo Zagreb, NK Kvarner, NK Proleter, NK Trešnjevka Zagreb, Austria FC Klagenfurt (today's FC Kärnten), NK Velež Mostar and FK Sartid Smederevo.

He spent his final years at a retirement home in Zagreb.