- Nikola Kalinić
-
Nikola Kalinić 
Personal information Date of birth 5 January 1988 Place of birth Solin, SFR Yugoslavia Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) [1] Playing position Centre forward Club information Current club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk Number 9 Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2005–2009 Hajduk Split 59 (32) 2005–2006 → Istra 1961 (loan) 12 (3) 2006–2007 → Šibenik (loan) 8 (3) 2009–2011 Blackburn Rovers 44 (7) 2011– Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 6 (3) National team‡ 2003 Croatia U16 2 (1) 2004–2005 Croatia U17 18 (15) 2005–2007 Croatia U19 12 (11) 2006 Croatia U20 1 (0) 2007–2010 Croatia U21 9 (4) 2008– Croatia 8 (4) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:30, 1 October 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:00, 1 October 2011 (UTC)Nikola Kalinić (born 5 January 1988) is a Croatian footballer who plays for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the Ukrainian Premier League.
Croatia manager Slaven Bilić described him as "the future of Croatian football".[2]
Contents
Club career
Early career
Born in the town of Solin near Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Kalinić started his career as a teenager in the Prva HNL at age 17, playing on loan and debuting against his initial club Hajduk Split on 19 November 2005. In his loan time at Pula, he had a slow but fair start considering his young age. Despite not playing all too regularly in a short single season with them, he still managed to adapt and find a goslacoring form, netting 3 goals in 12 league appearances. His first goals in the Prva HNL came in the 2–0 victory against Kamen Ingrad on 23 September 2006 as he netted a brace to give his side the victory. Upon ending his short time at Pula, manager Krunoslav Jurčić was largely impressed with him, stating he could become the next Ibrahimović.[3]
Despite his intentions to stay at Pula, he returned to Hajduk and was immediately sent out on loan to HNK Šibenik where he saw occasional first team action and immediately impressed with all round performances and regular goalscoring ability, netting 4 goals in a mere 8 appearances.
Return to Hajduk Split
After clearly showing the ability to adapt well to the Croatian league, he returned to Hajduk and saw plenty of first team action immediately. He made his returning debut against Cibalia as a substitute, and gained his first 11 starting spot in the squad during the 2–1 victory against Osijek at the Poljud Stadium. His 17 league goals in his first season with Hajduk was only beaten by league topscorer Zelimir Terkes, who managed 21 goals.[4] However, it was a great achievement for the youngster who had initially set a target of scoring 15 goals, which he ended up exceeding. He finished his 2007/08 season at 5th place with Hajduk in the league,[5] also helping them reach the final of the Croatian Cup in the same season and ended with a total of 26 goals, receiving the coveted Swan d'or Award, from the Croatian Press Association.
He kicked off the next season of play by scoring the second goal in Hajduk's 4–0 away victory against Birkirkara FC, thus advancing them to the next round of qualification for the UEFA Cup.[6] In Hajduk's derby match over league rivals Dinamo Zagreb, Kalinić scored the first goal with a penalty kick. Hajduk went on to win the game 2–0 and overtake Dinamo in the league table.[7]
Kalinić went for a 1-week trial at English Premier League club Portsmouth in late July 2009, a fee thought to be in the region of £6 million was agreed. However the move fell through due to financial reasons. On 31 July the same year, Kalinić was heavily linked with another Premier League club Blackburn Rovers F.C.. Later that same day, the player's agent confirmed that the player had been at Blackburn's ground talking to the club on the 30th and 31st with regard to the deal to take the player to Ewood Park. The player's agent also confirmed that the fee was 7 million Euros should the deal be completed, the contract had been agreed, and that his client was due to sign for the club. The player also made light that the Lancashire-based club expected "big things" from the highly-rated Croat.[8] On 1 August 2009, the move stepped closer when Hajduk Split president Mate Peroš confirmed that Blackburn Rovers had an offer accepted by the club. An offer which was subsequently the best offer from any club. He also confirmed "Very quickly we finished the talks with the club (Rovers)." It is now understood that the move is now waiting for a Work Permit to be issued, and then Nikola will officially become a Blackburn Rovers player.[9]
Blackburn Rovers
On 3 August 2009, it was reported by Sky Sports News that Kalinić had signed for Blackburn Rovers from Hajduk Split on a four-year deal.[10] The transfer fee is believed to be in the region of £6 million.[11] On 10 August, Kalinić was successfully awarded a work permit and officially signed for Blackburn. However, his début was delayed as he had to return from Croatia to collect his permit, meaning he was not officially registered in time for Rovers' opening game of the season against Manchester City.[12] On 13 August, Kalinić was officially confirmed as a Blackburn Rovers player and was assigned the number 22 jersey for the 2009–10 season. He made his debut against Sunderland on 22 August. On 27 October Kalinić scored his first goal for Blackburn against Peterborough United in the League Cup.[13] He scored his second goal in the quarter-final of the League Cup against Chelsea, but missed a penalty in the shootout which Blackburn went on to win regardless.[14] He scored his third goal for Rovers in the FA Cup against Aston Villa on 2 January 2010.[15]
He then added his fourth and fifth goals for the season, with the two opening goals against Aston Villa in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final. The first being a header, and the second a close-range shot. He scored his first Premier League goal against Wigan Athletic with a header from a resultant corner taken by Morten Gamst Pedersen in the 76th minute in the 2–1 victory. Kalinić scored his second Premier League goal of the 2009–10 campaign against Bolton Wanderers on 21 February 2010. He was handed the number nine shirt, by manager Sam Allardyce at the beginning of the new Premier League campaign. Despite missing much of pre-season, Kalinić started the 2010–11 season well, as he scored the only goal in Blackburn's opening day victory over Everton at Ewood Park on 14 August. He scored his second league goal in the 1–1 draw against Manchester City. On 28 December 2010, he netted his first brace in Blackburn colours in their 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, and was also sent off in this game too. On 26 February 2011, Kalinić came on as a second-half substitute for teammate Roque Santa Cruz in the game against Aston Villa, at Villa Park, in the league and scored in the 81st minute in a 4-1 defeat. This goal was his sixth of the season in total and his 5th Barclays Premier League strike. After Sam Allardyce got sacked as a Blackburn Rovers manager, Kalinić fell out of favor with Blackburn newly manager Steve Kean.[16] After 2010-2011 season ended, Kalinić wanted to leave Blackburn after he handed in a transfer request.
On the 29th July 2011, Blackburn Rovers received an offer of £6 million for Kalinić from Ukrainian side Dnipro which was accepted.
FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk
On 11 August 2011, Kalinić signed for FC Dnipro of the Ukrainian Premier League for a undisclosed fee.[17] He made his debut for the club on 13 August 2011 as a second-half substitute against league champions Shakhtar Donetsk in a 3-1 defeat. He marked his first appearance for the club with a goal but was red carded for elbowing just two minutes after scoring.[18]
International career
He was a key player in the Croatian national under-21 team during his younger youth playing years. He also represented his country at under 17 and under 19 youth level. He first made a name for himself at international level at age 17 during the 2004/05 UEFA European Championship when he finished the attempted campaign as the top scorer with 11 goals. At under 19 level, he managed another 5 goals during his sides preliminary round of the same tournament. He also scored a hat-trick against Lithuania in Croatia's 3–0 victory, which secured them a spot in the next elite round of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2006.[19]
Initially supposed to be called up by head coach Slaven Bilić for the few remaining qualifying games of Euro 2008, Kalinić missed the chance due to injury and was instead replaced by Mario Mandžukić.[20] However, his constant impressive abilities earned him a place in Croatia's final squad for the Euro 2008 tournament. He will officially wear the number 9 jersey while he plays for Croatia.[21] Kalinić made his first appearance for the senior national team on 24 May 2008, coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute of Croatia's 1–0 friendly win against Moldova.[22] He went on to make his first competitive appearance for his national side at Euro 2008 in Croatia's final group game against Poland, coming on as a substitute for goalscorer Ivan Klasnić in the 1–0 victory.
On 17 November 2010, he scored his first international goal, netting the third goal in Croatia's 3–0 win at home to Malta in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers. On 9 February 2011 Kalinić bagged a brace in a 4-2 victory over the Czech Republic in an international friendly game. He currently wears the number 14 shirt for them. As of June 2011, Kalinić has won 8 caps, scoring 4 goals.
International goals
Kalinić – goals for Croatia # Date Location Opponent Score Result Competition 1 16 November 2010 Zagreb, Croatia 
Malta3–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying 2 9 February 2011 Pula, Croatia 
Czech Republic2–0 4–2 Friendly 3 9 February 2011 Pula, Croatia Czech Republic3–2 4–2 Friendly 4 3 June 2011 Split, Croatia 
Georgia2–1 2–1 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Career statistics
Club Season League Cup Europe Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Hajduk Split 2005–06 6 0 1 0 – 7 0 Pula (loan) 2006–07 12 3 1 0 – 13 3 Šibenik (loan) 2006–07 8 3 – – 8 3 Hajduk Split 2007–08 25 17 7 9 4 0 36 26 2008–09 28 15 4 2 4 1 36 18 Total 79 38 13 11 8 1 100 50 Blackburn Rovers 2009–10 26 2 7 5 – 33 7 2010–11 18 5 2 1 – 20 6 Total 44 7 9 6 0 0 53 13 Career Total 123 45 22 17 8 1 153 63 Last Update: 3 June 2011[23] References
- ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~48359,00.html. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ "Kalinić cool amid Hajduk crisis". UEFA. 2007-11-13. http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=618624.html. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
- ^ http://www.nikolakalinic.com/biografija.html
- ^ "Croatian Leading Goal Scorers". 2008-05-10. http://www.soccerboards.com/scorers_detail.php?s=99. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
- ^ "Croatian Football Federation". UEFA. 2008-05-10. http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/countries/association=56370/index.html. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
- ^ Croatians cruise in southern openers
- ^ http://www.croatiantimes.com/index.php?id=2857
- ^ Nikola closes on Rovers move – AGENT
- ^ Rovers close on Kalinic
- ^ Rovers sign Kalinic
- ^ Rekordan transfer: Kalinić u Blackburnu!
- ^ Kalinic work permit granted
- ^ "Blackburn 5–2 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 2009-10-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8323055.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ^ Fletcher, Paul (2009-12-02). "Blackburn 3–3 Chelsea". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8387299.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- ^ "Aston Villa 3–1 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 2010-01-02. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8433987.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- ^ Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6855747,00.html.
- ^ . Blackburn Rovers. 2011-08-11. http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2417201,00.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ^ "CROATIANS AROUND EUROPE *II*". croatiansoccerreport.com. 2011-08-13. http://www.croatiansoccerreport.com/2011/08/croatians-around-europe-ii.html. Retrieved 2011-08-18.
- ^ "Neighbours sweep into next stage". UEFA.com. 2006-10-22. http://www.uefa.com/under19/news/newsid=470965.html. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
- ^ "Kalinić ruled out for Croatia". SkySports. 2000-05-05. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2879650,00.html. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ^ "Bilić names squad for EURO assault". euro2008.UEFA.com. 2000-05-05. http://euro2008.uefa.com/news/kind=1/newsid=692102.html#bilic+names+squad+euro+assault. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
- ^ "Croatia beat Moldova in Euro 2008 friendly". AFP. 2008-05-24. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gT9XSyxoe1Nd1HvsENxohWuWujJA. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
- ^ "Nikola Kalinic > Club Matches". worldfootball.net. http://www.worldfootball.net/spieler_profil/nikola-kalinic/2/. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
External links
- Nikola Kalinić profile at the Blackburn Rovers website
- Nikola Kalinić career stats at Soccerbase
- Premier League profile
- Nikola Kalinić international stats at the Croatian Football Federation website
Croatia squad – UEFA Euro 2008 
Categories:- 1988 births
- Living people
- Croatian footballers
- Croatia under-21 international footballers
- Croatia international footballers
- Croatian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Expatriate footballers in Ukraine
- Association football forwards
- HNK Hajduk Split players
- NK Istra 1961 players
- HNK Šibenik players
- Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
- FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk players
- People from Solin
- Prva HNL players
- Premier League players
- Ukrainian Premier League players
- UEFA Euro 2008 players
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