Nikola Kalinić
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| Nikola Kalinić | ||
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Kalinić | |
| Date of birth | January 5, 1988 | |
| Place of birth | Solin, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | |
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 11⁄2 in) | |
| Playing position | Striker | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Hajduk Split | |
| Number | 9 | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2005–2006 2006–2007 2007–present |
→NK Pula (loan) → HNK Šibenik (loan) Hajduk Split |
12 (3) 8 (4) 25 (17) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2003–2005 2005–2006 2007–2008 2008–present |
Croatia U-17 Croatia U-19 Croatia U-21 Croatia |
20 (16) 12 (11) 3 (3) 1 (0) |
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1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Nikola Kalinić (born January 5, 1988) is a Croatian football striker, who plays for Hajduk Split and the Croatian national team. Croatia manager Slaven Bilić has described him as "the future of Croatian football".[1]
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[edit] Club career
Kalinic started his career as a teenager in the Prva HNL. At age 17, he played on a loan contract with Pula, where he had a slow but fair start considering his young age. After a short single season with them, he moved to HNK Šibenik where he had an even shorter season, but still managing to make a small impact. He eventually signed a full length type contract with league giants Hajduk Split, and enjoyed a season to remember with them, being one of the league's top scorers and rising through the ranks of players to be watched. His 18 goals in his first season with Hajduk was only beaten by league topscorer Zelimir Terkes, who managed 21 goals.[2] He finished his 2007/08 season at 5th place with Hajduk in the league,[3] also helping them reach the final of the Croatian Cup in the same season.
[edit] 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 Moldova 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. [4]
His previous impressive abilities have earned him a place in Croatia's 23 man squad for the Euro 2008 tournament, commencing shortly. He will wear the number 9 jersey while he plays for Croatia at the tournament. [5] He made his first appearance for the senior national team on May 24, 2008, coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute of Croatia's 1-0 friendly win against Moldova.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ Kalinić cool amid Hajduk crisis. UEFA.com (2007-11-13). Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ Croatian Leading Goal Scorers (2008-05-10). Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ Croatian Football Federation. UEFA.com (2008-05-10). Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ Neighbours sweep into next stage. UEFA.com (2006-10-22). Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ Bilić names squad for EURO assault. euro2008.UEFA.com (2000-05-05). Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ Croatia beat Moldova in Euro 2008 friendly. AFP (2008-05-24). Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
[edit] External Links
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