| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 April 1989 | ||
| 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). |
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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:
LINKS ON SOME MATIJA SMREKAR'S CAPS IN CROATIAN NATIONAL TEAM ON THE OFFICIAL SITE OF UEFA.COM: