Nikola Šafarić
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Šafarić | ||
| Date of birth | 11 March 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Čakovec, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | NK Međimurje | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Venera Sveti Juraj na Bregu | |||
| Čakovec | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–2007 | Varteks | 195 | (40) |
| 2007–2008 | Rijeka | 34 | (2) |
| 2008–2010 | Slaven Belupo | 51 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | Varaždin | 47 | (6) |
| 2011–2013 | Kaposvári | 43 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | Zavrč | 50 | (5) |
| 2015– | NK Međimurje | ||
| National team | |||
| 1998–1999 | Croatia U17 | 10 | (3) |
| 1999–2000 | Croatia U19 | 8 | (0) |
| 2000–2004 | Croatia U21 | 17 | (1) |
| 2004–2006 | Croatia | 3 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 January 2015. | |||
Nikola Šafarić (born 11 March 1981) is a Croatian football midfielder who plays for NK Međimurje in the Treća HNL.
Club career
Early years
In 1998, Šafarić started his football career in Varaždin for Varteks as a young 17-year-old midfielder. He quickly established himself as irreplaceable in the Varteks team. Before his 20th birthday he has already played around 40 league games for Varteks and scoring several goals in the process.
Best years in Varteks
From the 2002–03 season, Nikola finally stepped up on the big scene. He became a first team regular in Varteks and in the next 5 seasons he scored 32 goals in the domestic league only. His good games as well as passion for football and leadership ability could not go unnoticed so he was appointed as team`s captain. Nikola Šafarić is also a great penalty and free kick taker and although he could play every possible position in the midfield he says he "plays best as a defensive midfielder."[1]
Rijeka
In the beginning of the 2007–08 season, Nikola Šafarić was sold to Rijeka. In Rijeka, Nikola was welcomed by many as a great acquisition. He instantly "grabbed" first team position and was one of the team's best players by scoring two goals and adding three more assists, which helped Rijeka to finish at the fourth place in the Prva HNL.
Slaven Belupo
On 31 August 2008, Šafarić signed a 2-year contract with Slaven Belupo.[2]
Kaposvári
He signed for Kaposvári in 2011.
Inter Zaprešić
In January 2015, he signed for the Druga HNL outfit NK Inter Zaprešić. [3]
International career
Nikola Šafarić was a member of every Croatia national football team categories (U17, U19, U21, senior team).[4] That's why he was predicted a great international club career. But, unfortunately, up to this date Nikola has made only three appearances for Croatia national football team. His international debut came against Israel in the 1–0 friendly win at Varaždin on 18 August 2004. His second and third international cap came on 2006 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong on which Croatia finished third.
References
- ↑ Interview with Forza Fiume
- ↑ Šafarić signs for Slaven Belupo
- ↑ "Šafarić signs for Inter Zaprešić" (in Croatian). eVarazdin. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
- ↑ Croatia`s national football team stats
External links
- Nikola Šafarić at the Croatian Football Federation website (Croatian)
- PrvaLiga profile (Slovene)