Ivica Vrdoljak Explained

Ivica Vrdoljak
Fullname:Ivica Vrdoljak
Birth Date:1983 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Novi Sad, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:1.87 m
Position:Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Youthyears1:1990–1999
Youthclubs1:Vojvodina
Youthyears2:1999–2002
Youthclubs2:NK Zagreb
Years1:2002–2007
Clubs1:NK Zagreb
Caps1:81
Goals1:3
Years2:2002–2003
Clubs2:Lučko (loan)
Years3:2003–2004
Clubs3:Croatia Sesvete (loan)
Caps3:22
Goals3:4
Years4:2007–2010
Clubs4:Dinamo Zagreb
Caps4:80
Goals4:6
Years5:2010–2016
Clubs5:Legia Warsaw
Caps5:128
Goals5:20
Years6:2016–2017
Clubs6:Wisła Płock
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2004–2005
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0

Ivica Vrdoljak (pronounced as /sh/; born 19 September 1983) is a Croatian former professional footballer who played mainly as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Vrdoljak started playing football at his homeclub, Serbian top league club FK Vojvodina, where he played for the youth teams until 1999, when he moved to Zagreb, Croatia, and settled in the youth system of the Croatian top flight side NK Zagreb. After graduating to the senior team he was sent on loans to NK Lučko and the second division team Croatia Sesvete.[1] Vrdoljak had a good season at Croatia Sesvete, scoring four goals and featuring in 22 league matches, and after that he was returned to NK Zagreb. In three seasons at the club he made 81 league appearances and scored three goals. He was then, along with his teammate Mario Mandžukić, transferred to Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb for a fee of €1 million. Since his arrival, Vrdoljak has established himself as a consistent first-team player. In his debut season for Dinamo he played in twenty-four league matches and bagged three goals. The next season, he was irreplaceable in the midfield and made 29 league appearances by the end of the season and scored three more goals.

While playing for Legia Warsaw, during the qualifiers 2014–15 UEFA Champions League qualifying round, Vrdoljak missed two penalties in a 4–1 win over against Celtic. After being sidelined throughout the 2015–16 season due to a knee injury, he left Legia in the summer of 2016.[2] Shortly after, he joined another Ekstraklasa outfit Wisła Płock, however after failing to make a single appearance, he decided to ultimately retire.[3]

International career

He is also a former Croatia under-21 international and capped seven times at the under-21 level during the 2004–05 season.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[4]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Croatia Sesvete (loan)2003–04Druga HNL22432256
NK Zagreb2004–05Prva HNL25110261
2005–06Prva HNL2500250
2006–07Prva HNL31240352
Total81350863
Dinamo Zagreb2007–08Prva HNL2437020333
2008–09Prva HNL29340122455
2009–10Prva HNL27050121441
Total8061602631229
Legia Warsaw2010–11Ekstraklasa26563328
2011–12Ekstraklasa2446010000404
2012–13Ekstraklasa202602010292
2013–14Ekstraklasa30510100415
2014–15Ekstraklasa2846214110497
2015–16Ekstraklasa0000000000
Total128202553612019126
Wisła Płock2016–17Ekstraklasa000000
Career total311334976242042444

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb

2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10

2007–08, 2008–09

Legia Warsaw

2012–13, 2013–14

2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Slobodna Dalmacija. arhiv.slobodnadalmacija.hr. 29 January 2014.
  2. Web site: Ivica Vrdoljak rozwiązał kontrakt z Legią . 90minut.pl . 19 September 2024 . pl . 31 August 2016.
  3. Web site: Ivica Vrdoljak zakończył karierę . 90minut.pl . 19 September 2024 . pl . 21 February 2017.
  4. http://www.hnl-statistika.com/p1.asp?ID=321 Career statistics at