Croatia national under-21 football team
Nickname(s) | Mladi Vatreni (The Young Blazers) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Croatian Football Federation (HNS) | ||
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
Head coach | Igor Bišćan | ||
Captain | Boško Šutalo | ||
Most caps | Luka Ivanušec (28) | ||
Top scorer | Tomislav Bušić (13) | ||
FIFA code | CRO | ||
| |||
First international | |||
![]() ![]() | |||
Biggest win | |||
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Biggest defeat | |||
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UEFA U-21 Championship | |||
Appearances | 4 (first in 2000) | ||
Best result | Quarter-finals (2021) | ||
Website | hns-cff.hr |
The Croatia national under-21 football team represents Croatia in association football matches for players aged 21 or under.
The team played its first match, a friendly against Hungary in Zagreb in 1992. Since that time, Croatia qualified for five UEFA European Under-21 Championship, namely 2000, 2004, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Croatia was unable to pass the group stage until the 2021 Euro when it was eliminated in the quarter-finals, its greatest accomplishment in the European competition so far.
Discover more about Croatia national under-21 football team related topics
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ![]() |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 11 | +15 | 24 | Final tournament | — | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | |
2 | ![]() |
10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 10 | +15 | 22 | Play-offs | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
3 | ![]() |
10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 13 | +5 | 19 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | ||
4 | ![]() |
10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 16 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–3 | — | 6–0 | 2–0 | ||
5 | ![]() |
10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 24 | −12 | 7 | 1–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–3 | — | 3–0 | ||
6 | ![]() |
10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 32 | −32 | 0 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–5 | — |
2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs
The four play-off winners qualify for the final tournament.
All times are CEST (UTC+2), as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).
Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
---|---|---|---|---|
Croatia ![]() |
3–3 (5–4 p) | ![]() |
2–1 | 1–2 (a.e.t.) |
Slovakia ![]() |
3–5 | ![]() |
3–2 | 0–3 |
Republic of Ireland ![]() |
1–1 (1–3 p) | ![]() |
1–1 | 0–0 (a.e.t.) |
Iceland ![]() |
1–2 | ![]() |
1–2 | 0–0 |
Discover more about UEFA European Under-21 Championship related topics
Results and fixtures
2022
29 March 2022 Euro 2023 qualif Gr A | Croatia ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() | Varaždin, Croatia |
18:00 CEST | Report | Stadium: Gradski stadion Varteks Referee: Ádám Farkas (Hungary) Assistant referees: Péter Kóbor (Hungary) Gergo Vigh-tarsonyi (Hungary) Fourth official: Mihály Káprály (Hungary) |
3 June 2022 Euro 2023 qualif Gr A | Norway ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() | Drammen, Norway |
18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Marienlyst Referee: David Munro (Scotland) Assistant referees: David Roome (Scotland) Craig Ferguson (Scotland) Fourth official: Greg Aitken (Scotland) |
8 June 2022 Euro 2023 qualif Gr A | Estonia ![]() | 0–4 | ![]() | Pärnu, Estonia |
Report |
|
Stadium: Pärnu Rannastaadion Referee: Ashot Ghaltakhchyan (Armenia) Assistant referees: Mesrop Ghazaryan (Armenia) Artur Gdlyan (Armenia) Fourth official: Zaven Hovhannisyan (Armenia) |
23 September 2022 Euro 2023 qualif play-offs | Croatia ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Pula, Croatia |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina Referee: Goga Kikacheishvili (Georgia) Assistant referees: Giorgi Elikashvili (Georgia) David Akhvlediani (Georgia) Fourth official: Irakli Kvirikashvili (Georgia) |
27 September 2022 Euro 2023 qualif play-offs | Denmark ![]() | 2–1 (a.e.t.) (3–3 agg.) (4–5 p) | ![]() | Vejle, Denmark |
18:00 | Report | Stadium: Vejle Stadium Referee: Sebastian Gishamer (Austria) Assistant referees: Roland Riedel (Austria) Santino Schreiner (Austria) Fourth official: Walter Altmann (Austria) | ||
Penalties | ||||
17 November 2022 Friendly | Croatia ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() | Pula, Croatia |
18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina |
21 November 2022 Friendly | Croatia ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Pula, Croatia |
18:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Aldo Drosina |
2023
23 March 2023 Friendly | Croatia ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Varaždin, Croatia |
18:00 (UTC+02:00) | Report |
|
Stadium: Stadion Varteks Referee: Toni Dadić (Croatia) |
28 March 2023 Friendly | England ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | London, England |
19:45 (UTC+01:00) |
|
Stadium: Craven Cottage |
21 June 2023 2023 Euro Gr B | Ukraine ![]() | v | ![]() | Bucharest, Romania |
19:00 | Report | Stadium: Superbet Arena |
24 June 2023 2023 Euro Gr B | Spain ![]() | v | ![]() | Bucharest, Romania |
21:45 | Report | Stadium: Superbet Arena |
27 June 2023 2023 Euro Gr B | Croatia ![]() | v | ![]() | Bucharest, Romania |
21:45 | Report | Stadium: Stadionul Steaua |
12 September 2023 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Faroe Islands ![]() | v | ![]() |
13 October 2023 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Greece ![]() | v | ![]() |
17 October 2023 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia ![]() | v | ![]() |
20 November 2023 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Belarus ![]() | v | ![]() |
2024
21 March 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Andorra ![]() | v | ![]() |
26 March 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Portugal ![]() | v | ![]() |
5 September 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia ![]() | v | ![]() |
10 September 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia ![]() | v | ![]() |
11 October 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia ![]() | v | ![]() |
15 October 2024 Euro 2025 qualif Gr G | Croatia ![]() | v | ![]() |
Discover more about Results and fixtures related topics
Coaching staff
Current coaching staff
Position | Name[1] |
---|---|
Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coaches | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Goalkeeping coach | ![]() |
Fitness coaches | ![]() ![]() |
Analyst | ![]() |
Doctors | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Physiotherapists | ![]() ![]() |
Technical secretary | ![]() |
Kit men | ![]() ![]() |
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Players
Current squad
The following was the final squad for the friendlies played against Israel and England on 23 and 28 March 2023.
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the squad in the last 12 months and are still eligible for selection.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Karlo Sentić | 3 June 2001 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Mislav Matić | 6 January 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Marco Pašalić | 14 September 2000 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Ivan Smolčić | 17 August 2000 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Marko Bulat | 26 September 2001 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Luka Sučić | 8 September 2002 | 7 | 5 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Jakov-Anton Vasilj | 2 June 2002 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Stipe Biuk | 26 December 2002 | 10 | 2 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Ante Crnac | 17 December 2003 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Igor Matanović | 31 March 2003 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Michele Šego | 5 August 2000 | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
|
Discover more about Players related topics
Competative record
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
UEFA European Under-21 Championship record | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Manager | |
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did not qualify | 4/6 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 12 | Martin Novoselac | |||||||||
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3/5 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 9 | Ivo Šušak | ||||||||||
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Group stage | 4/4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | Squad | 1/5 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 9 | Ivo Šušak | |
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did not qualify | 2/4OFF | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 7 | Martin Novoselac | |||||||||
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Group stage | 4/4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | Squad | 1/4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 5 | Martin Novoselac | |
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did not qualify | 1/6OFF | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 11 | Slaven Bilić | |||||||||
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3/3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Dražen Ladić | ||||||||||
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2/6 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 12 | Dražen Ladić | ||||||||||
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1/5OFF | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 15 | Dražen Ladić | ||||||||||
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4/5 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 16 | Ivo Šušak | ||||||||||
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1/5OFF | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 9 | Niko Kovač / Nenad Gračan | ||||||||||
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3/6 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 11 | Nenad Gračan | ||||||||||
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Group stage | 4/4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | Squad | 1/6 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 5 | Nenad Gračan | |
![]() ![]() |
Quarter-finals | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | Squad 1 / Squad 2 | 2/6 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 7 | Nenad Gračan / Igor Bišćan | |
![]() ![]() |
qualified | 1/6 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 7 | Igor Bišćan | |||||||||
Total | Group stage | 4/14 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 26 | 134 | 77 | 22 | 35 | 271 | 139 |
- Notes
- OFF = Lost in play-offs.
Discover more about Competative record related topics
Statistics
Managers
The following table provides a summary of the complete record of each manager including their results regarding European Under-21 Championship.
- Key: Pld–games played, W–games won, D–games drawn; L–games lost, %–win percentage

Manager | Tenure | Pld | W | D | L | Win % | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1994–1996 2000–2004 |
![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
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1997–2000 2011–2013 |
![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||
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2004–2006 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 55.0 | ![]() |
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2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | ![]() |
![]() |
2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | ![]() |
![]() |
2005 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | — |
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2006–2011 | 32 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 62.50 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
2013 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 71.4 | — |
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2013–2019 | 41 | 21 | 9 | 11 | 51.2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
2019– | 30 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 60.0 | ![]() ![]() |
Last updated: England vs Croatia, 28 March 2023. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.
Most capped players

# | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Luka Ivanušec | 2017–2021 | 28 | 10 |
2 | Tomislav Vranjić | 2002–2005 | 26 | 0 |
3 | Tomislav Bušić | 2005–2008 | 25 | 12 |
4 | Nikola Moro | 2017–2021 | 24 | 6 |
5 | Josip Tadić | 2005–2008 | 22 | 5 |
6 | Ivan Leko | 1994–2000 | 21 | 5 |
Mato Jajalo | 2007–2010 | 4 | ||
8 | Tomo Šokota | 1997–2000 | 19 | 10 |
Nikola Vlašić | 2015–2019 | 7 | ||
Lovro Majer | 2017–2021 | 5 | ||
Davor Vugrinec | 1994–1997 | 3 | ||
Dejan Lovren | 2007–2010 | 3 | ||
Mario Lučić | 2002–2004 | 2 | ||
Domagoj Vida | 2007–2010 | 2 | ||
Dario Smoje | 1997–2000 | 1 | ||
Boško Šutalo | 2019– | 1 | ||
Mario Carević | 2001–2004 | 0 | ||
Luka Vučko | 2004–2006 | 0 | ||
Borna Sosa | 2017–2020 | 0 |
Last updated: England vs Croatia, 28 March 2023
Source: Croatian Football Federation
Top goalscorers

# | Name | Career | Goals | Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tomislav Bušić | 2005–2008 | 12 | 29 |
2 | Tomo Šokota | 1997–2000 | 10 | 19 |
Luka Ivanušec | 2017–2021 | 28 | ||
4 | Josip Brekalo | 2016–2019 | 9 | 17 |
5 | Eduardo da Silva | 2004–2005 | 8 | 12 |
Stipe Perica | 2013–2016 | 12 | ||
7 | Roko Šimić | 2021– | 7 | 11 |
Marcelo Brozović | 2011–2014 | 13 | ||
Nikola Vlašić | 2015–2019 | 19 | ||
10 | Ante Rukavina | 2007–2008 | 6 | 9 |
Mario Pašalić | 2014–2016 | 14 | ||
Mihael Mikić | 1999–2001 | 15 | ||
Sandro Kulenović | 2019–2021 | 15 | ||
Nikola Moro | 2017–2021 | 24 |
Last updated: England vs Croatia, 28 March 2023
Source: Croatian Football Federation
Discover more about Statistics related topics
Record per opponent
Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 50.00 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0.00 |
![]() |
4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 25.00 |
![]() |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 100.00 |
![]() |
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 66.67 |
![]() |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 50.00 |
![]() |
9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 14 | +5 | 44.44 |
![]() |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | +0 | 33.33 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 |
![]() |
7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 10 | +1 | 14.29 |
![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 50.00 |
![]() |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 66.67 |
![]() |
7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 42.86 |
![]() |
10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 3 | +20 | 90.00 |
![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 100.00 |
![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 50.00 |
![]() |
5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 0.00 |
![]() |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | +0 | 25.00 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 |
![]() |
10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 11 | +9 | 60.00 |
![]() |
12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 30 | 14 | +16 | 58.33 |
![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 100.00 |
![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 50.00 |
![]() |
5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0.00 |
![]() |
8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 12.50 |
![]() |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +0 | 0.00 |
![]() |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 75.00 |
![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | +9 | 100.00 |
![]() |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 | 100.00 |
![]() |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 75.00 |
![]() |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 100.00 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 |
![]() |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 | 100.00 |
![]() |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 33.33 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0.00 |
![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | +0 | 50.00 |
![]() |
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 7 | +8 | 80.00 |
![]() |
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 33.33 |
![]() |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 25.00 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0.00 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 0.00 |
![]() |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | +33 | 100.00 |
![]() |
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 33.33 |
![]() |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 50.00 |
![]() |
5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 12 | +0 | 20.00 |
![]() |
7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 42.86 |
![]() |
11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 20 | 13 | +7 | 54.55 |
![]() |
8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 18 | −11 | 12.50 |
![]() |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 50.00 |
![]() |
5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 40.00 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 100.00 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0 | 0.00 |
![]() |
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 6 | +1 | 33.33 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 100.00 |
Total: 54 teams played | 227 | 111 | 50 | 66 | 410 | 252 | +158 | 48.90 |
Last updated: England vs Croatia, 28 March 2023
Source: Croatian Football Federation
Discover more about Record per opponent related topics
Source: "Croatia national under-21 football team", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, March 28th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_under-21_football_team.
Further Reading

Andorra national football team

North Macedonia national football team

Croatia national football team

Czech Republic national football team

Turkey national football team

Serbia national football team

Faroe Islands national football team

Kazakhstan national football team

Croatian Football Federation

Ukraine national under-21 football team

Kosovo national football team

Greece national under-21 football team

Faroe Islands women's national football team

Belarus national under-21 football team

Faroe Islands national under-21 football team

Andorra women's national football team
See also
- Croatia men's national under-21 football team results
- Croatia men's national football team
- Croatia men's national football B team
- Croatia men's national under-23 football team
- Croatia men's national under-20 football team
- Croatia men's national under-19 football team
- Croatia men's national under-18 football team
- Croatia men'snational under-17 football team
- Croatia men's national under-16 football team
- Croatia men's national under-15 football team
- Croatia women's national football team
- Croatia women's national under-19 football team
- Croatia women's national under-17 football team
References
- ^ "Croatia U-21". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ He coached the U21 team during the first play-off to 2006 European Championship lost 1:3 to Serbia HNS: Serbia-Croatia 3:1, 2005
- ^ He coached the U21 team during the second play-off to 2006 European Championship lost 1:2 to Serbia HNS: Croatia-Serbia 1:2, 2005
- ^ As a temporary manager he coached the U21 team during the friendly 1:1 draw against Italy HNS: Croatia-Italy 1:1, 2005
External links

- Under-21 at UEFA.com
- U23/U21 Tournaments at the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website
- Croatia youth teams players' statistics at the Croatian Football Federation website
Categories
- Articles containing Croatian-language text
- Articles with hCards
- Articles with short description
- CS1 Croatian-language sources (hr)
- Commons category link from Wikidata
- Croatia national football team
- European national under-21 association football teams
- Short description matches Wikidata
- Use dmy dates from June 2022
- Youth football in Croatia
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