Damir Krznar

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Damir Krznar

| image = Damir Krznar 2021.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Krznar in 2021

| height = 1.77 m{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/damir-krznar/|title=Damir Krznar|website=worldfootball.net|access-date=7 February 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|7|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Zabok, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia{{cite web|url=http://povijest.gnkdinamo.hr/popis-igra%C4%8Da/damir-krznar.html |title=Damir Krznar - Povijest Dinama |publisher=GNK Dinamo Zagreb |access-date=11 August 2021 |language=hr|archive-date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811112000/http://povijest.gnkdinamo.hr/popis-igra%C4%8Da/damir-krznar.html}}

| currentclub =

| position = Left midfielder

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1992–1995 | clubs1 = Varteks | caps1 = 83 | goals1 = 4

| years2 = 1995–2004 | clubs2 = Dinamo Zagreb | caps2 = 122 | goals2 = 7

| years3 = 2004–2010 | clubs3 = Inter Zaprešić | caps3 = 134 | goals3 = 1

| totalcaps = 339

| totalgoals = 12

| nationalyears1 = 1998 | nationalteam1 = Croatia

| nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2010–2011

| managerclubs1 = Inter Zaprešić (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2011–2016 | managerclubs2 = Dinamo Zagreb (assistant)

| manageryears3 = 2013 | managerclubs3 = Dinamo Zagreb (interim)

| manageryears4 = 2016–2017 | managerclubs4 = Al Nassr (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2017–2019 | managerclubs5 = Al Ain (assistant)

| manageryears6 = 2019 | managerclubs6 = Al Hilal (assistant)

| manageryears7 = 2020–2021 | managerclubs7 = Dinamo Zagreb (assistant)

| manageryears8 = 2021 | managerclubs8 = Dinamo Zagreb

| manageryears9 = 2022 | managerclubs9 = Dinamo Zagreb II

| manageryears10 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs10 = Maribor

| manageryears11 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs11 = Celje

}}

Damir Krznar (born 10 July 1972) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player.

Playing career

=Club=

Krznar spent his career playing for Varteks, Dinamo Zagreb and Inter Zaprešić.

=International=

He made his international debut coming in as a second half substitute for Robert Jarni against Poland on 22 April 1998, which was his only appearance for the Croatia national team.{{cite web |title=Damir Krznar, international football player |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=11442 |website=eu-football.info |access-date=1 October 2022 |language=en}}

== Managerial career ==

=== Career as assistant ===

In the period between 2010 and 2021, Krznar worked as an assistant coach to Ilija Lončarević at Inter Zaprešić, to Krunoslav Jurčić, Ante Čačić, Branko Ivanković and Zoran Mamić at Dinamo Zagreb, and to Mamić at Al Nassr, Al Ain and Al Hilal.{{cite web|url=https://sport.hrt.hr/hrvatski-nogomet/pomocnik-dolazi-na-mamicevo-mjesto-i-vodi-utakmicu-protiv-mourinha-1102164 |title=Pomoćnik dolazi na Mamićevo mjesto i vodi utakmicu protiv Mourinha |work=Croatian Radiotelevision |date=16 March 2021 |access-date=11 August 2021 |language=hr}}

He served as Dinamo interim manager on two occasions; from August to September 2013,{{cite web|url=https://evarazdin.hr/sport/nakon-samo-osam-utakmica-na-klupi-branko-ivankovic-vise-nije-trener-dinama-225743/ |title=Nakon samo osam utakmica na klupi, Branko Ivanković više nije trener Dinama! |website=evarazdin.hr |date=22 October 2013 |access-date=11 August 2021 |language=hr}} and from July to September 2015.{{cite web|author=Hina |url=https://www.novilist.hr/sport/nogomet/vodenje-momcadi-dinama-preuzeo-prvi-pomocnik-i-pomocni-trener-damir-krznar/ |title=Vođenje momčadi Dinama preuzeo prvi pomoćnik i pomoćni trener Damir Krznar |work=Novi list |date=5 July 2015 |access-date=11 August 2021 |language=hr}}

= Dinamo Zagreb =

After Zoran Mamić was sentenced to five years in prison on 15 March 2021, he resigned on the same day and was succeeded by Krznar, who made his debut as Dinamo head coach on 18 March in a 3–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Stadion Maksimir, thus qualifying for the quarter-finals of the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League for the first time in the history of the club. Furthermore, Krznar became the first ever manager to eliminate Spurs head coach José Mourinho from the Europa League (the Portuguese took part in the competition two more times before–in 2002–03 coaching Porto, and in 2016–17 coaching Manchester United–winning both editions).{{cite web|url=https://sport.hrt.hr/hrvatski-nogomet/dinamo-na-maksimiru-lovi-cudo-protiv-tottenhama-1132426|title=Čudo na Maksimiru! Dinamo izbacio Tottenham iz Europske lige|publisher=Croatian Radiotelevision|date=18 March 2021|access-date=18 March 2021|language=hr}}{{cite web|author=UEFA.com|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0267-11cbd0ab5e03-b24d95ce56b1-1000--dinamo-zagreb-vs-tottenham-uefa-europa-league-background-for/|title=Dinamo Zagreb vs Tottenham: UEFA Europa League background, form guide, previous meetings|website=UEFA|publisher=Union of European Football Associations|access-date=18 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56433776|title=Sorry Tottenham stunned by Dinamo Zagreb in Europa League exit|work=BBC Sport|date=18 March 2021|access-date=18 March 2021}}{{cite web|author=Hina|date=19 March 2021|title=‘Ovo je raspad u Hrvatskoj!; Pa ovo je neprihvatljivo! ‘Sramotni Spursi‘; ‘Veličanstveni Oršić...‘|url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/europska-liga/ovo-je-raspad-u-hrvatskoj-pa-ovo-je-neprihvatljivo-sramotni-spursi-velicanstveni-orsic-15059053|url-status=live|access-date=19 March 2021|work=Sportske novosti|language=hr-hr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319083643/https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/europska-liga/ovo-je-raspad-u-hrvatskoj-pa-ovo-je-neprihvatljivo-sramotni-spursi-velicanstveni-orsic-15059053 |archive-date=19 March 2021 }} However, Dinamo went on to lose their quarter-final fixture against Villarreal 3–1 on aggregate.{{cite web|last=Antolić|first=Dražen|date=16 April 2021|title=Nakon ispadanja iz Europske lige postoji nešto za čime Modri imaju razloga najviše žaliti|url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/europska-liga/nakon-ispadanja-iz-europske-lige-postoji-nesto-za-cime-modri-imaju-razloga-najvise-zaliti-15065809|url-status=live|access-date=16 April 2021|work=Sportske novosti|language=hr-hr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416085134/https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/europska-liga/nakon-ispadanja-iz-europske-lige-postoji-nesto-za-cime-modri-imaju-razloga-najvise-zaliti-15065809 |archive-date=16 April 2021 }}

On 9 May 2021, Dinamo secured its 22nd Croatian First League title with a 5–1 victory over Rijeka, and the 32nd national league title in total.{{cite web|url=https://gnkdinamo.hr/hr/Novosti/Clanak/dinamo-obranio-naslov-prvaka-hrvatske |title=Dinamo obranio naslov prvaka Hrvatske! |publisher=GNK Dinamo Zagreb |date=9 May 2021 |access-date=21 July 2021 |language=hr}} Ten days later, Dinamo also won the Croatian Cup title, with a victory against Istra 1961 by a scoreline of 6–3.{{cite web|url=https://gnkdinamo.hr/hr/Novosti/Clanak/dinamo-je-pobjednik-hrvatskog-nogometnog-kupa |title=Dinamo je pobjednik Hrvatskog nogometnog kupa! |publisher=GNK Dinamo Zagreb |date=19 May 2021 |access-date=21 July 2021 |language=hr}}

Krznar left Dinamo on 1 December 2021 after being eliminated by Rijeka in the quarter-finals of the Croatian Cup.{{cite web |title=Damir Krznar više nije trener Dinama |url=https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/damir-krznar-vise-nije-trener-dinama/2322526.aspx |website=index.hr |access-date=16 August 2022 |language=hr |date=1 December 2021}} However, the next month, he took over the reserve team of Dinamo,{{cite web |title=Početak priprema Dinamove B momčadi |url=https://gnkdinamo.hr/hr/Novosti/Clanak/pocetak-priprema-dinamove-b-momcadi |website=gnkdinamo.hr |access-date=16 August 2022 |language=hr-HR |date=7 January 2022}} playing in the Croatian Second League, where he stayed until the team was dissolved following the 2021–22 season.{{cite web |title=Kdo je Damir Krznar? Spisal je enega največjih Dinamovih evropskih preobratov in porazil Mourinha |url=https://www.nogomania.com/Novica/Kdo-je-Damir-Krznar-Spisal-je-enega-najvecjih-Dinamovih-evropskih-preobratov-in-porazil-Mourinha |publisher=Nogomania |access-date=16 August 2022 |language=sl |date=16 August 2022}}

= Maribor =

On 16 August 2022, Krznar took charge of the reigning Slovenian PrvaLiga champions Maribor, signing a two-year contract.{{cite web |author1=M. R. |title=Uradno: Novi trener Maribora je Damir Krznar |url=https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/prva-liga/uradno-novi-trener-maribora-je-damir-krznar/637361 |publisher=RTV Slovenija |access-date=16 August 2022 |language=sl |date=16 August 2022}} At the time of his arrival, Maribor was sitting in last place in the league with only three points out of five games. He led the club to third place in the league and also reached the cup final, earning a contract extension until 2026.{{cite web |title=Krznar pred finalom pokala podaljšal z vijoličastimi do leta 2026|author=A. G.|url=https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/prva-liga/krznar-pred-finalom-pokala-podaljsal-z-vijolicastimi-do-leta-2026/667203 |publisher=RTV Slovenija |access-date=2 October 2023 |language=sl |date=5 May 2023}} However, after a poor start to the 2023–24 season, Krznar terminated his contract by mutual consent and left the club on 2 October 2023. In total, he led Maribor in 55 matches and achieved 28 wins, 13 draws and 14 defeats.{{cite web |title=Damir Krznar ni več trener NK Maribor |url=https://www.nkmaribor.com/novice/?id=11952 |publisher=NK Maribor |access-date=2 October 2023 |language=sl |date=2 October 2023}}

= Celje =

On 11 October 2023, Krznar was appointed manager of another Slovenian PrvaLiga side, Celje, after Albert Riera left the club to manage Girondins de Bordeaux.{{cite web |last1=Kresnik |first1=Dejan |title=Damir Krznar novi trener nogometašev Celja |url=https://www.dnevnik.si/1043034249 |website=Dnevnik |access-date=28 July 2024 |language=sl |date=11 October 2023}} With Celje, he won the 2023–24 Slovenian PrvaLiga title, but left the club on 28 July 2024 along with his staff after his contract was terminated by mutual consent when Riera became available again following Bordeaux's financial collapse.{{cite web |author1=S. J. |title=Krznar že zapustil prvake, Riera blizu vrnitve |url=https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/prva-liga/krznar-ze-zapustil-prvake-riera-blizu-vrnitve/716284 |publisher=RTV Slovenija |access-date=28 July 2024 |language=sl |date=28 July 2024}}

Managerial statistics

class=wikitable style="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="8"\|Record
{{Tooltip\|P\|Matches played}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Matches won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Matches drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Matches lost}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
Dinamo Zagreb (interim) \| 22 August 2013 \| 2 September 2013 {{WDL\|3\|3\|0\|0}}
Dinamo Zagreb \| 15 March 2021 \| 1 December 2021 {{WDL\|48\|29\|11\|8}}
Dinamo Zagreb II \| 7 January 2022 \| 16 August 2022 {{WDL\|15\|7\|2\|6}}
Maribor \| 16 August 2022 \| 2 October 2023 {{WDL\|55\|28\|13\|14}}
Celje \| 11 October 2023 \| 28 July 2024 {{WDL\|31\|20\|7\|4}}
colspan="3"\| Total {{WDLtot\|152\|87\|33\|32}}

class=wikitable style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

!{{Tooltip|W|Matches won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Matches lost}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

Dinamo Zagreb (interim)

| 22 August 2013