Milan Badelj
{{short description|Croatian footballer (born 1989)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Milan Badelj
| image = Russia-Croatia15 (8).jpg
| image_size = 180
| caption = Badelj playing for Croatia in 2015
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|2|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Zagreb, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia
| position = Defensive midfielder
| currentclub = Genoa
| clubnumber = 47
| youthyears1 = 1995–2002
| youthclubs1 = Ponikve
| youthyears2 = 2002–2005
| youthclubs2 = NK Zagreb
| youthyears3 = 2005–2007
| youthclubs3 = Dinamo Zagreb
| years1 = 2007–2012
| clubs1 = Dinamo Zagreb
| caps1 = 113
| goals1 = 25
| years2 = 2007–2008
| clubs2 = → Lokomotiva (loan)
| caps2 = 28
| goals2 = 7
| years3 = 2012–2014
| clubs3 = Hamburger SV
| caps3 = 62
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2014–2018
| clubs4 = Fiorentina
| caps4 = 108
| goals4 = 6
| years5 = 2018–2020
| clubs5 = Lazio
| caps5 = 23
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2019–2020
| clubs6 = → Fiorentina (loan)
| caps6 = 22
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2020–
| clubs7 = Genoa
| caps7 = 144
| goals7 = 7
| nationalyears1 = 2004
| nationalteam1 = Croatia U16
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2004–2005
| nationalteam2 = Croatia U17
| nationalcaps2 = 28
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| nationalyears3 = 2005–2006
| nationalteam3 = Croatia U18
| nationalcaps3 = 5
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2006–2008
| nationalteam4 = Croatia U19
| nationalcaps4 = 13
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2009
| nationalteam5 = Croatia U20
| nationalcaps5 = 2
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| nationalyears6 = 2008–2010
| nationalteam6 = Croatia U21
| nationalcaps6 = 14
| nationalgoals6 = 0
| nationalyears7 = 2010–2021
| nationalteam7 = Croatia
| nationalcaps7 = 55
| nationalgoals7 = 2
| club-update = 15 March 2025
| nationalteam-update = 1 June 2021
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|CRO}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|FIFA World Cup}}
{{Medal|RU|2018 Russia|}}
}}
Milan Badelj ({{IPA|hr|mǐlan bǎdeʎ}};{{cite web|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=e1phXRE%3D&keyword=Milan|title=Mìlan|website=Hrvatski jezični portal|access-date=23 February 2020|language=hr}}{{cite web|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=e1duWg%3D%3D&keyword=badelj|title=bàdelj|website=Hrvatski jezični portal|access-date=23 February 2020|language=hr}} born 25 February 1989) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for and captains {{Italian football updater|Genoa}} club Genoa. He was a member of the Croatian squad that finished runners-up in the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well as part of the country's squad at its 2014 edition and the UEFA Euro's editions in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
Club career
=Early career=
Milan Badelj signed for Dinamo Zagreb as a 17-year-old in 2007, just after he was snapped up from the youth system of Dinamo Zagreb's city rival, NK Zagreb. For the 2007–08 season, he was sent on loan to Dinamo Zagreb's affiliate Lokomotiva to gain first–team experience at the senior level. He played in 28 matches and scored seven goals for Lokomotiva in the Croatian Third League.
=Dinamo Zagreb=
At an early age, Badelj was already spotted as a possible replacement for Luka Modrić, a key figure in the Dinamo Zagreb first-team squad that joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2008.{{cite web|title=Milan Badelj – Modrićev nasljednik|url=http://www.nogometni-magazin.com/hrv-5045d.shtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104181739/http://www.nogometni-magazin.com/hrv-5045d.shtml|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 January 2013|access-date=13 June 2008|publisher=nogometni-magazin.com|language=hr}}
In 2008, Badelj joined the first team and immediately established himself as an important player. He made his senior debut for Dinamo in Champions League qualifier against Northern Irish club Linfield. He then made his domestic debut in the opening match of the 2008–09 season against Rijeka, scoring the first goal in 2–0 victory.{{cite web|title=Badelj novi junak Maksimira|url=http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/363118/nogomet-1-hnl/badelj-novi-junak-maksimira/|access-date=27 July 2008|publisher=HRSport|language=hr}} He finished his first season with Dinamo with 31 domestic appearances and 12 UEFA Cup appearances.
Badelj continued to impress at his young age, establishing himself as a first–team regular for the 2009–10 season. In March 2011, he scored a goal in a 2–0 victory in the derby match against great rivals Hajduk Split.{{cite web|title=Golovi i igra vrijedni naslova prvaka|url=http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/414471/nogomet-1-hnl/golovi-i-igra-vrijedni-naslova-prvaka/|access-date=19 March 2011|publisher=HRSport|language=hr}} Badelj continued with impressive performances in the 2010–11 season as well, even wearing the captain's armband in some matches.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/milan-badelj-ima-sve-da-postane-kapetan-plavih-94097|title=Milan Badelj ima sve da postane kapetan plavih|access-date=5 July 2018|language=hr}}{{Cite news|url=https://net.hr/sport/nogomet/kapetan-dinama-poslao-poruku-bbb-ima/|title=Kapetan Dinama poslao poruku BBB-ima!|date=10 November 2011|work=Net.hr|access-date=5 July 2018|language=hr-HR}}
In the 2011–12 season, Badelj was one of the key players in the Dinamo squad that reached the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in 12 years. He appeared in all six of Dinamo's group stage games against Real Madrid, Lyon and Ajax.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/season=2012/matches/#/all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421154815/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/season=2012/matches/#/all|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2018|title=UCL - Matches|last=UEFA.com|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 July 2018}}
In what would be his final game at the Stadion Maksimir for Dinamo, in a Champions League playoff match against Slovenian side Maribor, Badelj scored an own goal that gave the opposition an equaliser in the first leg match. However, Badelj later scored the winning goal at the other end in the second half.{{cite web|title=Badelj na oproštaju s Maksimirom pogodio za pobjedu Dinama|url=http://www.hrsport.net/vijesti/445565/nogomet-liga-prvaka/badelj-na-oprostaju-s-maksimirom-pogodio-za-pobjedu-dinama/|access-date=22 August 2012|publisher=HRSport|language=hr}}
=Hamburger SV=
Badelj joined Hamburger SV of the Bundesliga in August 2012 for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of €4.5 million, according to the Croatian media.{{cite web|title=Badelj predstavljen u HSV-u, debitira već u subotu: "Bit će to derbi kao Dinamo-Hajduk"|url=http://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/badelj-predstavljen-u-hsvu-debitira-vec-u-subotu-bit-ce-to-derbi-kao-dinamohajduk/634122.aspx|access-date=29 August 2012|publisher=Index.hr|language=hr}} He made his domestic debut soon after joining the club in a match against Werder Bremen. He soon established himself as a first-team regular, typically operating as a deep-lying playmaker.{{Cite web|url=https://us.soccerway.com/players/milan-badelj/85043/|title=Croatia - M. Badelj - Profile with news, career statistics and history |publisher=Soccerway|access-date=5 July 2018}} Badelj scored his first Bundesliga goal against Schalke 04, in a 3–1 win, on 27 November 2012.{{cite magazine|title=Hamburger SV 3–1 FC Schalke 04|url=https://www.kicker.de/hsv-gegen-schalke-2012-bundesliga-1441767/spielinfo|access-date=27 November 2012|magazine=Kicker|language=de}}
=Fiorentina=
On 31 August 2014, it was announced Badelj had signed for Serie A side Fiorentina for a fee believed to be in the region of €5 million.{{cite web|title=Fiorentina to sign Milan Badelj from Hamburg|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11881/9451607/transfer-news-fiorentina-reach-agreement-with-hamburg-midfielder-milan-badelj|access-date=1 September 2014|publisher=Sky Sports}} In 2018, after the sudden death of Davide Astori due to cardiac arrest in early March 2018, Badelj was appointed as team captain.
=Lazio=
Badelj joined Lazio on 1 August 2018, on a free transfer.{{cite web | url=https://www.football-italia.net/125601/official-lazio-complete-double-signing|title=Official: Lazio complete double signing|publisher=Football Italia|date=1 August 2018}} On 17 February 2019, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 loss to Genoa.
==Loan to Fiorentina==
On 5 August 2019, Badelj joined Fiorentina on loan until 30 June 2020 with an option to buy.{{cite web|url=https://m.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ufficiale-fiorentina-torna-badelj-l-annuncio-di-prade-in-conferenza-1276709|access-date=6 August 2019|title=UFFICIALE: Fiorentina, torna Badelj. L'annuncio di Pradè in conferenza}} On 3 September 2019 he wore captain armband in 1–1 draw against Parma, despite being a loaned player, due to absence of regular captain Germán Pezzella. It was the first time for Badelj to being captain since his comeback. Fiorentina chose not to activate the option and Badelj returned to Lazio at the end of the spell.
=Genoa=
On 16 September 2020, Badelj signed a three-year contract with Genoa.{{cite web | url=https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/badelj-e-melegoni-al-genoa-ufficiale-il-doppio-rinforzo-a/9onqbdlak7of1q01puup2ps6c |title=Badelj e Melegoni al Genoa: ufficiale il doppio rinforzo a centrocampo |trans-title=Badelj and Melegoni at Genoa: the double reinforcement to the midfield is official |publisher=Goal.com |date=16 September 2020 |access-date=16 September 2020 |language=it}}
On February 20, 2021, he scored his first goal for the club, as he equalized at the last minute of a match against Hellas Verona: in that occasion, he celebrated by recreating the number 13 with his fingers pointed to the sky, as a way to pay tribute to his late friend and former team-mate Davide Astori (in fact, the Italian defender had used to wear the number 13 shirt until his tragic death).{{Cite web|date=2021-02-20|title=Badelj: "Il Genoa ha un grande cuore"|url=https://www.ilsecoloxix.it/sport/2021/02/20/news/badelj-il-genoa-ha-un-grande-cuore-1.39933257|access-date=2021-03-02|website=Il Secolo XIX|language=it-IT}}
International career
During his youth career for the national team, Badelj earned a total of 63 caps, for all youth teams from U16 to U21.
In 2010, Badelj was selected for the Croatia national team squad for the first time, but was mostly on the bench. His competitive debut came during a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match against Malta; a match Croatia won 3–1, on 2 September 2011, in which Badelj scored the second goal.{{Cite web|url=http://hrnogomet.com/reprezentacija/utakmica.php?id=222&lang=hr&tab=1|title=Malta - Hrvatska 1:3 (1:2)|website=hrnogomet.com|access-date=5 July 2018}} He was selected for the UEFA Euro 2012 squad;{{Cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7de40bc78f-8adf03d93fd0-1000--bilic-reduces-croatia-squad-to-final-23/|title=UEFA EURO 2016 - News – UEFA|last=uefa.com|date=29 May 2012|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 July 2018}} and in May 2014, was selected for the final squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil following an injury to Ivan Močinić.{{Cite web|url=https://www.24sata.hr/sport/badelj-upada-u-reprezentaciju-u-posljednji-tren-mocinic-out-370805/komentari|title=Močinić se vraća kući, Badelj dolazi, Pranjić otpao za Brazil - Komentari {{!}} 24sata|website=www.24sata.hr|language=hr|access-date=5 July 2018}} However, he was an unused substitute for most of the tournament, as Croatia were knocked out in the group stage. He was selected for UEFA Euro 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://hns-cff.hr/en/news/13438/croatia-preliminary-squad-for-euro-2016/|title=Croatia preliminary squad for EURO 2016 - Croatian Football Federation|website=hns-cff.hr|access-date=5 July 2018}}
In May 2018, Badelj was selected for the final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/revealed-every-world-cup-2018-squad-23-man-preliminary-lists/oa0atsduflsv1nsf6oqk576rb|title=Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists {{!}} Goal.com|access-date=5 July 2018}} He scored his first goal of the tournament in a 2–1 win over Iceland; helping Croatia en route to topping the group on maximum points.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2018/jun/26/iceland-v-croatia-world-cup-2018-live|title=Iceland 1-2 Croatia: World Cup 2018 – as it happened|last=Burnton|first=Simon|date=26 June 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 July 2018|issn=0261-3077}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44439256|title=World Cup 2018: Iceland out after defeat by group winners Croatia|date=26 June 2018|work=BBC Sport|access-date=5 July 2018}} On 1 July, in Croatia's round of sixteen tie with Denmark, the game was drawn 1–1 and was decided through a penalty shootout in which Badelj missed Croatia's first penalty, though they would scored three while their opponents only scored two.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2018/jul/01/croatia-v-denmark-world-cup-2018-live|title=World Cup 2018: Croatia beat Denmark on penalties – as it happened|last=Bakowski|first=Gregg|date=1 July 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=5 July 2018|issn=0261-3077}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 28 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/milan-badelj/85043/|title = M. Badelj|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=31 May 2015}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Lokomotiva
|28 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 7 | ||||
| rowspan="6"|Dinamo Zagreb
|31 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 12{{efn|Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Cup}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 50 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10
|Prva HNL |27 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 11{{efn|Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League}} | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 40 | 14 | ||
| 2010–11
|Prva HNL |29 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 11{{efn|Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Croatian Football Super Cup}} | 0 | 49 | 9 | |
| 2011–12
|Prva HNL |24 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 12{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 42 | 6 | ||
| 2012–13
|Prva HNL |2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 6{{efn|name=UCL}} | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 8 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!113||25||23||7||52||5||1||0||189||37 | ||||||||||
| rowspan="4"|Hamburger SV
|31 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14
|Bundesliga |29 | 1 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in Bundesliga promotion/relegation play-offs}} | 0 | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2014–15
|Bundesliga |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!62||2||5||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||69||2 | ||||||||||
| rowspan="5"|Fiorentina
|21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 13{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 1 | ||
| 2015–16
|Serie A |27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17
|Serie A |33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 41 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18
|Serie A |27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!108||6||6||0||26||0||colspan="2"|—||140||6 | ||||||||||
| Lazio
|Serie A |23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 26 | 1 | ||
| Fiorentina (loan)
|Serie A |22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="6"|Genoa
|Serie A |30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2021–22
|Serie A |34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 1 | |||
| 2022–23
|26 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 3 | |||
| 2023–24
|Serie A |32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 1 | |||
| 2024–25
|Serie A |16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!138||7||10||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||148||7 | ||||||||||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!490||49||46||7||80||5||3||0||619||61 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|1 June 2021}}{{NFT player|id=38337}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| colspan=3|Croatia | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 9 | 1 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 55 | 2 |
:Scores and results list Croatia's goal tally first
| class="wikitable sortable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1 | 2 September 2011 | Ta' Qali National Stadium, Attard, Malta | {{fb|MLT}} | {{center|2–0}} | {{center|3–1}} | UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying |
| 2 | 26 June 2018 | Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Russia | {{fb|ISL}} | {{center|1–0}} | {{center|2–1}} | 2018 FIFA World Cup |
Honours
- Prva HNL: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
- Croatian Cup: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12
- Croatian Super Cup: 2010
Croatia
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44754965|title=France 4–2 Croatia|publisher=BBC |date=15 July 2018|access-date=15 July 2018|last=McNulty|first=Phil}}
Individual
Orders
- 40px Order of Duke Branimir : 2018{{cite web|url=http://predsjednica.hr/objava/1/1/2707|title=News: President Decorates Croatian National Football Team Players and Coaching Staff|date=13 November 2018|publisher=Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia|access-date=11 January 2019|quote=the Order of Prince Branimir with Ribbon was awarded to Mr. Milan Badelj...|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409171628/http://predsjednica.hr/objava/1/1/2707|archive-date=9 April 2019|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{CFF player}}
- {{UEFA player}}
- {{NFT player}}
{{Genoa C.F.C. squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Croatia squads
| bg = white
| fg = #171796
| bordercolor = red
| list1 =
{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2012}}
{{Croatia squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2016}}
{{Croatia squad 2018 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 2020}}
}}
{{Croatian Football Hope of the Year award}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Badelj, Milan}}
Category:Footballers from Zagreb
Category:Croatian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Croatian sportsmen
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:GNK Dinamo Zagreb players
Category:NK Lokomotiva Zagreb players
Category:ACF Fiorentina players
Category:Croatian Football League players
Category:Croatia men's youth international footballers
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Category:Croatia men's international footballers
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