Zvonimir Boban

Born in Imotski, Boban started his career with Dinamo Zagreb. He made his debut for the team in the 1985–86 season, aged 16. He would play 109 games for the club over six seasons, scoring 45 goals and becoming club captain aged 19.{{cite web|last=Schiavone|first=David|title=Legend of Calcio: Zvonimir Boban|url=http://www.serieaweekly.com/2010/04/legend-of-calcio-zvonimir-boban.html|access-date=6 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409000821/http://www.serieaweekly.com/2010/04/legend-of-calcio-zvonimir-boban.html|archive-date=9 April 2010}}

{{Main|Dinamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot}}

In a game against Red Star Belgrade on 13 May 1990, Boban kicked a police officer in the face for assaulting a Dinamo supporter after a riot broke out in the stadium.{{cite news|last=Haylett|first=Trevor|title=Boban the inspiration for Croatia|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boban-the-inspiration-for-croatia-1576947.html|access-date=7 June 2011|location=London|work=The Independent|date=10 October 1995|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111121902/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boban-the-inspiration-for-croatia-1576947.html|url-status=dead}} This incident made Boban an icon of resistance in Croatia.{{cite web|last=Podnar|first=Ozren|title=The Day Yugoslav Soccer Died|url=http://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/news/balkans-soccer/football-war.html|access-date=10 June 2011}}

It is cited by some as the expression of Croatian discontent with the Yugoslav regime.{{cite web|last=machiavelli|title=Arkan, Zvonimir Boban, football and the bloody end of Yugoslavia|url=http://footballprovince.cafebabel.com/en/post/2008/01/28/Arkanas-Z-Bobanas-futbolas-ir-kruvinas-Jugoslavijos-galas|access-date=6 June 2011|archive-date=16 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816135017/http://footballprovince.cafebabel.com/en/post/2008/01/28/Arkanas-Z-Bobanas-futbolas-ir-kruvinas-Jugoslavijos-galas|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=J-Rock|title=May 13 – The Match That Started a War|url=http://www.onthisfootballday.com/football-history/may-13-the-match-that-started-a-war.php|access-date=10 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005233845/http://www.onthisfootballday.com/football-history/may-13-the-match-that-started-a-war.php|archive-date=5 October 2011}} It also earned him a suspension from the Yugoslav national team, causing him to miss the 1990 World Cup in Italy. In January 2011, the match (due to the incident) was named by CNN as one of "five football games that changed the world".{{cite web|url=http://www.sarajevo-x.com/sport/nogomet/clanak/110111018 |title=Utakmica Dinamo-Crvena zvezda među pet koje su promijenile svijet |publisher=Sarajevo-x.com |access-date=16 August 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/01/05/iraq.asia.six.games/index.html|title=Five games that changed the world|publisher=CNN|access-date=21 July 2024}} The police officer (who turned out to be a Bosniak) later forgave Boban for his action.

AC Milan signed Boban in 1991 in a deal worth £8 million. Milan immediately loaned him to Bari, as they felt he needed time to settle in Italy without counting as one of the 3 non-Italian players the club was limited to at the time. Bari were relegated in this season, but Boban ably demonstrated his ability in the team and was recalled to Milan. He stayed in the club for nine seasons, and enjoyed great success with them, helping the team to the 1994 Champions League title and contributing to the 1995 campaign in which they ended as runners-up. Playing 251 games for Milan and scoring 30 goals, Boban won four Serie A titles, as well as three Italian Supercups. In the second leg of the 1994 UEFA Super Cup final against Arsenal in Milan, he scored the opening goal in Milan's 2–0 aggregate victory.{{cite news |first=Harry |last=Harris |title=Taking the pizza |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=9 February 1995 |pages=36–37}} In August 2001, with his role at Milan diminished due to the signing of Rui Costa, he was loaned to La Liga side Celta Vigo{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Nic|title=Boban agrees to Celta loan deal|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11849_2214943,00.html|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=10 June 2011}} where he played in only four league matches. Unhappy with his role as a substitute, he retired in October 2001 and finished his last season earlier than he intended.{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan-online.com/zvonimir-boban.php|title=Zvonimir Boban|publisher=acmilan-online.com|access-date=10 June 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20011014/ai_n13963256/pg_2/?tag=content;col1|title=Boban to call it a day|publisher=The Sunday Herald|date=14 October 2001|access-date=10 June 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/1602234.stm|title=Boban retires|publisher=BBC|date=16 October 2001|access-date=10 June 2011}}

Boban played a big part in Yugoslavia's win in 1987 World Youth Championship. He scored three goals for Yugoslavia in this tournament, and also scored a decisive penalty in the final shootout.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=155688/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703065340/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=155688/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2008|title=FIFA – Zvonimir Boban Stats|publisher=FIFA.com|access-date=6 June 2011}} At the full international level, he earned seven caps for Yugoslavia between 1988 and 1991,{{cite web|url=http://www.reprezentacija.rs/boban-zvonimir|title=Boban Zvonimir|date=27 November 2009 |access-date=6 June 2011}} debuting against the Republic of Ireland on 27 April 1988. He played his last game for Yugoslavia on 16 May 1991 against the Faroe Islands, during which he scored his only goal for Yugoslavia.{{cite web|url=https://www.reprezentacija.rs/505-jugoslavija-farska-ostrva-7-0/|title=(1991) Jugoslavija - Farska Ostrva 7:0|date=15 May 1991 |access-date=8 June 2011}}

When the nation of Croatia declared its independence of Yugoslavia, Boban left Yugoslavia to play for Croatia. He played his first international match for Croatia against a Romanian side on 22 December 1990. The match was considered unofficial because Croatia at that time was not affiliated to FIFA.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/croatia-v-romania-22-december-1990-242709/|title=Croatia v Romania, 22 December 1990. The match was considered unofficial by FIFA|publisher=11v11.com|access-date=10 June 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://www.sveosportu.com/hrvatskareprezentacijanogomet/Hrvatskareprezentacija.htm |title=Sve o sportu |publisher=Sve o sportu |access-date=16 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716171205/http://www.sveosportu.com/hrvatskareprezentacijanogomet/Hrvatskareprezentacija.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011}} This match was only the second fixture Croatia had played as an independent nation since 1956. Boban played his last match for the national team in a friendly against France on 13 November 1999. He blamed back pain for his decision to quit international football,{{cite web|url=http://www.wldcup.com/news/1999Nov/19991110_2943_world_soccer.html|title=Boban calls time on Croatia career|access-date=6 June 2011}} but would go on to play in two more seasons of club football. In his career with the Croatia national team, Boban won 49 international caps and scored 12 goals.

Boban was a member of the Croatian team that finished third at the 1998 World Cup, captaining the squad at that tournament, as he had at the 1996 European Football Championship. At the tournament, he sported a slightly unusual haircut, with the number 10 (his jersey number) shaved onto the back of his head and highlighted in red dye. A mistake he made in the semi-final allowed France to equalize immediately after Croatia had fought hard to earn a one-goal lead.{{cite web|last=Oberjurge|first=Paul|title=Thuram finds perfect time to finally find net.|url=http://www.soccertimes.com/worldcup/1998/games/jul09.htm|access-date=7 June 2011}} To make matters worse, Boban was injured and wanted to come off at half time{{cite web|last=Hale|first=Alex|title=Zvonimir Boban|url=http://www.trivela.co.uk/veteran_corluka_archives.html?part_id=88241&post_id=6102&action=view_comments|publisher=Trivela.co.uk|access-date=10 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325053420/http://www.trivela.co.uk/veteran_corluka_archives.html?part_id=88241&post_id=6102&action=view_comments|archive-date=25 March 2012}} but stayed on until the 65th minute, when he was replaced by Silvio Maric. France won the match 2–1 and eventually won the tournament. Croatia went on to defeat the Netherlands, with Boban providing the pass to Davor Šuker to score the winner,{{cite web|title=CROATIA – NETHERLANDS|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1998/playoff_cro_v_hol.html|access-date=7 June 2011}} allowing Croatia to attain third place and receive the bronze medal.

Nicknamed Zorro, Boban was a talented and creative yet tenacious and hard-working player, known for his use of feints to beat opponents. He was gifted with excellent vision, passing range, dribbling skills, technical ability, and an eye for the final ball; he mixed these attributes with a unique tactical versatility and intelligence, which enabled him to be deployed in several midfield and offensive positions throughout his career. In addition to his preferred playmaking role behind the forwards as an attacking midfielder, he was also capable of playing on the wing, as a central midfielder, or even as a supporting striker, due to his powerful and accurate bending shots from distance; he was also effective from set-pieces. Throughout his career, he also became known for his vocal presence, determination and aggression on the pitch, as well as his strong character.{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/archive/show_player/Zvonimir-Boban|title=AC Milan Hall of Fame: Zvonimir Boban|publisher=AC Milan|access-date=9 December 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/protagonisti/Gioc-Boban.html|title=Zvonimir BOBAN|publisher=Magliarossonera.it|language=it|access-date=10 August 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2045208-where-does-luka-modric-rank-among-croatias-greatest-midfielders#slide9 |title=Where Does Luka Modric Rank Among Croatia's Greatest Midfielders? |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Holiga |first1=Aleksandar |date=29 April 2014 |access-date=14 July 2019 }}

Boban officially retired from football in 2002 after receiving little pitch time at Celta Vigo. On 7 October 2002, Boban organised and played in a farewell testimonial, with Croatia's 1998 World Cup team supported by tennis star Goran Ivanišević matching up against a World XI featuring such stars as Rivaldo, Marco van Basten and Lothar Matthäus.{{cite web|last=Bach|first=Nenand|title=Croatia's Boban leaves football with farewell match|url=http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8213/1/E-Croatias-Boban-leaves-football-with-farewell-match.html|access-date=7 June 2011}}

Since retiring from football, Boban, always known to be a literary man, completed his history degree at the University of Zagreb. He graduated from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb in 2004, with a thesis named "Christianity in the Roman Empire".{{cite web |url=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/10943/50-najbogatijih-hrvata |title=50 najbogatijih Hrvata |trans-title=50 richest Croats |publisher=Nacional (weekly) |date=30 March 2004 |access-date=16 August 2011 |language=hr |archive-date=27 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527141755/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/10943/50-najbogatijih-hrvata}}{{cite web|last=Podnar|first=Ozren|title=Zvonimir Boban: Next Croatian FA President, Or Deputy Minister Of Sports?|url=http://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/news/balkans-soccer/boban.html|access-date=6 June 2011}}

He also started a career in sports journalism, being the administration president for the Croatian daily sports newspaper Sportske novosti, a co-commentator during live broadcasts of the Croatia national team's away matches on the country's commercially-funded national TV station RTL Televizija as well as a commentator for SKY Italia and columnist for La Gazzetta dello Sport. As a commentator, Boban has become known as frank and outspoken.{{cite web|last=Romao|first=Kevin|title=Whatever happened to – Zvonimir Boban|url=http://www.graduatetimes.com/sport/2011/04/11/what-ever-happened-to-zvonimir-boban/|publisher=The Graduate Times|access-date=7 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004033734/http://www.graduatetimes.com/sport/2011/04/11/what-ever-happened-to-zvonimir-boban/|archive-date=4 October 2011}} Boban also owns a restaurant in Zagreb, called "Boban".

Boban has always maintained that he would never become a coach.

{{cquote|1=Football has broadened my horizons. For a while, I will take a rest from it but one thing is certain. Never, never shall I become a coach. My nerves are not up to it.|4=Zvonimir Boban|5=interview after retirement}}

On 30 May 2016, Boban was appointed FIFA's Deputy Secretary-General, focusing on developing the game and the organization of competitions. He has been immediately among the endorsers of the implementation of technology on the field and played a fundamental role in the development of the video assistant referee. In fact, during the 2018 World Cup played in Russia, the first-ever with the VAR, he lived in Moscow alongside Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA's Referees' Committee, and Massimo Busacca, head of FIFA's Refereeing Department, thus bringing referees' world closer to the Institutions. On 14 June 2019, after three years in office, he resigned. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had words of thanks for the Croatian: "I cannot thank Zvonimir enough for everything he has done for FIFA and for the game of football over the last three years by our side. Nobody embodies football better than he does and he has always worked for the good of the game. Many of the positive changes that we have made over the last three years could not have been achieved without Zvone. He has shown the same commitment, heart, and passion at FIFA that characterized his attitude on the pitch. We will miss him a lot at FIFA." One of Infantino's collaborators at FIFA said it was a massive loss, especially now that his work was beginning to make a difference for the whole organization.{{Cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-roles-idUKKCN0YL1P4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018133759/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-roles-idUKKCN0YL1P4|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2017|title=Former Croatia captain Boban given high-ranking FIFA role|last=Homewood|first=Brian|work=Reuters UK|access-date=5 June 2017|language=en-GB}}

In June 2019, Boban resigned from his FIFA job to return to his former club AC Milan where he was hired as a Chief Football Officer, the closest cooperator of the club's technical director Paolo Maldini.{{cite web |last1=HINA |title=Nije odolio pozivu: Zvonimir Boban napušta FIFA-u i stiže u Milan za šefa nogometnih operacija |url=https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/sport/domaci-nogomet/nije-odolio-pozivu-zvonimir-boban-napusta-fifa-u-i-stize-u-milan-za-sefa-nogometnih-operacija-608849 |website=Slobodna Dalmacija |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=hr-hr |date=14 June 2019}} However, he was sacked on 7 March 2020, after he publicly criticized club CEO Ivan Gazidis, who negotiated a possible job offer with German manager Ralf Rangnick for the 2020−21 season behind Boban and Maldini's backs.{{cite web |title=Milan i službeno potvrdio ono o čemu se pričalo: Zvone Boban dobio otkaz! |url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rubrika/nogomet/sluzbeno-zvonimir-boban-dobio-otkaz-u-milanu---596654.html |website=Gol.hr |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=hr |date=7 March 2020}}

In April 2021, Boban was hired by UEFA as the Chief of Football, first ever person to hold that position.{{cite web |last1=Rogulj |first1=Daniela |title=Zvonimir Boban to Become First-Ever UEFA Head of Football |url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/sport/52220-uefa-head-of-football |website=Total Croatia News |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=en-gb |date=17 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=Zvonimir Boban to be appointed UEFA role {{!}} Croatia Week |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/zvonimir-boban-to-be-appointed-uefa-role/ |website=Croatia Week |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=en |date=17 April 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Matteoni |first1=Robert |title=Zvonimir Boban ima novi posao: Dobio funkciju koju još nitko nikad nije obnašao u povijesti nogometa! |url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/nogomet-mix/zvonimir-boban-ima-novi-posao-dobio-funkciju-koju-jos-nitko-nikad-nije-obnasao-u-povijesti-nogometa-15065991 |website=Sportske novosti |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=hr-hr |date=16 April 2021}}

Boban married Leonarda Lončar, a fashion designer, in 1994.{{cite web|title=Zvonimir & Leonarda Boban|url=http://www.story.hr/zvijezdani-imenik/zvonimir-leonarda-boban|publisher=Story.Hr|access-date=7 June 2011}} They have five children: adopted children Marija, Gabrijel, Marta, Rafael, and a biological daughter Ruža (Rose).{{cite web|title=Zvonimir Boban becomes father for a fifth time|url=http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Panorama/2009-11-30/7502/Zvonimir_Boban_becomes_father_for_a_fifth_time|publisher=Croatian Times|access-date=7 June 2011|archive-date=5 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005185832/http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Panorama/2009-11-30/7502/Zvonimir_Boban_becomes_father_for_a_fifth_time|url-status=dead}} In 2021, the couple separated,{{Cite web|date=4 May 2021|title=Razišli se Zvonimir i Leonarda Boban: 'Nadam se da će ljudi shvatiti delikatnost ove odluke'|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/showbiz/razisli-se-se-zvonimir-i-leonarda-boban-nadam-se-da-ce-ljudi-shvatiti-delikatnost-ove-odluke-1489652|access-date=5 May 2021|website=Večernji list|language=hr}} but they reunited in 2024.

Boban is also a keen tennis player. He is known to be close friends with Goran Ivanišević,{{cite web|last=Staunton|first=Peter|title=Top 10 – Roland Garros Special: When Football Meets Tennis|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/2377/top-10/2010/05/27/1945026/top-10-roland-garros-special-when-football-meets-tennis|access-date=10 June 2011}} with whom he plays at his private indoor clay tennis court.{{cite news|last=Law|first=David|title=Ivanisevic promises final display of fireworks|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/ivanisevic-promises-final-display-of-fireworks-612478.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/ivanisevic-promises-final-display-of-fireworks-612478.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2011|location=London|work=The Independent|date=1 January 2003}}{{cbignore}}

{{notelist}}

:Scores and results list Yugoslavia's and Croatia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boban goal.

AC Milan

• Serie A: 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1992, 1993, 1994
• UEFA Champions League: 1993–94
• UEFA Super Cup: 1994

Yugoslavia

• FIFA World Youth Championship: 1987
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up: 1990

Croatia

• FIFA World Cup third place: 1998

Individual

• FIFA World Youth Championship Silver Ball: 1987
• Croatian Footballer of the Year: 1991, 1999
• Ballon d'Or: 1994 (24th place). Nominated: 1995, 1996, 1998{{cite news|title=European Footballer of the Year |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html |work=RSSSF |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007212514/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html |archive-date=7 October 2013 }}
• SN Yellow Shirt Award: 1991
• Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1998, 2002
• UEFA Jubilee Poll (2004): #92{{cite news|date=21 December 2006|title=UEFA Awards|work= Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/uefa-awards.html#100|access-date=12 March 2024}}
• AC Milan: The 20 Greatest Rossoneri of All-Time{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/912027-ac-milan-the-20-greatest-rossoneri-of-all-time|title=AC Milan: The 20 Greatest Rossoneri of All-Time|publisher=Bleacher Report|access-date= 24 November 2011}}
• AC Milan Hall of Fame
• Fair Play Menarini Award 2017[https://web.archive.org/web/20170709192429/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=7/news=boban-presented-with-fair-play-award-2900731.html FIFA.com]
• Globe Soccer Awards 2018: Special Career Award

Orders

• 50px Order of Danica Hrvatska with face of Franjo Bučar: 1995{{cite news | url = http://hrvatska.poslovniforum.hr/nn-arhiva/00025/0256f.asp|title = ODLUKU KOJOM SE ODLIKUJU REDOM DANICE HRVATSKE S LIKOM FRANJE BUČARA | language = hr | publisher= hrvatska.poslovniforum.hr}}
• 50px Order of the Croatian Trefoil: 1998{{cite news|url=http://www.hrt.hr/arhiv/98/07/12/h2_hrv.html |title=PREDSJEDNIK TUDJMAN ODLIKOVAO HRVATSKU NOGOMETNU REPREZENTACIJU |language=hr |publisher=hrt.hr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108054336/http://www.hrt.hr/arhiv/98/07/12/h2_hrv.html |archive-date=8 November 2016 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons}}

• {{CFF player}}
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{{Croatian Footballer of the Year award}}

{{Navboxes

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{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 1996}}

{{Croatia squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Boban, Zvonimir}}

Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

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Category:Men's association football midfielders

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