Book ‘Croatian football school’ presented in Zagreb

Book ‘Croatian school of football’ presented in Zagreb (Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

The book “Hrvatska škola nogometa” (Croatian football school) published by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) was presented on Wednesday at Zagreb’s Sheraton Hotel. 

The book, which combines the theoretical and practical knowledge of the football profession in Croatia, was edited by the head instructor of HNS, Petar Krpan, and HNS fitness instructor, Ivan Krakan.

“Finally, we have before us the book Hrvatska škola nogometa, which we devoted ourselves to from day one, realising the need for unified professional material as an exemplary example of the functioning of football schools in Croatia. It was created with the great support of the HNS Football Academy and the quality bearers of Croatian football, Dinamo, Hajduk, Rijeka and Osijek, with whom we had a truly exceptional cooperation from the idea to the realisation of this project,” editor Krpan said at today’s presentation, before adding.

“I would also like to thank the respected doctors, Dragan Primorac, Tomislav Madžar and Tomislav Vlahović, who gave a great effort in their domain so that the contents of the book would be fully rounded. All in all, in almost 400 pages, we have reduced everything that is important, which concerns the Croatian football profession. I would like to thank everyone who is responsible for the realisation of this project, the former and current president of the Croatian Football Association, the members of the Executive Committee, colleagues and associates who made the maximum effort to welcome the premiere of this book. Thank you all once again.”

Krpan, Kustić and Krakan (Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

Co-editor Krakan added.

“The success of Croatian football has its deep and stable foundations. Although we are not in a position to compete with big football nations in terms of financial, demographic and geographical indicators, Croatia has something much more important, which is talented football players, experts and a system that is real through wise and hard work based on knowledge. It was HNS led by president Kustić and the executive committee, by accepting the Croatian school of football project, that showed a strategic orientation towards the development of the profession, because it is knowledge and excellence that make the difference in modern football. At the same time, the Croatian school of football is not a one-time project, but a process that will keep up with the development of football and experience new edition,” said Krakan.

The promotion was attended by an eminent group from Croatian football circles, including HNS President Marijan Kustić, Executive Director Tomislav Svetina, Vice Presidents Mario Smodlaka and Nenad Črnko, Executive Board members Ante Kulušić, Davor Ivić and Darko Raić Sudar, President’s advisors Zorislav Srebrić and Stjepan Merkaš, technical the director of the A and U-21 national teams, Stipe Pletikosa, the director of the HNS Football Academy, Boris Kubla, as well as the advisor to the president for science and medicine, Dragan Primorac, the director of the Life polyclinic, Tomislav Madžar and the national team doctor, Tomislav Vlahović.

(Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

Croatia national team staff Zlatko Dalić, Ivica Olić, Vedran Ćorluka, Marjan Mrmić, Dražen Ladić, Mario Mandžukić and Luka Milanović attended the presentation, as well as national team players, captain Luka Modrić, Domagoj Vida, Mateo Kovačić, Dominik Livaković and Josko Guardiol.

“I want to congratulate the editors, our Pero and Ivan, as well as everyone who participated in the creation of the content. I am very glad that representatives of football schools Dinamo, Hajduk, Osijek and Rijeka are here with us, who, as carriers of quality, made a great contribution to the creation of this book. This shows the great unity of our football family and I am really glad to see that, and it also confirms the value of this book because it is not Dinamo’s, Hajduk’s, Osijek’s or Rijeka’s school of football, but truly – the Croatian school of football. Whenever I talk to some international federation leaders, they always ask us – what is the secret of the success of your football. This book is actually one of the answers to that question – quality work with young people. I think it’s great that we gathered this knowledge in one place and that this book will be able to be used by coaches all over the country,” said HNS president Marijan Kustić, before adding.

(Photo credit: Drago Sopta/HNS)

“When we just look at the cover and the two players that are shown there, who are here with us, we see the strength of our school. There is Luka, about whom it is often said – you don’t even need to waste words on him. However, I still want to say now that I’m here – Luka is our best football player of all time. There is also Joško… confirmation that our school continues to develop world-class talents. I can only wish him to be as dedicated, determined and humble as Luka was on his way and I have no doubt that he will also have a great career. Once again, congratulations to the authors and everyone who worked on the book. It is the task of the Federation to preserve and share the knowledge we have in this way, and I am very glad that we as a federation were able to stand behind this project, which is of strategic importance for our football.”