Dinamo Zagreb ranked sixth in the world for producing top talent

Mateo Kovačić (Photo credit: pantkiewicz/(CC BY-NC 2.0)

MADRID, 28 February 2025 (Hina) – A new report from the CIES Football Observatory has confirmed Dinamo Zagreb’s reputation as a top talent factory, ranking the Croatian club sixth in the world for producing players who go on to play in Europe’s top five leagues.

The study analysed players who spent at least three seasons in their home club’s academy between the ages of 15 and 21.

Over the past 20 years, 35 players from Dinamo’s youth system have played in the top divisions of Spain, England, Germany, Italy, and France, accumulating a total of 257,102 minutes on the pitch.

Only Five Clubs Ahead of Dinamo

Ajax leads the rankings with 73 players amassing 425,894 minutes in the top five leagues. River Plate, Sporting Lisbon, Boca Juniors, and 1860 Munich complete the top five, just ahead of Dinamo.

The Croatian club’s ability to develop and export talent has been widely recognised, with notable names including Luka Modrić (Real Madrid), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), and Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City).

The latest talent to make the move abroad is 21-year-old midfielder Petar Sučić, who will join Inter Milan in four months.

Bjelica on Dinamo’s Success

Former Dinamo coach Nenad Bjelica spoke about the club’s youth academy in an interview with Spanish radio station Radio Marca last November.

“They work with great humility, and the results are evident. Every year, new players emerge from the academy,” Bjelica said. “It’s a difficult and complex process, but Dinamo handles it well and intelligently. Every season, one or two players step up to the first team ready to compete.”

Bjelica, who coached Dinamo from 2018 to 2020 and again briefly in late 2024, pointed out current midfielders Martin Baturina and Petar Sučić as key prospects. He also highlighted 17-year-old defender Leon Jakirović as a future star, praising his intelligence, ability to read the game, and technical skill despite his 190 cm height.

“He is the next gem of Croatian football,” Bjelica stated.

Jakirović recently caught attention by scoring two headed goals in Dinamo’s 2-2 draw with Barcelona’s U19 team in the UEFA Youth League, further showcasing the strength of Dinamo’s youth development.

With a steady stream of talented players emerging, Dinamo Zagreb continues to solidify its place as one of the best clubs in the world for developing future football stars.