Ivan Klasnić named Ambassador of Croatia for Euro 2024

Ivan Klasnić and Marijan Kustić (Photo: HNS)

14 December 2023 – Today, Marijan Kustić, the President of the Croatian Football Federation, met with Ivan Klasnić at the Federation’s headquarters in Zagreb, where they agreed that the former international would take on the role of ambassador for the Croatian national team at the upcoming Euros in Germany.

Klasnić accepted President Kustić’s invitation to be the ambassador for the Croatian national team and the Croatian Football Federation during the Euro. The popular striker, nicknamed ‘Killer’, will once again be alongside the ‘Vatreni’, having represented them 41 times and scoring 12 goals. Particularly memorable is his goal against Turkey in the extra time of the quarterfinals of Euro 2008, an achievement following his kidney transplant.

“I thank President Kustić for the proposal, which I happily accepted, and I will proudly stand by the Croatian national team during the Euros. I am thrilled with everything the team has achieved in the past six years under the leadership of coach Zlatko Dalić, and I am confident that this generation, led by Luka Modrić, can achieve great results in Germany. I know that the ‘Vatreni’ will have incredible support from the fans, and we are in for a fantastic Euro. I look forward to the opportunity to represent our team and the Federation as an ambassador in Germany,” said Klasnić after the meeting with President Kustić.

As a player, Klasnić made a lasting impact in Germany, where he began his career with St. Pauli, helping them secure Bundesliga promotion in 2001. He then moved to Werder Bremen, where he played a key role in Werder’s double-winning season in 2003/04, scoring 13 goals and assisting 11 for his strike partner, Ailton. He rounded off his club career with spells at Nantes, Bolton, and Mainz.

Tomislav Svetina, Ivan Klasnić and Marijan Kustić (Photo: HNS)

“I am pleased that Ivan has accepted our invitation to be the ambassador of the ‘Vatreni’ during the Euros because we believe he is the ideal person for this role. Ivan enjoys an excellent reputation in Germany, where he had an impressive career, and he is also beloved among Croatian fans, both for his performances and his significant life battle, which he fought and won, with distinctive optimism. Even after the end of his international career, I know he has always been there for the Croatian national team at numerous matches, and I am confident that his positive energy and love for the team and Croatia will promote Croatian football and our national team in the best possible way,” emphasized President of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić.”