Marko Livaja calls it quits for Croatia 

Marko Livaja

Hajduk Split striker Marko Livaja has made the decision to retire from playing for the Croatian national team, the Croatian Football Federation confirmed today. 

A day before the national team’s gathering for the European Qualifiers against Turkey and Wales, Livaja informed the president of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, that he is bidding farewell to playing for the national team. He later shared this news with the public through a social media post:

“After much thought, I have decided to step down from the Croatian national team, and I had informed the Croatian Football Federation about this decision before making this announcement. I am grateful to the coach and the staff for the time I spent representing my country and for the recognition as a player. 

The bronze medal from Qatar will always hold a special place in my heart, along with the camaraderie among teammates and the joy that resonated throughout the nation and the diaspora due to our remarkable success. I am proud of every appearance I made for my homeland, and I hope the focus and positivity will be directed towards the players. I hope they will face the upcoming important matches in peace and without tension. 

Thanks to everyone for their support, and I sincerely wish the national team success in the present and the future.”

The President of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, expressed his gratitude for Marko’s candid conversation:

“Marko has been an important part of our national team in recent years, and therefore, this announcement saddens me. However, I understand the reasons Marko shared with me in our honest conversation, and I respect this decision. We are thankful to Marko for his contribution to the national team during the past period, especially in our journey to the bronze medal at the World Cup, and I wish him all the best in his continued club career.”

“I regret Marko’s decision, but I understand his thinking. I respect this decision, as I have respected previous decisions when someone retired from the national team. I thank Marko for everything he gave to the national team; he was a crucial part of our bronze story in Qatar, and I believe that World Cup will remain one of the fondest memories in his career. I wish him good health and happiness, both personally and professionally,” stated the coach of the Croatian national team, Zlatko Dalić.

Livaja has played 21 matches for the national team and scored four goals, including the crucial goal against Canada at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the Croatian team won the bronze medal.