Davor Vugrinec
Encyclopedia
Davor Vugrinec is a Croatia
n footballer who plays for NK Varaždin as a forward.
final.
in Turkey
, scoring 24 Süper Lig goals in his first two seasons combined. In the 2000 summer, he moved teams and countries again, signing with U.S. Lecce
in Italy
, his 11 successful strikes proving crucial as the Apulia
outfit narrowly avoided relegation from Serie A
; on 12 November 2000, he netted the game's only goal at the San Siro
, in an historic win against F.C. Internazionale Milano
.
2002–03 saw Lecce in Serie B
, but Vugrinec returned to the top level in January 2003, joining Atalanta BC
. The last of his five seasons in the country was spent in division two, with Calcio Catania
(less than half of the league games, no promotion).
. Together with Ahmad Sharbini
, he was the club's top goalscorer in 2005–06's top division (15 goals apiece), and also helped the team win the domestic cup
by scoring the crucial goal in the second-leg match against former club Varteks (Rijeka lost 1–5 away after winning 4–0 in the first leg - with two goals from him - thus overcoming on away goals
).
Vugrinec joined NK Dinamo Zagreb in early June 2006 and made his official debut for the club on 19 July, in the Croatian Supercup
against his previous club Rijeka, assisting
for two goals in a 4–1 win. He went on to score his first goals for Dinamo in the UEFA Champions League
qualifier against FK Ekranas
and the team's first domestic league match of the 2006–07 season, against NK Slaven Belupo
. He suffered an injury in an home fixture against HNK Šibenik
on 4 August, but managed to recover for the the club's first-leg third-round Champions League clash against Arsenal
four days later, only to be stretchered off 30 minutes into the game, missing the second match.
Vugrinec joined neighbouring NK Zagreb
for the 2008–09 season, returning to Varteks two years later, at the age of 35. On 16 April 2011, he ranked second best all-time goalscorer in the Croatian top division with a total of 121 goals scored.
on 10 April 1996, in a friendly match
with Hungary
played in Osijek
, but had to wait two 1/2 years to win his second international cap
, in the nation's second UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier away against Malta
, on 10 October 1998; he entered the match as an early substitute after injury forced off Jurica Vučko
in the 16th minute and went on to score two goals in the second half, as the national team came from behind to win it 4–1.
In 2000, Vugrinec became a regular in the main squad, and went on to appear in seven out of possible eight qualifying matches
for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
. He scored two goals during the campaign, as he was on target against Latvia
and San Marino
respectively (both home fixtures), and was subsequently part of the final stages' squad, appearing in two games in an eventual group stage exit: he started the second match against Italy
, but was replaced in the 57th minute, and also played in the final one against Ecuador
as an early second-half substitute.
After the tournament in Japan
and South Korea
, Vugrinec only appeared in one friendly match and two Euro 2004 qualifiers before being uncapped for more than three years, until January 2006. He made his international comeback by appearing in two matches at the Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong
, thus applying for a spot in the final squad of 23 at the 2006 World Cup
, especially after scoring a hat-trick
in Rijeka's 4–0 league win at HNK Hajduk Split
, but was eventually omitted.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n footballer who plays for NK Varaždin as a forward.
Early years
Vugrinec started his professional career at local club NK Varteks in 1992, becoming a regular at the club from his second professional season onwards, and scoring in double digits in three of the following four campaigns. In 1995–96, he netted 17 goals in 31 games as the team finished in fourth position (third after the second stage), also appearing in the season's Croatian CupCroatian Cup
The Croatian Cup is an annually held football tournament for Croatian football clubs and is the second most important competition in Croatian football after the Prva HNL league championship. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation and usually runs from late August to May...
final.
Turkey / Italy
In June 1997, Vugrinec moved abroad, joining TrabzonsporTrabzonspor
Trabzonspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Trabzon, Turkey. Formed in 1967 through a merger of several local clubs, Trabzonspor won six championships in Turkish Super League. The Club won their first Championship title in 1975 which is also the Club's initiation year...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, scoring 24 Süper Lig goals in his first two seasons combined. In the 2000 summer, he moved teams and countries again, signing with U.S. Lecce
U.S. Lecce
Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply U.S. Lecce is an Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia who play in the Italian Serie A. After being crowned Serie B champions in 2009–10, the team successfully managed to avoid relegation in 2010-11....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, his 11 successful strikes proving crucial as the Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
outfit narrowly avoided relegation from Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
; on 12 November 2000, he netted the game's only goal at the San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...
, in an historic win against F.C. Internazionale Milano
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
.
2002–03 saw Lecce in Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
, but Vugrinec returned to the top level in January 2003, joining Atalanta BC
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
. The last of his five seasons in the country was spent in division two, with Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...
(less than half of the league games, no promotion).
Return home
Subsequently, Vugrinec returned to Croatia and signed with NK RijekaNK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
. Together with Ahmad Sharbini
Ahmad Sharbini
Ahmad Al-Sharbini is a Croatian professional footballer who plays for Hajduk Split.-Club career:Sharbini began his professional career with NK Rijeka in the Croatian Prva HNL in the 2002-03 season. He also played for Al-Wahda FC and FC Luzern.On August 13, 2009 he signed for Hajduk Split with his...
, he was the club's top goalscorer in 2005–06's top division (15 goals apiece), and also helped the team win the domestic cup
2005–06 Croatian Cup
The 2005–06 Croatian Cup was the fifteenth season of Croatia's football knockout competition.-Calendar:-Preliminary round:The preliminary round was held on 31 August, 2005.-First round:Matches played on 21 September, 2005.-Second round:...
by scoring the crucial goal in the second-leg match against former club Varteks (Rijeka lost 1–5 away after winning 4–0 in the first leg - with two goals from him - thus overcoming on away goals
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
).
Vugrinec joined NK Dinamo Zagreb in early June 2006 and made his official debut for the club on 19 July, in the Croatian Supercup
Croatian Supercup
The Croatian Supercup is a football match between the winners of the Prva HNL and the Croatian Cup. The Supercup serves as a curtain raiser of the new football season and is only held when different clubs happen to win the two most important competitions during the previous season The Croatian...
against his previous club Rijeka, assisting
Assist (football)
In association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
for two goals in a 4–1 win. He went on to score his first goals for Dinamo in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualifier against FK Ekranas
FK Ekranas
Futbolo Klubas Ekranas is a Lithuanian football club, playing in the town of Panevėžys.The club was founded in 1964.It has won Lithuanian championships in 1985 , 1993, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Lithuanian Cup in 1985 , 1998, 2000, 2010 and 2011 and the Lithuanian Super Cup in 1998, 2006, 2010...
and the team's first domestic league match of the 2006–07 season, against NK Slaven Belupo
NK Slaven Belupo
NK Slaven Belupo, often referred to simply as Slaven and known internationally as NK Slaven Koprivnica, is a Croatian football club based in the city of Koprivnica in the north of the country...
. He suffered an injury in an home fixture against HNK Šibenik
HNK Šibenik
HNK Šibenik is a Croatian football club based in the city of Šibenik on the Croatian coast.The club was formed in 1932. In 2006 the club finished first in the Croatian Second League's southern division and was promoted to the Prva HNL...
on 4 August, but managed to recover for the the club's first-leg third-round Champions League clash against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
four days later, only to be stretchered off 30 minutes into the game, missing the second match.
Vugrinec joined neighbouring NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
for the 2008–09 season, returning to Varteks two years later, at the age of 35. On 16 April 2011, he ranked second best all-time goalscorer in the Croatian top division with a total of 121 goals scored.
International career
Vugrinec made his debut for CroatianCroatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
on 10 April 1996, in a friendly match
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
with Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
played in Osijek
Osijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
, but had to wait two 1/2 years to win his second international cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, in the nation's second UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier away against Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
, on 10 October 1998; he entered the match as an early substitute after injury forced off Jurica Vučko
Jurica Vucko
Jurica Vučko is a former Croatian footballer.-Club career:Vučko started his professional career with hometown's Hajduk Split, playing five seasons as an important first-team element. Subsequently, he moved to Spain, joining Deportivo Alavés after the Basque side's European exploits...
in the 16th minute and went on to score two goals in the second half, as the national team came from behind to win it 4–1.
In 2000, Vugrinec became a regular in the main squad, and went on to appear in seven out of possible eight qualifying matches
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification....
for the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. He scored two goals during the campaign, as he was on target against Latvia
Latvia national football team
The Latvian national football team is controlled by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Latvia and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships. So far, they have never qualified for a FIFA World...
and San Marino
San Marino national football team
The San Marino national football team is the national football team of San Marino, controlled by the San Marino Football Federation...
respectively (both home fixtures), and was subsequently part of the final stages' squad, appearing in two games in an eventual group stage exit: he started the second match against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, but was replaced in the 57th minute, and also played in the final one against Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
as an early second-half substitute.
After the tournament in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Vugrinec only appeared in one friendly match and two Euro 2004 qualifiers before being uncapped for more than three years, until January 2006. He made his international comeback by appearing in two matches at the Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, thus applying for a spot in the final squad of 23 at the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, especially after scoring a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in Rijeka's 4–0 league win at HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
, but was eventually omitted.
International goals
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | 10 October 1998 | Ta' Qali, Ta' Qali | Euro 2000 qualifying | |||
| 3 | 13 June 1999 | Dongdaemun Dongdaemun Stadium The Dongdaemun Stadium, was in Seoul, South Korea and included a multi-purpose athletics stadium, a baseball park and other sports facilities. It was located near the Dongdaemun or Great East Gate and the surrounding Dongdaemun market and had many vendors selling athletics-related goods... , Seoul Seoul Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... |
Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|||
| 4 | 28 February 2001 | Kantrida Stadion na Kantridi Stadion Kantrida is a football stadium in the Croatian city of Rijeka. It is named after the Kantrida neighborhood in which it is located, in the western part of the city. It has served as home of the football club NK Rijeka since 1946. The stadium has a distinctive appearance as it is situated... , Rijeka Rijeka Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants... |
Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|||
| 5 | 24 March 2001 | Gradski vrt, Osijek Osijek Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county... |
2002 World Cup qualification 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification.... |
|||
| 6 | 2 June 2001 | Stadion Varteksa, Varaždin Varaždin Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at... |
2002 World Cup qualification 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification.... |
|||
| 7 | 15 August 2001 | Lansdowne Road Lansdowne Road Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts... , Dublin |
Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |