Mauro Ravnic
Encyclopedia
Mauro Ravnić is a retired Croatia
n footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
, making his professional debuts at the age of 18, and eventually appearing in nearly 200 official games. In 1988, at nearly 29, he moved abroad, signing with La Liga
side Real Valladolid
, at the same time as compatriot Janko Janković
- his teammate at Rijeka - and was an essential offensive element in his first year, as the Castile and León
club finished sixth and reached the final of the domestic cup
.
In the following years, Ravnić alternated between the bench and the posts, notably competing with Colombia
n René Higuita
in the 1991–92 season, which ended in relegation. Aged 32, he signed with UE Lleida
in division two
, helping it return to the top level after a 43-year absence, whilst winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy
(only 20 goals conceded in all 38 matches).
After the Catalans
were immediately relegated back, Ravnić chose to retire, later working with Valladolid as a goalkeeper coach, and returning to Lleida as a youth coordinator. His first head coaching experience would arrive in the following decade, with amateurs AE Prat
and FC Benavent
.
In 2010, Ravnić was appointed head coach at newly-formed FC Ascó
, who competed in the Spanish fourth division
.
. His debut came on 29 October 1986, in a 4–0 win against Turkey
for the UEFA Euro 1988 qualifiers.
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 played as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Ravnić started playing with hometown club 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...
, making his professional debuts at the age of 18, and eventually appearing in nearly 200 official games. In 1988, at nearly 29, he moved abroad, signing with La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
side Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
, at the same time as compatriot Janko Janković
Janko Janković
Janko Janković ia a retired Croatian footballer who played as a forward.-Football career:After playing in his country with NK Solin, HNK Hajduk Split , RNK Split and NK Rijeka, 25-year old Janković moved to Spain, where he would remain for nearly one full decade until his retirement.He started at...
- his teammate at Rijeka - and was an essential offensive element in his first year, as the Castile and León
Castile and León
Castile and León is an autonomous community in north-western Spain. It was so constituted in 1983 and it comprises the historical regions of León and Old Castile...
club finished sixth and reached the final of the domestic cup
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
.
In the following years, Ravnić alternated between the bench and the posts, notably competing with Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n René Higuita
René Higuita
José René Higuita Zapata is a former Colombian football goalkeeper nicknamed El Loco...
in the 1991–92 season, which ended in relegation. Aged 32, he signed with UE Lleida
UE Lleida
Club Lleida Esportiu is a Spanish football team based in Lleida, Catalonia. Founded in 2011, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home games at Camp d'Esports, with a capacity of 13,500 seats.-History:...
in division two
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
, helping it return to the top level after a 43-year absence, whilst winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy
Ricardo Zamora Trophy
The Ricardo Zamora Trophy is a football award, established by Spanish newspaper MARCA in 1958. The award goes to the goalkeeper who has the lowest "goals-to-games" ratio. It is named after legendary Spanish goalkeeper Ricardo Zamora....
(only 20 goals conceded in all 38 matches).
After the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
were immediately relegated back, Ravnić chose to retire, later working with Valladolid as a goalkeeper coach, and returning to Lleida as a youth coordinator. His first head coaching experience would arrive in the following decade, with amateurs AE Prat
AE Prat
Associació Esportiva Prat is a football team based in El Prat de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain. Founded in 1945, it plays in 3ª - Group 5. Its stadium is Estadi Sagnier.- Season to season:----*8 seasons in Tercera División-External links:*...
and FC Benavent
FC Benavent
Futbol Club Benavent was a football team from Benavent de Segrià in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1981 and dissolved in June 2010 due the town little support, it played last season, 2009–10, in the Tercera División - Group 5. Its stadium was Municipal with a capacity of 1,200...
.
In 2010, Ravnić was appointed head coach at newly-formed FC Ascó
FC Ascó
Futbol Club Ascó is a Spanish football team based in Ascó, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 2010, it plays in Primera Catalana, holding home matches at Estadio Municipal, which has a capacity of 1,500 spectators.-History:...
, who competed in the Spanish fourth division
Tercera División
Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:...
.
International career
During roughly one year, Ravnić gained six caps for the Yugoslavian national teamYugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
. His debut came on 29 October 1986, in a 4–0 win against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
for the UEFA Euro 1988 qualifiers.