Nikola Šafaric
Encyclopedia
Nikola Šafarić is a Croatia
n football midfielder
, who is currently playing for Kaposvár.
. He quickly established himself as irreplaceable in the NK Varteks team. Before his 20th birthday he has already played around 40 league games for NK Varteks and scoring several goals in the process. Everybody could agree that there is a great future in front of him.
. In NK Rijeka
Nikola was welcomed by many as a great acquisition. He instantly "grabbed" first team position and was one of teams best players by scoring two goals and adding three more assists which helped NK Rijeka
finish 4th in the Prva HNL.
categories (U17, U19, U21, senior team). That's why he was predicted a great international club career. But, unfortunately, up to this date Nikola has made only three appearances for Croatia national football team
. His international debut came against Israel
in the 1–0 friendly win at Varaždin
on 18 August 2004. His second and third international cap came on 2006 Carlsberg Cup
in Hong Kong on which Croatia
finished third.
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 football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, who is currently playing for Kaposvár.
Early years
In 1998 Šafarić started his football career in Varaždin for NK Varteks as a young 17-year-old midfielderMidfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He quickly established himself as irreplaceable in the NK Varteks team. Before his 20th birthday he has already played around 40 league games for NK Varteks and scoring several goals in the process. Everybody could agree that there is a great future in front of him.
Best years in NK Varteks
From the season 2002–2003 Nikola finally stepped up on the big scene. He became a first team regular in NK Varteks and in the next 5 seasons he scored 32 goals in the domestic league only. His good games as well as passion for football and leadership ability could not go unnoticed so he was appointed as team`s captain. Nikola Šafarić is also a great penalty and free kick taker and although he could play every possible position in the midfield he says he "plays best as a defensive midfielder."NK Rijeka
In the beginning of season 2007–2008 Nikola Šafarić was sold to 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...
. In NK Rijeka
NK 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...
Nikola was welcomed by many as a great acquisition. He instantly "grabbed" first team position and was one of teams best players by scoring two goals and adding three more assists which helped NK Rijeka
NK 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...
finish 4th in the Prva HNL.
International career
Nikola Šafarić was a member of every Croatia national football teamCroatia 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...
categories (U17, U19, U21, senior team). That's why he was predicted a great international club career. But, unfortunately, up to this date Nikola has made only three appearances for Croatia national football team
Croatia 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...
. His international debut came against Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
in the 1–0 friendly win at 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...
on 18 August 2004. His second and third international cap came on 2006 Carlsberg Cup
2006 Carlsberg Cup
The 2006 Carlsberg Cup was a football tournament held in Hong Kong over the first and fourth day of the Chinese New Year holiday .-=Head coach: Zlatko Kranjčar:=Head coach: Morten Olsen...
in Hong Kong on which Croatia
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 ...
finished third.