Šime Vrsaljko

Šime Vrsaljko (Croatian pronunciation: [ʃǐːme ʋr̩sǎːʎko];[2][3] born 10 January 1992) is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a right-back.

Šime Vrsaljko
Vrsaljko with Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final
Personal information
Full name Šime Vrsaljko[1]
Date of birth (1992-01-10) 10 January 1992[1]
Place of birth Rijeka, Croatia
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
2006–2009 Dinamo Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2013 Dinamo Zagreb 73 (1)
2009 → Lokomotiva (loan) 17 (0)
2013–2014 Genoa 22 (0)
2014–2016 Sassuolo 57 (0)
2016–2022 Atlético Madrid 100 (1)
2018–2019 → Inter Milan (loan) 10 (0)
2022 Olympiacos 3 (0)
Total 230 (2)
International career
2007 Croatia U15 5 (1)
2007–2009 Croatia U17 16 (2)
2010 Croatia U18 1 (0)
2010 Croatia U19 6 (0)
2012–2013 Croatia U20 2 (0)
2010–2014 Croatia U21 12 (0)
2011–2022 Croatia 52 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Croatia
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up2018 Russia
UEFA European Under-19 Championship
Bronze medal – third place2010 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Vrsaljko made his debut for Croatia in 2011 and went on to represent his country at the UEFA European Championship in 2012, 2016 and 2020, as well as the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018, reaching the final of the latter tournament.

Club career

Early career

Vrsaljko started his senior career at Dinamo Zagreb's feeder team, Lokomotiva, where he spent the 2009–10 season on pene. He debuted for Lokomotiva in the Croatian top level in the match against Rijeka on 26 July 2009 at the age of 17.[4] Vrsaljko was in the starting lineup in each of the 17 Lokomotiva's league matches in 2009, being substituted only once.[5]

Dinamo Zagreb

He rejoined Dinamo Zagreb's squad on 22 December 2009 before the winter break and appeared in his first match for Dinamo Zagreb on 27 February 2010 against Croatia Sesvete in the Prva HNL. He made nine more appearances by the end of the season for Dinamo, making a total of 27 league appearances throughout the whole season. Vrsaljko also made one appearance in the semi-finals of the 2009–10 Croatian Cup.[6]

Vrsaljko missed the opening matches of the 2010–11 season, as he was called up for international duties with the Croatian under-19 team. He made his first appearance of the season on 31 July in a league match against Rijeka which Dinamo Zagreb lost 2–1. Vrsaljko then made his debut in European competitions, featuring in their defeat to Sheriff Tiraspol in the third qualifying round of the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League.[7] In August that year he was linked with a transfer to Olympique Marseille for a fee of €4 million, but executive vice-president of the club Zdravko Mamić turned down the French club's offer.[8] On 29 August he scored his first league goal for the club in the match against Cibalia which Dinamo Zagreb won 2–0.[9] Due to his impressive performances for Dinamo under the coach Vahid Halilhodžić, he was named Croatian Football Hope of the Year for 2010. By the end of the season, he won the double with Dinamo.

He started the 2011/2012 season by providing an assist for Ivan Krstanović in UEFA Champions League qualifier 3–0 victory against Neftchi Baku in Zagreb. In August 2011, he was sent off during the away match of 2011–12 UEFA Champions League play-off round against Malmö FF, as Dinamo managed to qualify for their first UEFA Champions League in 12 years. He was banned with 3 matches absence in Champions League. He made his 2011–12 UEFA Champions League debut on Matchday 4 against AFC Ajax, and made another appearance in the final match against Olympique Lyonnais on Maksimir Stadium. In domestic league, he made 22 league appearances and provided 5 assists in process, as Dinamo won another double – Prva HNL and Hrvatski kup titles.

After his return from Poland, where he was a part of Croatian team at UEFA Euro 2012, he helped Dinamo to qualify for another UEFA Champions League. He made 4 appearances as right full-back in 2012–13 UEFA Champions League as Dinamo finished bottom of their group with only one point. He also made 25 league appearances, providing three assists.

Genoa

On 12 July 2013 Vrsaljko joined Serie A side Genoa for €4.6 million.[10][11] In his first season in the Italian top flight, Vrsaljko was a frequent member of the starting XI, playing in various roles on the right flank – including right-back and right wing. He made 22 appearances in total, missing rounds 24–33 through injury.

Sassuolo

On 22 July 2014 Vrsaljko signed for Serie A side Sassuolo for €3.5 million plus bonuses of €2 million.[12][13][14] He became a key part of Sassuolo's defence under manager Eusebio Di Francesco, and eventually helped the team to achieving their first ever Europa League qualification after finishing 6th in Serie A courtesy of a Juventus Coppa Italia win over Milan as Milan would have gone to Europe instead if they had won the final.[15][16]

Atlético Madrid

Vrsaljko signed for La Liga club Atlético Madrid in 2016 on a five-year deal.[17] On 16 May 2018 Vrsaljko started the Europa League final as Atlético won the title.[18]

Loan to Inter Milan

On 31 July 2018, Vrsaljko joined Italian side Inter Milan on an initial one-year loan with the option to buy.[19] On 27 January 2019 Vrsaljko was ruled out for at least six months, due to left knee ligaments surgery.[20][21]

Return from loan

On 26 January 2020, he started his first game after being a year out against Leganés that ended up as a goalless draw. He was subbed off for Ivan Šaponjić in 88th minute. On 18 February, he started the home leg of the Champions League round-of-16 fixture against ruling champions Liverpool that ended up as a 1–0 victory.[22] On 10 August, Atlético announced that Vrsaljko and teammate Ángel Correa were both positive for COVID-19, ruling them out of the team's quarter-final fixture against RB Leipzig.[23]

After undergoing another knee surgery during summer, Vrsaljko finally returned to the pitch on 16 December, when he scored in a Copa del Rey 3–0 victory over Cardassar.[24]

Olympiacos

On 2 July 2022, Vrsaljko moved to Super League Greece club Olympiacos on a free transfer, signing a three-year deal.[25] He made his debut for the club on 20 July in a Champions League qualifier against Maccabi Haifa that ended as a 1–1 draw.[26] However, in November 2022, Vrsaljko's contract was terminated by mutual agreement.[27]

Retirement

On 23 March 2023, Vrsaljko announced his retirement at the age of 31.[28]

International career
Vrsaljko (right) playing against Brazil at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Vrsaljko at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

He received his first call-up to the Croatia national football team on 2 November 2010 for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Malta. He made his national team debut on 9 February 2011 in a friendly match versus the Czech Republic. He made 3 more appearances before May 2012, when he was named in Croatia 26 players preliminary squad for UEFA Euro 2012. After the friendly match against Estonia in May 2012, Croatia manager Slaven Bilić withdrew him from the final list for UEFA Euro 2012.[29] However, just a week after being withdrawn from the final list, he was called up again due to injury of Hamburger SV player Ivo Iličević.[30] He was an unused substitute in all three Croatia matches at the tournament.

During the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying phase he made only one appearance, in the match against Belgium in Zagreb. In May 2014 he was named in Croatia 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[31] Due to injuries of in Croatian squad just before the opening match against Brazil, Vrsaljko filled in at the left-back position instead of injured Danijel Pranjić.[32] He reprised his role as a left back in the decider against Mexico, that ended as a 3–1 defeat and saw Croatia eliminated.

On 12 November 2014, at the age of 22, he was the captain of the national team in a 2–1 loss against Argentina, playing for the entire game. He became one of the youngest captains in the history of the national team, with Darijo Srna being rested for the game against Italy.

In May 2018, he was named in Croatia's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[33] He started in six of the seven matches in the team's runners-up finish. He also took part in three of the four matches in the inaugural edition of the Nations League, missing the home fixture against England, that ended up as a goalless draw, due to a knee injury.[34][35]

In September 2020, Vrsaljko came back to the national team after almost two years of absence due to knee surgery. He was named in coach Zlatko Dalić's Nations League fixtures against Portugal and France.[36] However, Vrsaljko did not play a single minute until a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Slovenia on 24 March 2021, which Croatia lost 1–0. The defeat was his first game for the national team in 28 months.[37][38] However, his underwhelming performances caused Dalić to drop him from the starting XI in favour of Josip Juranović ahead of Croatia's Euro 2020 match against Scotland, and drop him from the team completely ahead of Croatia's September World Cup qualifiers against Russia, Slovakia and Slovenia.[39][40][41]

He would go on to make one last appearance for the national team on 10 June 2022 in the 1–0 Nations League victory over Denmark,[42] before permanently retiring from international football on 26 August.[43][44] He earned a total of 52 caps, scoring no goals.[45]

Personal life

Vrsaljko's great-grandfather was killed by the Yugoslav Partisans in World War II when his paternal grandfather, whom Vrsaljko was named after, was only several months old. When his grandfather died, he was buried with Vrsaljko's Croatia national team jersey.[46] Vrsaljko's father Mladen was also a footballer who played for NK Zadar from 1992 to 1995,[47] and his paternal uncle Svemir is a former deputy mayor of Benkovac, who served as a commander of special unit force "Poskoci" (Long-Nosed Vipers) during the Croatian War of Independence.[46] Vrsaljko was born in 1992 in exile in Rijeka due to bombing of his hometown of Zadar. His family returned to Zadar and nearby Nadin, where his father hails from, upon the end of the war.[48][49] His mother Branka (née Ćelić) hails from Dračevac Ninski near Poličnik.[50]

In June 2017, Vrsaljko married his high school love Matea Kedžo.[51] On 6 June 2018, the young couple got their first child, a son.[52] In mid April 2022, Vrsaljko had his second child, a daughter, from an extramarital affair with Slovenian model Kaja Vidmar.[53][54] It is believed that he separated from Kedžo in the beginning of that year.[55]

In January 2019, a photograph of Vrsaljko lying on a Croatian flag on the field of the Luzhniki Stadium after the 2018 World Cup semi-final match against England, taken by Drago Sopta, was chosen as the fourth most beautiful one in the world by AIPS.[56] Croatian media dubbed the photograph as "legendary".[57][58] When asked about its background, Vrsaljko has said:

I was more like tired and exhausted from everything so I felt like lying down a bit and taking a rest.[57]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[59]
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lokomotiva (loan) 2009–10 Prva HNL 17000––170
Dinamo Zagreb 2009–10 Prva HNL 10000––100
2010–11 161008[lower-alpha 1]0–241
2011–12 220008[lower-alpha 2]0–300
2012–13 250007[lower-alpha 2]0–320
Total 73100230–961
Genoa 2013–14 Serie A 22010––230
Sassuolo 2014–15 Serie A 22010––230
2015–16 35010––360
Total 57020––590
Atlético Madrid 2016–17 La Liga 140615[lower-alpha 2]0–251
2017–18 210305[lower-alpha 3]0–290
2019–20 50002[lower-alpha 2]00070
2020–21 90110[lower-alpha 2]0–101
2021–22 211205[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 4]0291
Total 701122170101003
Inter Milan (loan) 2018–19 Serie A 100102[lower-alpha 2]0–130
Olympiacos 2022–23 Super League Greece 30006[lower-alpha 5]0–90
Career total 2302152480102944
  1. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearance in Supercopa de España
  5. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[60]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Croatia201130
201210
201310
201450
201550
2016110
201760
2018130
201900
202000
202160
202210
Total520

Honours

Dinamo Zagreb

Atlético Madrid

Croatia

Individual

Orders

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Croatia" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
  2. "Šȉmūn". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 17 March 2018. Šíme
  3. "Ûrsula". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 17 March 2018. Vrsáljko
  4. "Vrsaljko Šime". Nogometni magazin. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  5. "Šime Vrsaljko, igrač NK Lokomotiva" (in Croatian). Sportnet.hr. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  6. "Croatian Cup 2009/10". Dinamo Zagreb. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  7. Attias, Vedran. "Šerif s kreča "ubio" Dinamo" (in Croatian). Sportnet.hr. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  8. "Sammir: Novi trener je puno stroži od Zajeca, rekao nam je da 'ovo' ne smijemo izgubiti!" (in Croatian). Sportske novosti. 18 August 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  9. "Vaha 'mister 100 posto': Dok smo imali svježine, jako puno smo pokazali!" (in Croatian). Sportske novosti. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  10. Genoa C.F.C. S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2013 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  11. Grifo Altro Colpo Vrsaljko Archived 15 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Genoa C.F.C. Official website (in Italian)
  12. Ufficiale: Sime Vrsaljko è un calciatore del Sassuolo Archived 28 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Sassuolo Calcio Official website (in Italian)
  13. U.S. Sassuolo Calcio S.r.l. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2014 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  14. U.S. Sassuolo Calcio S.r.l. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2015 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  15. "Sassuolo in the Europa League". Football Italia. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  16. "Sassuolo: 'Italian success story'". Football Italia. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  17. "Vrsaljko signs until 2021". Atlético Madrid. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  18. "Šime Vrsaljko Wins Europa League Trophy". Croatian Football Association. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  19. "Inter seal €7M loan signing of Vrsaljko from Atlético Madrid". Goal. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  20. "CdS - Vrsaljko si opera: stop di 6-8 mesi e addio Inter. Ha già salutato". www.fcinternews.it.
  21. Matteoni, Robert (17 February 2019). "'VIŠE NEMA BOLOVA I SVIH MUKA KOJE SAM TRPIO DVIJE GODINE' Hrvatski reprezentativac za SN progovorio o izlasku iz jednog mučnog začaranog kruga". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  22. Hina (18 February 2020). "FOTO: ATLETICO IZNENADIO LIVERPOOL I DIGAO WANDA METROPOLITANO NA NOGE Europski prvak u Madridu pretrpio ono što ne pamti u Premiershipu u sezoni" (in Croatian). Sportske Novosti. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  23. "Atletico Madrid potvrdio: Šime Vrsaljko pozitivan na koronavirus!". Gol.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  24. Hina (16 December 2020). "Kakva večer za Hrvate u Atleticu! Vrsaljko zabio gol u povratku nakon 9 mjeseci, a na vratima Splićanin!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  25. "Ο Ολυμπιακός ανακοίνωσε τη μεγάλη μεταγραφή του Σίμε Βρσάλικο". Sport 24. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  26. Roić, Toni (20 July 2022). "Vrsaljko debitirao za grčkog velikana, 'hrvatski' Maribor remizirao sa Šerifom, Slovan okrenuo Ferencvaroš". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  27. "Problemas físicos levam à rescisão amigável com Vrsaljko". A Bola (in Portuguese). A Bola. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  28. "Former Atletico Madrid defender Sime Vrsaljko announces retirement". TRIBAL FOOTBALL. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  29. "Otpali Lovren, Vrsaljko, Kalinić i Blažević". Večernji list (in Croatian). 29 May 2012.
  30. "EURO: Iličević otpao, pozvan Vrsaljko". Nacional (in Croatian). 7 June 2012.
  31. "Modric, Mandzukic lead Croatia's World Cup squad". fifa.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  32. "Kovač otkrio taktiku za Brazil: Vrsaljko definitivno mijenja Pranjića". dnevno.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  33. "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists - Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  34. "Petorica otpala za okršaj s Engleskom: Dalić pozvao dva nova igrača". gol.dnevnik.hr.
  35. "Croatia 0-0 England". www.uefa.com.
  36. "Zlatko Dalić objavio popis, u reprezentaciju pozvao dva nova igrača!". Večernji list (in Croatian). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  37. Matteoni, Robert (24 March 2021). "Povratak Vatrenog nakon 28 mjeseci! 'Jako sam uzbuđen, upravo mi je Hrvatska bila jedna od motivacija'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  38. "Vrsaljko otkrio gdje su Slovenci iznenadili Vatrene: 'Ne podcjenjujem ih, ali Hrvatska je bolja!'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  39. AZD (17 August 2021). "Izbornik Dalić iznenadio popisom, Šime Vrsaljko nije pozvan u reprezentaciju". Antena Zadar (in Croatian). Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  40. "Juranović otkrio što je Vrsaljko napravio prije i poslije utakmice sa Škotima". Gol.hr (in Croatian). 24 June 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  41. A. V. (8 September 2021). "Najveći dobitnici rujanskih kvalifikacija: Sosa, Ivušić, Juranović, Livaja, Kovačić i - Dalić!". Gol.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  42. Antonijević, Stipe (11 June 2022). "VIDEO Vrsaljko otkrio zašto je izašao na poluvremenu: "Napravit ću sve da odem u Katar"". Gol.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  43. Vrsaljko, Šime (26 August 2022). "Vrime je..." Croatian Football Federation (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  44. Vrdoljak, Juraj (28 August 2022). "Šime i njegovo vrime". Telesport (in Croatian). Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  45. "Appearances for Croatia National Team". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  46. "Stric Svemir Vrsaljko: Djed je Šimin dres ponio u grob, otac je pojeo Marka Mlinarića, a reprezentacija je svim Hrvatima pokazala što se može zajedništvom". zadarski.slobodnadalmacija.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  47. "Mladen Vrsaljko – player overview". hrnogomet.com. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  48. Vrdoljak, Juraj (2 August 2018). "Šime rutiner". Telesport (in Croatian). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  49. Matteoni, Robert (5 June 2020). "Bura s desnog boka koja ne zna za predaju: Bilić ga je rano 'pogurao', ali imao je 'peh' sa Srnom..." Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  50. Jusup, Nedjeljko (10 July 2018). "Da nije nogometaš, Šime Vrsaljko bi možda bio jednako uspješan vinogradar?". Agroklub (in Croatian). Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  51. "Šime Vrsaljko on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  52. "Rodija se sin! Šime Vrsaljko je postao tata, stigao mali Bruno" (in Croatian). Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  53. Šarčević, Tena (17 April 2022). "Rodila je slovenska manekenka koju povezuju sa Šimom Vrsaljkom, objavila je i fotografiju bebe". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  54. "Fatalna Slovenka konačno potvrdila vezu s Vrsaljkom pa mu poručila: 'Moje sve'". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 19 June 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  55. Sušac, Matea (11 July 2022). "Šime Vrsaljko objavio prvu fotografiju s novorođenom kćerkicom". Gloria (in Croatian). Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  56. "ŠIME NA ZASTAVI: Fotografija osvojila 4. mjesto u svijetu". poskok.info (in Croatian). Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  57. "Vrsaljko objasnio kako je nastala legendarna fotografija sa zastavom". index.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  58. Hina (3 September 2020). "Vratio se Šime nakon 22 mjeseca, pa otkrio zanimljiv detalj: 'Naježim se odmah kad se sjetim toga...'". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). Vrsaljko je ostao upamćen po legendarnoj fotografiji nakon pobjede protiv Engleske u polufinalu Svjetskog prvenstva na kojoj leži na hrvatskoj trobojnici.
  59. "Š. Vrsaljko". Soccerway.
  60. "Šime Vrsaljko". EU-Football.info. 21 June 2018.
  61. "Euro 2020: Decoding the squad of World Cup finalists Croatia". Yahoo News. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  62. McNulty, Phil (15 July 2018). "France 4–2 Croatia". BBC. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  63. "U Bayernu će se još jednom klanjati Ivici Oliću". Vecernji (in Croatian). 31 December 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  64. "World 11: The Reserve Team for 2017-18". FIFPro.org. 24 September 2018. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  65. "Počasni građani Zadarske županije" [Honorary citizens of the Zadar County] (in Croatian). Zadar County. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  66. "Dobitnici javnih priznanja Grada Zadra u 2018. godini". grad-zadar.hr (in Croatian). City of Zadar. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  67. "News: President Decorates Croatian National Football Team Players and Coaching Staff". Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia. 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019. the Order of Prince Branimir with Ribbon was awarded to Mr. Šime Vrsaljko...
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Šime Vrsaljko.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.