Denis Kolinger

Denis Kolinger (born 14 January 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Danish Superliga side Vejle. Born in Germany, he has represented the Croatia national team.

Denis Kolinger
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-01-14) 14 January 1994
Place of birth Malsch,[1] Germany
Height 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Vejle
Number 20
Youth career
2000–2007 NK Jaska
2007–2012 NK Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 NK Zagreb 102 (2)
2016–2021 Lokomotiva 128 (5)
2021– Vejle 53 (2)
2022–2023 → CFR Cluj (loan) 22 (2)
International career‡
2010 Croatia U16 5 (0)
2011 Croatia U17 3 (0)
2011 Croatia U18 3 (0)
2012 Croatia U19 2 (0)
2015 Croatia U21 6 (0)
2017 Croatia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 March 2018

Club career

Kolinger was born in Malsch, Germany where his parents were working before they returned to Stankovo in Croatia when he was three months old.[2] He started out at NK Jaska in nearby Jastrebarsko, moving on to the NK Zagreb academy at the age of 13.[3] He went through all the ranks of the club, debuting for the senior side in the 2011/12 season, becoming a first-team regular in the following season. After NK Zagreb was relegated after the 2015/16 season, Kolinger moved to NK Lokomotiva, signing a four-year contract.[4]

On 15 January 2021, Kolinger moved to Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on a three-year deal.[5]

International career

A Croatian youth international in U16, U17, U18 and U19 categories, Kolinger refused a call-up to the Croatia U21 national football team under Nenad Gračan in August 2014 claiming that he wanted to play for Germany, that he feels he is a German rather than a Croat and is therefore willing to take the chance and seek out German nationality, which he could since it is the country of his birth.[6] However, in early 2015 he changed his mind, claiming that he realized it would be too hard for him to join the Germany U21 national football team and since March 2015 rejoined the Croatia U21 team.[7]

He made his senior debut for Croatia in a May 2017 friendly match against Mexico, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Fran Tudor.[8]

Honours

NK Zagreb

Lokomotiva Zagreb

CFR Cluj

References
  1. Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
  2. Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
  3. "Comet database" (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  4. Denis Kolinger iz Zagreba prešao u Lokomotivu at Večernji List
  5. Vejle Boldklub forstærker med købet af kroatisk forsvarskriger, vejle-boldklub.dk, 15 January 2021
  6. Denis Kolinger: Srce me vuče prema Njemačkoj at Goal.com Croatia]
  7. Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
  8. "Player Database". EU-football. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
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