Marko Kraljević (footballer)

Marko Kraljević (born 1 November 1965) is a former footballer and current head coach of Singapore Premier League club, Hougang United.

Marko Kraljević
Kraljević with Woodlands Wellington in 2012
Personal information
Date of birth (1965-11-01) 1 November 1965
Place of birth Düsseldorf, West Germany
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990 Osijek
1991–1994 Kelantan
1995 HK Rangers
1996–1998 Balestier Central
1999–2000 Tampines Rovers
2001 Jurong FC
Managerial career
2008–2011 Balestier Khalsa U-22
2012–2013 Woodlands Wellington U-22
2014–2019 Balestier Khalsa
2019 Kelantan
2019–2021 Balestier Khalsa
2022–2023 Hougang United (U-21)
2023– Hougang United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Marko Kraljević played in the Malaysian Premier League for Kelantan.[1] and Hong Kong Rangers in 1995. He won the Hong Kong Senior Shield and Hong Kong FA Cup in the successful season of 1994–95.[2] Next, he travelled to Singapore to play in the S.League during its early years for Balestier Central,[3][4] and later with Tampines Rovers and Jurong FC as a striker.[5]

Coaching career

Balestier Khalsa

After he retired, Kraljević started off his coaching career with the Balestier Khalsa Centre of Excellence (COE) under-16 team, working his way up to become the head coach of the Prime League team for the Tigers.

Woodlands Wellington

He then moved to become the Prime League coach of Woodlands Wellington in 2012.

Balestier Khalsa

Kraljević returned to Balestier as head coach for their 2014 S.League season.[6] He quickly transformed the team into one of the toughest in the League, winning the club's first ever Singapore Cup and awarded the S.League Coach of the Year at the end of that season.

Kraljević led Balestier Khalsa in the AFC Cup in 2015, along the way, they won 2013 AFC Cup semi finalist, East Bengal 2–1. With limited resource in 2016, Kraljević still able produce some positive results, beating Dhivehi Premier League champions, New Radiant 3–0 and held them 2–2 away from home before winning Hong Kong Premier League winners 1–0 at Jalan Besar Stadium as the underdog. Balestier ended the season with a fourth place in the Singapore Cup.

Kelantan

After five years with Balestier Khalsa, where he becomes the longest serving head coach of the Tigers, Kraljevic was appointed as new head coach of Kelantan FA in January 2019, returning to the team he has played for in the 1990s.[7][8] However, his contract was terminated on April the same year, with Kelantan occupying the relegation spot in 2019 Malaysia Premier League.[9]

Hougang United

In 2022, Kraljević joined Hougang United as their head of youth, leading the coaching responsibility for the club's U-21 side.[10] On 17 April 2023, Kraljević replaced Firdaus Kassim as interim head coach for the team after the team failed to win any matches since they won the opening match in the 2023 Singapore Premier League season.[10] Firdaus took over Kraljević's position as head of youth.[10]

Honours

Player

Hong Kong Rangers

Manager

Balestier Khalsa

Individual

Personal life

Marko is also the successful joint-owner of the Stadio futsal facilities found around Singapore together with V. Sundramoorthy.[11]

He is married to a Singaporean wife and has two children.

References
  1. "Kraljevic back and raring for action". New Straits Times.
  2. "Kraljevic off to Singapore".
  3. "History and Tradition of Balestier Khalsa Football Club". Balestier Khalsa Football Club.
  4. "The ante has been upped". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  5. "Game over, go home?". AsiaOne. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
  6. "Balestier appoint former player Kraljevic as new coach | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  7. "Kraljevic to take over as Kelantan coach". 26 January 2019.
  8. "Kraljevic kembali selepas 25 tahun berkelana". 28 January 2019.
  9. "FIFA shows how it's done, slaps Kelantan FA with three-point deduction | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  10. Lee, David (17 April 2023). "SPL bottom team Hougang replace head coach Firdaus Kassim with Marko Kraljevic". The Straits Times. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  11. "Futsal fever hits Singapore". AsiaOne. Retrieved 16 June 2012.
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