The Croatian Football Federation has confirmed that former international Nikola Pokrivac has died in a car accident in his home country.
The 39-year-old midfielder played for Dinamo Zagreb, AS Monaco and RB Salzburg throughout his career, and won 15 caps for his country between 2008 and 2010.
Pokrivac was diagnose with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015, which led to his retirement from professional football.
He returned ทางเข้า UFABET สำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ สมัครวันนี้ รับโบนัสฟรี to amateur football in 2021 and joined lower-league side NK Vojnić last summer.
Local media reported that he was in a car with three other NK Vojnić team-mates when they were involve in a four-car pile-up in Karlovac, central Croatia, on Friday evening. A
42-year-old man in the other car was also reported to have died, while the other passengers in Pokrivac’s car were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
“Nicola was an outstanding footballer, who lived his life in football until his last moment on earth and showed great courage in overcoming this terrible disease,” said Marijan Kustic, president of the Croatian Football Federation. “
This is a great loss for our football community. “And especially for the family who are in pain.”
Pokrivac played in Euro 2008, where Croatia reached the quarter-finals, and faced England twice in 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
“It is impossible to find words of comfort in this unimaginable shock and sadness when we lose such a young life,” Kustic added.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to Nikola’s family and loved ones for this irreparable loss, and HNS (Croatian National Football Association) and the Croatian football family are with them at this most difficult time.”