Tributes have poured in as former Croatian worldwide Nikola Pokrivac tragically handed away aged 39.
Pokrivac died of his accidents following a four-vehicle crash in Karlovac on Friday night time, with a 42-year-old additionally being killed within the accident.
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In a press release, Croatian Soccer Federation president Marijan Kustics expressed his condolences because the nation mourned the lack of Pokrivac.
“Nikola was an incredible soccer participant, who lived soccer till his final second on this world,” Kustics stated.
“He confirmed nice braveness in life by overcoming a horrible illness.
“It is a nice loss for our soccer neighborhood, and particularly painful for the household.
“It’s not possible to search out phrases of consolation in such a surprising and unimaginably unhappy second when we now have misplaced a younger life.
“I can solely categorical my deepest condolences to Nikola’s household and family members for this irreparable loss.
“The HNS [the national football association] and the Croatian soccer household will likely be with them in these most tough moments.”
Pokrivac started his profession with NK Varteks earlier than he joined Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb in January 2007, the place he helped the membership win the Croatian high flight twice.
Nonetheless, the primary of his two stints with Zagreb lasted solely a yr as Monaco got here calling.
Pokrivac solely made 36 appearances for the French membership earlier than he was on the transfer but once more, this time to Austria the place he joined RB Salzburg.
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He spent two seasons with Salzburg till he returned to Dinamo Zagreb in the summertime of 2011 and gained a 3rd league title with the membership.
Stints with different Croatian groups in addition to temporary spells in Kazakhstan and Israel adopted earlier than he joined Croatian fifth-tier aspect NK Vojnic final summer time.
Pokrivac additionally made 15 appearances for his nation, two of which got here in opposition to England through the qualifying rounds for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Following the tragedy, Dinamo Zagreb issued an emotional assertion as they paid tribute to their former star.
“With nice unhappiness and disbelief, we obtained the information of the extreme site visitors accident in Karlovac during which, sadly, our former participant Nikola Pokrivač misplaced his life.
“Nikola will endlessly stay a part of the Dinamo household – as a gifted midfielder, a fighter on the pitch, and a person with an enormous coronary heart.
“He performed for the Blues 69 instances and contributed to 4 championship titles and three Cup winners’ trophies.
“To his household, in addition to the households of all those that perished on this tragic accident, GNK Dinamo expresses honest and profound condolences.”