Wonderkid Factories: GNK Dinamo Zagreb
After our first instalment of wonderkid factories with VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday, we’re taking a look at one of the most underrated academies in Europe today, GNK Dinamo Zagreb.
The club from the Croatian capital are well known around Europe but they should definitely get more recognition for producing some of the best players in the world at this moment in time.
The top flight of Croatian football is not as lucrative as some of the much bigger leagues in Europe so Dinamo have instead piled their investment into their youth academy and developing their own players.
Zagreb were formed in 1945 but played mostly in the Yugoslav First League until they were moved into the newly established Croatian First League in 1992. However, from the start the club had a focus on developing youth players to bolster their squad because they had been made to reform under the new communist government who considered the old club, 1. HSK Gradanski Zagreb, to be too nationalistic.
The club had its first ‘golden generation’ in the 1950’s which allowed the academy to be properly formed in 1967. Their reputation only grew from there and still today their youth teams make regular appearances in the UEFA Youth League, especially at U19’s level.
This is partly to do with the club’s aim to have 50% of the first team squad made up of homegrown talent and to integrate at least two players from every level of the youth setup into the first team at some point in their career.
In the 30 seasons since the Croatian first flight was formed, Dinamo have won the title 22 times, including 15 of the last 16 seasons. The foundation for the club’s success is their startlingly good academy and you’ll understand why when you see some of the players to come through the ranks at Zagreb.
In fact, at the 2018 World Cup, when Croatia made a surprise run to the final, 14 of the 23 players in the squad had played for Dinamo which set a record for highest representation from a single club. Even more impressively than that, six of the starting eleven in the final had played for Zagreb with three of those coming through the academy. The club from the capital quite literally built the foundation of the nation’s recent success.
Just some of the players from the impressive list of graduates and former players are Luka Modric, Dominik Livakovic, Milan Badelj, Dejan Lovren, Vedran Corluka, Sime Vrsaljko, Eduardo, Josko Gvardiol, Tin Jedvaj, Alen Halilovic, Dani Olmo, Mateo Kovacic, Niko Kranjcar, Marcelo Brozovic, Mario Mandzukic and Marko Pjaca.
With their previous golden generation coming to an end though and a lot of young talent being sold on we’ve found some players who we think could be the next big thing to come out of Dinamo’s legendary academy.
Josip Sutalo (Centre Back)
Sutalo is a very talented centre half at just 21 years old. He spent last season on loan at NK Istra, another top flight Croatian team, but with the departure of Josko Gvardiol in the summer to RB Leipzig, he’s been firmly in Dinamo’s plans this year playing four league matches and contributing a goal and an assist.
Marko Bulat (Defensive Midfielder)
Bulat was also out on loan last season at another top flight Croatian team, HNK Sibenik. The 20 year old has represented Croatia at every level up to U21’s now and has started to force his way into the first team setup with 3 league appearances this term.
Antonio Marin (Winger)
Marin might be the most talented player of the three but isn’t actually at Dinamo this season. The 20 year old has been loaned to HNK Sibenik for the year but already has four goals having played all ten league games. Marin already has 7 caps for Croatia’s U21’s and with an impressive loan spell could easily stake his claim for a place in the first team.