Nikola Kalinić (footballer)
|
Kalinić playing for Croatia in 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikola Kalinić | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 5 January 1988 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Split, SR Croatia, Yugoslavia | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2005 | Hajduk Split | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2009 | Hajduk Split | 59 | (32) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006 | → Pula Staro Češko (loan) | 12 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | → Šibenik (loan) | 8 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Blackburn Rovers | 44 | (7) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2015 | Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk | 86 | (37) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015–2018 | Fiorentina | 68 | (27) | ||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | → AC Milan (loan) | 31 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | AC Milan | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2020 | Atlético Madrid | 17 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | → Roma (loan) | 15 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–2022 | Hellas Verona | 33 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Hajduk Split | 29 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Hajduk Split | 10 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 412 | (138) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Croatia U16 | 2 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Croatia U17 | 18 | (15) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Croatia U19 | 12 | (11) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Croatia U20 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Croatia U21 | 9 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2018 | Croatia | 42 | (15) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Nikola Kalinić (Croatian pronunciation: [nǐkola kǎlinitɕ]; born 5 January 1988) is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He was also formerly sports director of Croatian Football League club Hajduk Split.
Kalinić began his career with Hajduk Split in his native Croatia, before moving to English club Blackburn Rovers for £6 million in 2009. After scoring rarely in two Premier League seasons, he left for Ukrainian side Dnipro, helping them reach the 2015 UEFA Europa League final. He then played in Serie A for Fiorentina and AC Milan, before signing for Spanish club Atlético Madrid ahead of the 2018–19 season, winning the 2018 UEFA Super Cup. After further stints in Italy with Roma and Hellas Verona, Kalinić returned to Hajduk Split in 2022, before ending his playing career in 2024.
Kalinić made his debut for the Croatia senior team in 2008, and represented the nation at three UEFA European Championships. Initially a part of their 2018 FIFA World Cup squad, Kalinić was sent home after the first game by manager Zlatko Dalić. Subsequently, he refused the runners-up medal when offered.