Former Croatia international midfielder Nikola Pokrivač has tragically died in a car accident at the age of 39, the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) confirmed on Saturday.
The accident occurred on Friday evening in Karlovac, central Croatia. According to local media reports, Pokrivač was in a vehicle with three teammates from his current amateur club, NK Vojnić, when they were involved in a four-vehicle collision. Pokrivač sadly passed away, while his teammates were reportedly taken to hospital with serious injuries. A 42-year-old occupant of another vehicle involved in the crash also died.
Pokrivač enjoyed a successful professional career, playing for prominent clubs including Dinamo Zagreb, AS Monaco, and RB Salzburg. He earned 15 caps for the Croatian national team between 2008 and 2010, representing his country at the Euro 2008 finals, where Croatia reached the quarter-finals.
In 2015, Pokrivač was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which ultimately forced his retirement from professional football. Showing immense courage, he overcame the illness and made an inspiring return to the sport at an amateur level in 2021, joining NK Vojnić last summer.
Tributes have poured in from the Croatian football community. HNS President Marijan Kustić said: “Nikola was a great football player, who lived football until his last moment in this world, and who showed great courage in life by overcoming a terrible disease.9 This is a great loss for our football community, and especially painful for the family.”
Kustić added: “It is impossible to find words of comfort in such a shocking and unimaginably sad moment when we have lost a young life. I can only express my deepest condolences to Nikola’s family and loved ones for this irreparable loss, and the HNS and the Croatian football family will be with them in these most difficult moments.”
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