Denis Kolinger (born 14 January 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Lokomotiva. Born in Germany, he has represented the Croatia national team.
_(cropped).png) | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 January 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Malsch,[1] Germany | ||
| Height | 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lokomotiva | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2007 | NK Jaska | ||
| 2007–2012 | NK Zagreb | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | NK Zagreb | 102 | (2) |
| 2016–2021 | Lokomotiva | 128 | (5) |
| 2021–2024 | Vejle | 68 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | → CFR Cluj (loan) | 22 | (2) |
| 2024– | Lokomotiva | 8 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2010 | Croatia U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2011 | Croatia U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2011 | Croatia U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | Croatia U19 | 2 | (0) |
| 2015 | Croatia U21 | 6 | (0) |
| 2017 | Croatia | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 March 2018 | |||
Club career
editKolinger was born in Malsch, Germany where his parents were working before they returned to Stankovo in Croatia when he was three months old.[2] He started out at NK Jaska in nearby Jastrebarsko, moving on to the NK Zagreb academy at the age of 13.[3] He went through all the ranks of the club, debuting for the senior side in the 2011/12 season, becoming a first-team regular in the following season. After NK Zagreb was relegated after the 2015/16 season, Kolinger moved to NK Lokomotiva, signing a four-year contract.[4]
On 15 January 2021, Kolinger moved to Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on a three-year deal.[5] In August 2024, Kolinger's contract was terminated by mutual agreement.[6]
International career
editA Croatian youth international in U16, U17, U18 and U19 categories, Kolinger refused a call-up to the Croatia U21 national football team under Nenad Gračan in August 2014 claiming that he wanted to play for Germany, that he feels he is a German rather than a Croat and is therefore willing to take the chance and seek out German nationality, which he could since it is the country of his birth.[7] However, in early 2015 he changed his mind, claiming that he realized it would be too hard for him to join the Germany U21 national football team and since March 2015 rejoined the Croatia U21 team.[8]
He made his senior debut for Croatia in a May 2017 friendly match against Mexico, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Fran Tudor.[9]
Honours
editNK Zagreb
Lokomotiva Zagreb
- Croatian Cup runner-up: 2019–20
CFR Cluj
- Supercupa României runner-up: 2022
References
edit- ^ Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
- ^ Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
- ^ "Comet database" (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Denis Kolinger iz Zagreba prešao u Lokomotivu at Večernji List
- ^ Vejle Boldklub forstærker med købet af kroatisk forsvarskriger Archived 15 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine, vejle-boldklub.dk, 15 January 2021
- ^ Vejle Boldklub ophæver med Denis Kolinger, vejle-boldklub.dk, 20 August 2024
- ^ Denis Kolinger: Srce me vuče prema Njemačkoj at Goal.com Croatia]
- ^ Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
- ^ "Player Database". EU-football. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
External links
edit- Denis Kolinger at Soccerway
- Denis Kolinger at the Croatian Football Federation
- Denis Kolinger at National-Football-Teams.com