Ivan Rakitić
Who was Ivan Rakitić?
Croatian midfielder who played for top European clubs including Barcelona and Sevilla, earning over 100 caps for the national team and helping Croatia reach the 2018 World Cup final.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Ivan Rakitić (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Ivan Rakitić was born on March 10, 1988, in Rheinfelden, Switzerland, to Croatian parents originally from Yugoslavia. Although born in Switzerland, he chose to play for Croatia at the senior international level and became one of the country's most celebrated footballers. He started his professional career at Basel, where he spent two seasons honing his skills as a midfielder before catching the eye of major European clubs.
In 2007, Rakitić moved to Schalke 04 in Germany, where he played for three and a half seasons in the Bundesliga. There, he built a reputation as a versatile and talented midfielder. His strong performances in Germany led to a transfer to Sevilla in January 2011, where he truly shone in European football. Within two years, he was made club captain and led the team to win the UEFA Europa League, showing his leadership and ability in critical matches.
The highlight of Rakitić's club career came when Barcelona signed him in June 2014. In his first season with the Catalan giants, he won the treble, claiming the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League titles. He was crucial in the Champions League final, scoring the opening goal in Barcelona's victory over Juventus. This made him the first player to win the Champions League one year after winning the Europa League with different clubs.
During his six years at Barcelona, Rakitić made 310 appearances and won a total of thirteen trophies, becoming an essential player during one of the club's most successful periods. In 2020, he returned to Sevilla, where he continued to excel and added another Europa League title in 2023. His international career was just as impressive, with 106 caps for Croatia, helping the team reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup final in Russia. He retired from international play in September 2020 as Croatia's fourth most-capped player and wrapped up his playing career at Hajduk Split, where he now works as technical director.
Before Fame
Rakitić grew up in Switzerland at a time when many families from the former Yugoslavia had moved there due to the conflicts in the Balkans during the 1990s. Despite being raised in Switzerland, he felt a strong connection to his Croatian roots. He started his football career in Switzerland's youth teams but chose to play for Croatia at the senior level, showing his deep connection to his family's homeland.
He began his professional career at Basel, aligned with a period when Swiss football was gaining a reputation for producing talented players who would succeed in Europe’s top clubs. The Swiss Super League gave him the chance to develop his technical skills and tactical understanding, traits that later helped him at some of Europe's most prestigious clubs.
Key Achievements
- Won the treble with Barcelona in 2015 (La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League)
- Reached the 2018 FIFA World Cup final with Croatia
- Won the UEFA Europa League three times with two different clubs (Sevilla 2014, 2023)
- Earned 106 caps for Croatia national team across four major tournaments
- First player to win Champions League after winning Europa League in consecutive years with different clubs
Did You Know?
- 01.He scored the opening goal in the 2015 UEFA Champions League final against Juventus, helping Barcelona secure a 3-1 victory
- 02.Became the first player ever to win the Champions League one year after winning the Europa League while playing for two different clubs
- 03.Was born in Switzerland but chose to represent Croatia internationally, debuting for the national team at age 19
- 04.Served as captain of Sevilla and led them to Europa League victory in 2014 before his move to Barcelona
- 05.Retired from international football as Croatia's fourth most-capped player with 106 appearances