Biography
Mario Mandžukić was born on May 21, 1986, in Slavonski Brod, Croatia. He started his professional football career in 2004 with Marsonia, his hometown club, before moving to NK Zagreb in 2005 and then to Dinamo Zagreb in 2007. His big break came in the 2008-09 season when he became the top scorer in the Croatian First League, marking himself as a promising forward.
In 2010, Mandžukić joined VfL Wolfsburg, kicking off his successful European career. He transferred to Bayern Munich two years later and quickly found success. In his first season with Bayern in 2012-13, he helped the team win their first continental treble, securing the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League. He made history by becoming the first Croatian to score in a Champions League final.
After another domestic double with Bayern Munich, Mandžukić moved to Atlético Madrid in 2014, spending one season in La Liga before joining Juventus in 2015. His time in Turin was very successful, winning four Serie A titles and three Coppa Italia trophies. He also reached the 2017 Champions League final with Juventus. After leaving Turin in December 2019, he had a short stint with Qatari club Al-Duhail before joining AC Milan in January 2021, retiring from professional football in September that year.
Mandžukić's international career was also impressive. He debuted for Croatia in November 2007 under manager Slaven Bilić and played in four major tournaments: Euro 2012, the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016, and the 2018 World Cup. A highlight of his international career was scoring the winning goal in the semi-final against England during Croatia's run to the 2018 World Cup final. He retired from international football after the tournament, with 89 appearances and 33 goals, making him Croatia's third-highest scorer. He was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2012 and 2013. After retiring, he moved into coaching and became an assistant coach for the Croatia national team.
Before Fame
Born in Slavonski Brod, a city in eastern Croatia along the Sava River, Mandžukić grew up during Croatia's early independence years after Yugoslavia broke up. He started playing football locally and joined his hometown club Marsonia's senior team in 2004 at age 18. His early career lined up with the growth of Croatian football infrastructure after independence.
He rose through the Croatian football ranks, moving from Marsonia to NK Zagreb and then to Dinamo Zagreb, the country's most successful club. Known for his aggressive style, aerial skill, and hard work, he stood out from other forwards—traits that defined his career. In the 2008-09 season, he emerged as a top striker by leading the Croatian league in scoring. This caught the attention of European clubs and paved the way for his international success.
Key Achievements
- Won the continental treble with Bayern Munich in 2012-13 season
- Scored the winning goal for Croatia in 2018 World Cup semi-final against England
- Named Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2012 and 2013
- Won four Serie A titles and three Coppa Italia trophies with Juventus
- Became Croatia's third-highest international goalscorer with 33 goals in 89 appearances
Did You Know?
- 01.He scored both the first goal and an own goal in the 2018 World Cup final against France, becoming the first player to achieve this distinction in a World Cup final
- 02.Mandžukić was the first Croatian player ever to score in a Champions League final when he netted for Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund in 2013
- 03.He scored goals in the knockout stages of three different major tournaments for Croatia: Euro 2012, 2014 World Cup, and 2018 World Cup
- 04.During his time at Juventus, he wore the number 17 jersey, which was previously worn by club legend David Trezeguet
- 05.He retired from professional football at AC Milan without playing a single match for the club due to injuries and fitness issues
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Croatian Footballer of the Year | — | — |