Croatian Footballer of the Year


The Croatian Footballer of the Year is the most prestigious annual association football award in Croatia. It is awarded by the newspaper Večernji list to the best Croatian football player in the preceding year, regardless of the league they play in, based on a points system which measures their performances for both club and country. The award is usually presented in a ceremony hosted by the Croatian Football Federation.
The award was established in 1972 and, until 1990, the award was given to the best Yugoslav player in the preceding year. Since the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, the award is given to the best Croatian player. Luka Modrić holds the record for most wins, with eight awards. Davor Šuker is second with six awards. They are followed by Dado Pršo with three wins from 2003 to 2005.
In 1995, a separate award, the Hope of the Year, was introduced. It is awarded to the best young Croatian player. As of 2016, only Ivica Olić and Luka Modrić have won both the Hope of the Year and Footballer of the Year awards.

List of winners

Yugoslav Footballer of the Year (1972–90)

† denotes shared wins

Croatian Footballer of the Year (1991–present)

Notes on club name changes:
Players in bold are still active. Wins in italics denote wins in Yugoslav competition before 1991.
WinsPlayerWinning yearsClubs
8Luka Modrić2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019Dinamo Zagreb, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid
6Davor Šuker1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998Sevilla, Real Madrid
3Dado Pršo2003, 2004, 2005AS Monaco, Rangers
2Velimir Zajec1979, 1984Dinamo Zagreb, Panathinaikos
2Dragan Stojković1988, 1989Red Star Belgrade
2Robert Prosinečki1990, 1997Red Star Belgrade, Croatia Zagreb
2Zvonimir Boban1991, 1999Milan
2Ivica Olić2009, 2010Bayern Munich
2Mario Mandžukić2012, 2013Bayern Munich