Croatian soccer mourns Nikola Pokrivac. The 15-time national player died on Friday at the age of 39 in a car accident.
“In this shocking and unimaginably sad moment, in which we have lost a young life, there are no words of comfort,” Croatia’s association president Marijan Kustic is quoted as saying in a statement. “I can only express my deepest condolences to Nikola’s family and loved ones for this irreplaceable loss. The HNS and the Croatian football family will stand by them in these difficult moments.”
According to the association, Nikola Pokrivac died in a car accident on Friday at the age of 39.
Pokrivac made his debut for the Croatian national team in 2008 and played 15 international matches. Among other things, he took part in the 2008 European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland.
Pokrivac had been battling a serious illness since 2015 and had therefore ended his professional career. Until recently, he had been playing in his home country’s fourth division, having previously played for Dinamo Zagreb, AS Monaco, and RB Salzburg, among others, winning two championships with the Austrian club.
“A great loss for our football community”
“Nikola was a great soccer player who lived for soccer until his last moment on this earth and showed great courage in overcoming a terrible illness,” Kustic continued. “This is a great loss for our soccer community and especially painful for his family. Our prayers are with Nikola and his family.”
