Tributes have poured in as former Croatian international Nikola Pokrivac tragically passed away aged 39.
Pokrivac died of his injuries following a four-vehicle crash in Karlovac on Friday night, with a 42-year-old also being killed in the accident.
His playing career took him to several countries including Austria, France and IsraelAFP via GettyIn a statement, Croatian Football Federation president Marijan Kustics expressed his condolences as the nation mourned the loss of Pokrivac.
“Nikola was a great football player, who lived football until his last moment in this world,” Kustics said.
“He showed great courage in life by overcoming a terrible disease.
“This is a great loss for our football community, and especially painful for the family.
“It is impossible to find words of comfort in such a shocking and unimaginably sad moment when we have lost a young life.
“I can only express my deepest condolences to Nikola’s family and loved ones for this irreparable loss.
“The HNS [the national football association] and the Croatian football family will be with them in these most difficult moments.”
Pokrivac began his career with NK Varteks before he joined Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb in January 2007, where he helped the club win the Croatian top flight twice.
However, the first of his two stints with Zagreb lasted only a year as Monaco came calling.
Pokrivac only made 36 appearances for the French club before he was on the move yet again, this time to Austria where he joined RB Salzburg.
The 39-year-old represented his country 15 times, including at Euro 2008AFP via GettyHe spent two seasons with Salzburg until he returned to Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2011 and won a third league title with the club.
Stints with other Croatian teams as well as brief spells in Kazakhstan and Israel followed before he joined Croatian fifth-tier side NK Vojnic last summer.
Pokrivac also made 15 appearances for his country, two of which came against England during the qualifying rounds for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Following the tragedy, Dinamo Zagreb issued an emotional statement as they paid tribute to their former star.
“With great sadness and disbelief, we received the news of the severe traffic accident in Karlovac in which, unfortunately, our former player Nikola Pokrivač lost his life.
“Nikola will forever remain part of the Dinamo family – as a talented midfielder, a fighter on the pitch, and a man with a big heart.
“He played for the Blues 69 times and contributed to four championship titles and three Cup winners’ trophies.
“To his family, as well as the families of all those who perished in this tragic accident, GNK Dinamo expresses sincere and profound condolences.”
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