Kovačić began playing at an early age at the localLASK's academy.[6][7] In 2007, when Kovačić was 13, he was spotted by scouts from several prominent European clubs, includingAjax,Inter Milan,Juventus andBayern Munich, but his family opted to move toZagreb instead, where he joined theacademy of Croatian clubDinamo Zagreb.[8][9][10]
In 2009, at the age of 15, Kovačić suffered a serious injury. His leg was broken and he could not even stand on it for the first four months after the injury. After a lengthy recovery, he finally returned to the team on 31 May 2010, appearing in the last match of theCroatian under-17 academy league, in afriendly 5–0 win againstRNK Split under-17s.[11]
Kovačić started training with the club's senior squad under manager,Vahid Halilhodžić, four months later, on 6 October 2010,[12] but continued to appear for the club in academy league matches during October. Later that month, it was reported by the local sports daily,Sportske novosti, thatArsenal's chief scout, Steve Rowley, had arrived in Zagreb to watch him perform in under-17 matches againstHNK Cibalia andNK Zagreb.[13] Kovačić had his professional league debut in the2010–11 Prva HNL away match againstHrvatski Dragovoljac on 20 November 2010, in which he scored Dinamo's fourth goal in their 6–0 win.[14] This made him the youngest goalscorer in the history of the league, at the age of 16 years and 198 days, breaking the record set only a week earlier byDino Špehar who had scored forNK Osijek at the age of 16 years and 278 days on 13 November 2010.[15][16] In his first senior season withDinamo Zagreb he appeared in seven matches, making a contribution in winning the league title.[citation needed]
In the2011–12 season, Kovačić rapidly established himself as a first-team regular. He played mainly in the position of left midfielder in 4–2–3–1 system. Early in the season, he helped the team reach thegroup stage ofthe season's UEFA Champions League for the first time in 12 years. Being only 17 years old, he appeared in the starting line-up of Dinamo's first group match againstReal Madrid. He finished his first European season with Dinamo by scoring a goal againstLyon in the last game of the group stage in Zagreb and thus became the second youngest ever scorer in the Champions League. In the domestic league, he was a regular starter, appearing in 25 league matches and scoring five goals in the process. During a league match againstNK Lučko, he became the youngest player tocaptain Dinamo, when taking the captaincy fromLeandro Cufré.[17] It was another successful season for him in domestic competitions as he appeared in 32 domestic league and cup matches during that season, helping Dinamo to win their seventh consecutive league title. He also scored in the2012 Croatian Cup final against Osijek atStadion Maksimir. In December 2011, he was namedCroatian Football Hope of the Year.[18]
In the beginning of2012–13 season, he suffered a metatarsal bone injury that caused him to miss several games on the club's qualifying road to another Champions League. He returned just in time to play in Dinamo's first2012–13 Champions League game againstPorto. Kovačić played in all six Dinamo Zagreb's matches in the2012–13 Champions League group stage, against Porto,Paris Saint-Germain andDynamo Kyiv. He continued to impress with his mature performances at a young age during the first half of the season. In October 2012, he was nominated forGolden Boy, an award given by sports journalists to a young player from Europe perceived to have been the most impressive during a season.[19] During the season's winter break, Dinamo's board threw away the speculations about Kovačić leaving the club in the near future by saying they are building a new team around him and another rising star,Alen Halilović.[20]
On 31 January 2013, Kovačić agreed to a transfer toSerie A club Inter Milan.[21] The deal was worth €15 million in total, with €11 million paid immediately and €4 million if Inter were to qualify for the Champions League.[22] He made his Inter Milan debut three days later on 3 February, coming on as a half-timesubstitute in a2012–13 Serie A match againstSiena.[23] On 14 February, Kovačić made his European debut before the home crowd atSan Siro in a2012–13 UEFA Europa League match againstCFR Cluj. He provided the winningassist forRodrigo Palacio, who made it 2–0 for Inter, impressing the crowd with his performance, and was given standing ovations while being substituted off in the 89th minute.[24]
Kovačić made his first domestic league start for Inter in the next round of Serie A in a 1–4 away loss againstFiorentina. In the round of 16 of the Europa League, Inter was drawn to play againstTottenham Hotspur. After a 3–0 loss in London, Inter needed a 4–0 win inMilan to proceed to the next round. The match ended in a 4–1 win for Inter after the match went into extra time, with Kovačić playing as a starter. He impressed with his composure and playmaking ability, once again receiving ovations by the fans.[25] Inter managerAndrea Stramaccioni hailed his performances on several occasions, describing him as a "star for the future".[26]
On 30 March, Kovačić was a starter in his firstDerby d'Italia against Juventus at San Siro. The derby ended in a 1–2 win for Juventus, with Kovačić starting the action that resulted in Rodrigo Palacio's 1–1 equaliser.[27] Kovačić was a starter in Inter's next Serie A match, a 0–2 away win againstSampdoria, as well as in their surprising 3–4 loss toAtalanta at San Siro, where he provided an assist forRicky Álvarez's goal.[28][29] By the end of the second half of the season, he was a starter in all of the club's Serie A fixtures, as Inter finished in disappointing ninth place on the Serie A table. In May, he was given the "Gentleman Revelation of the Year" award, awarded by Inter fans.[30]
Kovačić missed most of the pre-season training with the squad due to series of small injuries,[31][32] and made his comeback just few days before the first official match of the new season, a Coppa Italia match againstCittadella at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.[33] During the pre-season interviews, new Inter managerWalter Mazzarri hinted Kovačić would be given a new role on the pitch, a role similar toMarek Hamšík's in Napoli.[34] During the first half of the season, Kovačić played regularly, although he struggled with adjusting to his new tactical role.[35] Kovačić made his first assist of the season in the match againstLivorno, when he delivered an assist forYuto Nagatomo.[36] Unlike the previous season under manager Andrea Stramaccioni, Kovačić was not a regular starter during the 2013–14 season. In 32 Serie A matches played, he started only 14, playing the entire 90 minutes on just eight occasions.[37] He received the chance to restore his confidence towards the end of the season, as he was Mazzarri's first-choice in the midfield in Inter's last six matches.[citation needed]
After being subjected to persistent transfer speculation over the summer, in September 2014, Kovačić was offered a contract extension until 2019.[38][39][40] He started the season in strong fashion, scoring ahat-trick in the second leg of theEuropa League play-off round againstStjarnan on 28 August.[41][42] He scored his first league goal for Inter and assisted twice in a 7–0 win overSassuolo on 14 September 2014.[43] He scored the club's only goal in a 1–1 away draw withPalermo.[44] He also scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win againstChievoVerona and scored a wonder goal in a 2–2 drawn against Lazio. On 6 January 2015, he was sent-off in a 1–1 draw with Juventus for a foul onStephan Lichtsteiner.[45] Three days later, Kovačić renewed his contract with Inter until June 2019.[46]
Four days after his presentation, he made his debut as a 70th-minute substitute forIsco as Real Madrid began the2015–16 La Liga with a 0–0 draw away toSporting Gijón.[53] He scored his first goal in an 8–0 home win overMalmö FF on 8 December 2015.[54] He made 34 appearances in his first season at Real Madrid.[citation needed] In the opening months of the season, he was used quite regularly by then Real Madrid managerRafael Benítez, playing in almost every midfield position there is – sometimes central, sometimes wide, sometimes further forward. However, afterZinedine Zidane replaced Benítez in early January, Kovačić's appearances became increasingly infrequent. With the Frenchman preferring to use a very defined starting 11 whenever possible instead of the more specific-lineups-for-specific-opponents approach employed by his predecessor, there was little room for Kovačić. He made eight appearances and scored one goal as Real Madrid won the2015–16 Champions League.[55]
On 1 July 2019, Kovačić completed a permanent transfer toChelsea, signing a five-year contract.[66][67] After an underwhelming season underMaurizio Sarri, Kovačić turned into one of the most important Chelsea players under new managerFrank Lampard.[68][69][70][71][72][73] Kovačić scored his first goal for Chelsea on 27 November, in a 2–2 away draw against Valencia in the2019–20 Champions League.[74] On 7 December, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–1 away loss toEverton.[75] In the2020 FA Cup final on 1 August 2020, he was sent off for a challenge onGranit Xhaka, as Chelsea lost 2–1 to Arsenal.[76] On 25 August, he was named theChelsea Player of the Year.[77]
On 23 September 2020, Kovačić marked his 100th appearance for the club againstBarnsley in the third round of the2020–21 EFL Cup as Chelsea won 6–0 at home.[78] After a difficult start of theseason, Kovačić regained form from the previous season following the appointment of new managerThomas Tuchel.[79][80][81] Ahead of the second leg of the2020–21 Champions League quarter-finals against Porto, Kovačić sustained a tendon injury and was forced to miss the semi-final tie against his former club Real Madrid, which Chelsea won 3–1 on aggregate.[82][83][84] Despite previously winning three Champions Leagues, on 29 May 2021, Kovačić played in aChampions League final for the first time in his career, coming on forMason Mount in the 80th minute, as Chelsea beatManchester City 1–0.[85][86][87]
On 27 June 2023, fellow Premier League clubManchester City announced the signing of Kovačić on a four-year deal.[100] He became the third Croatian to sign for the club, afterVedran Ćorluka andAnte Palaversa.[101] On 6 August, he made his competitive debut for the club againstArsenal in theFA Community Shield, which City lost 4–1 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[102] Kovačić won his first trophy at City on 16 August, as the Mancunian side defeatedSevilla 5–4 on penalties following a 1–1 draw in the2023 UEFA Super Cup,[103] with Kovačić scoring in the shootout. On 19 December 2023, Kovačić scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 3–0FIFA Club World Cup semi-final win againstUrawa Red Diamonds.[104]
In Manchester City's opening match of the2024–25 Premier League season, Kovačić scored his second league goal for Manchester City as they beat his former club Chelsea 2–0 at Stamford Bridge.[105]
Kovačić appeared for the Croatia national team at various youth levels, debuting in May 2008 in an under-14 friendly match against Slovakia.[106] Since 2011, he was a regular member of theunder-19 andunder-21 teams.[107]
In August 2012, Kovačić received his first competitive call-up for theCroatian senior team match againstSwitzerland, but did not play because of injury.[108] Subsequently, he received a call up for2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in March 2013. He made his senior debut in a qualification match againstSerbia on 22 March, playing as a central midfielder alongside Luka Modrić, instead of a regular team starter,Ognjen Vukojević.[109] Four days later, he played againstWales at theLiberty Stadium, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–2 win. His third match of the campaign came in June, when Croatia facedScotland in Zagreb and suffered a frustrating defeat as they were unable to score despite a string of good chances. By the end of the qualifiers, Kovačić made two more competitive appearances for Croatia, as Croatia scraped into theFIFA World Cup play-offs having taken only one point from their last four qualifiers. Although he did not participate in the scoreless first leg of the play-off againstIceland inReykjavík, Kovačić started the second leg between the two teams in Zagreb, making an assist for the team's second goal as they reached the2014 FIFA World Cup with a 2–0 win on aggregate.[110]
On 2 June 2014, Kovačić was named as a member of Croatia'sWorld Cup squad.[111] He was in Croatia's starting team for the opening game of the tournament, a 3–1 defeat to World Cup hostsBrazil at theArena Corinthians, São Paulo, where he played for his team for 60 minutes before being substituted.[112] He went to play all the remaining games in the group stage, as Croatia was eliminated in the group stage. On 7 June 2015, he scored his first international goal in a 4–0 victory overGibraltar, coming in his 20th appearance for the team.[113]
Kovačić appeared in Croatia's2018–19 UEFA Nations League A matches againstSpain away andEngland home, that ended up as 6–0 defeat and a goalless draw, respectively.[117][118][119] He featured throughout Croatia's successfulEuro 2020 qualifying campaign, as they finished top of thegroup. In a 2–1 win over Wales inOsijek on 8 June 2019, he scored what would have been a goal for 2–0, however it was disallowed asAndrej Kramarić was in an offside position.[120][121] In a return leg on 13 October, in the build-up to Wales' goal, Kovačić was controversially injured byBen Davies as the match ended up as a 1–1 draw.[122][123][124]
During Croatia's2020–21 Nations League A campaign, Kovačić was heavily criticised for his inefficiency in the national team,[125][126][127] especially after making an error that led toDejan Kuluševski's opening goal in Croatia's crucial match againstSweden on 14 November 2020, that eventually finished as a 2–1 defeat.[128][129][130] However, three days later, he scored two goals in a 3–2 defeat toPortugal, which eventually saved Croatia from relegation to the2022–23 Nations League B as they achieved better goal difference than Sweden.[131][132][133]
On 20 May 2024, he was selected in the 26-man squad for theUEFA Euro 2024.[143] A few weeks later, on 3 June, he earned his 100th international cap in a 3–0 friendly match win againstNorth Macedonia prior to the tournament.[144]
Kovačić started off as anattacking midfielder atDinamo Zagreb, but he transformed his game atInter where he was deployed out wide and also as a central midfielder, functioning as a deep-lying playmaker, while being coached byAndrea Stramaccioni.[146] One of his trademarks is dropping deep to receive the ball and then driving forward, often performing his slalom runs.[146] UnderWalter Mazzarri, Kovačić was often used in a more advanced position. Former managerGiovanni Trapattoni once claimed that Kovačić knows how to reach the ball from deep and drive up the pitch like a "raging bull".[150] Proven by hispass completion percentages, Kovačić is known for distributing the ball up the pitch.[150]
Kovačić's style of play is characterised by exceptional ball retention and counter-pressing abilities.[148][149][151] He combines powerful brute force with nifty changes of pace, which allows him to expertly manoeuvre through tight spaces.[148][152][153] He lies in the 97th percentile for players dribbled past per 90 minutes,[152] preferring to charge beyond defenders to create chances from advanced positions.[151][153] Kovačić is highly proficient at what is known as "press resistance", the capacity to wriggle out of trouble when under pressure from one or more opposition players, often via adribble or cleverpass around the corner.[148][149][151]
The Croatia under-17 manager,Martin Novoselac, reportedly said of Kovačić, "I haven't seen a youngster with so much talent since the days ofRobert Prosinečki," referring to his fast development and talent.[6][12] Kovačić revealed that preciselyProsinečki is the player he admired the most while growing up.[154] His compatriot,Zvonimir Boban, who played forMilan for over a decade, in an interview withSky Italia in 2013 said, "He has talents that could make him even better than me, he is an incredibly serious professional for someone his age. Kovačić is a complete player. He is not a born regista but he is playing there now. He is a complete talent that can still grow — he has incredible potential."[155]Trapattoni described him as "a mixture ofKaká andClarence Seedorf", because of his style of play and technical characteristics.[156] Long-time Inter captainJavier Zanetti stated that, with the exception ofRonaldo, who had arrived toInter when he was 21, Kovačić was the most promising youngster he had seen in his 19 years at the club.[157]
Kovačić was born inLinz, Austria, toBosnian Croat parents Stipo and Ružica who had moved there fromZabrđe[158] ahead of theYugoslav Wars.[6][7][159] Kovačić is aCatholic and attends church every Sunday.[160] He speaks five languages: Croatian, German, English, Italian and Spanish.[161]
In 2017, Kovačić married his longtime girlfriend Izabel Andrijanić.[162] On 12 October 2020, Andrijanić gave birth to their first child, a boy.[163][164] The child was christened, with the first name Ivan, in July 2021, withLuka Modrić as his godfather.[165] In 2025, they had their daughter Luna.
^abMiličić, Dubravko; Tironi, Hrvoje (18 November 2020)."Ministrant od 45 milijuna eura".24sata (in Croatian).Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved19 November 2020.
^Plavčić, Mario (13 November 2010)."Špehar spasio bijelo-plave".Sportnet.hr (in Croatian).Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved22 November 2010.
^"Is Mateo Kovacic Chelsea's most important player?".The Chelsea Chronicle. 15 December 2019.Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved24 June 2020.Some fans were unconvinced by the Croatian and did not support the signing. This opinion is likely to be very different now.
^City, Man (27 June 2023)."City complete Kovacic signing".Man City. p. 1. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved27 June 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Johnston, Neil (28 May 2016)."Real Madrid 1–1 Atlético Madrid".BBC Sport.Archived from the original on 20 May 2019. Retrieved29 April 2023. "Champions League final records and statistics". UEFA. 1 August 2022.Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved29 April 2023.Madrid's Lucas Vázquez has featured in four victorious squads but only appeared in the final in 2016 and 2022, while Mateo Kovačić has four winners' medals but only a single final appearance, in Chelsea's 2021 victory.
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