He began his career atHajduk Split, before moving to Shakhtar in 2003. He has won numerous trophies during his time at Shakhtar, including aUEFA Cup title in2009, sevenUkrainian Premier League titles, fiveUkrainian Cup titles and fiveUkrainian Super Cup titles. He left Shakhtar in 2018 and signed one-year contract with Cagliari and then returned to Shakhtar to work as an assistant manager.
Srna made his international debut for Croatia in November 2002 and is thesecond most capped player in the history of the Croatia national team with 134 caps, having represented his country at the2006 and2014 FIFA World Cups, as well as atUEFA Euro 2004,2008,2012 and2016. In 2009, then managerSlaven Bilić made him the captain of the national team, a position he would hold until his retirement from international football in 2016; the captaincy then passed toLuka Modrić.
He is the most capped player in the history of Shakhtar with 536 appearances.[7] He was popularly dubbed the "Icon of Shakhtar".[8][9] Srna's consistent quality and playing style earned comparisons toCafu.[10]
In 2003, Srna was sold, along with Hajduk goalkeeperStipe Pletikosa, to Shakhtar Donetsk.[12] He is a common member and the captain in his club side, for whom he has made a large impact in the league. In his first season with the club, he made 29 appearances, including 19 in the league, scoring three goals, all of which came in theUkrainian Cup. He helped the club to win theUkrainian Cup, his first honour with the club, and to a second-place finish in thePremier League.[13]
In his second season, Shakhtar won theSuper Cup and thePremier League.[14] He made 42 appearances for the club, 22 of which came in the league, and netted two goals, once in the league and once in thecup. Srna made his debut in main stage ofUEFA Champions League on 14 September 2004 againstMilan. His third season saw Shakhtar retain thePremier League title.[15] He made 21 league appearances, scoring twice. After the2006 FIFA World Cup,Benfica were reported to be after the player's signature but nothing materialized, with what many considered a fallen or rejected sale. Since then, he had been linked with a number of other clubs, includingLazio, but a move never materialized.
The following season, Shakhtar were trumped to thePremier League title byDynamo Kyiv as they failed to achieve any silverware.[16] Darijo made 35 appearances for the club, 20 in the league, and scored four times, three of which came in the league. In the2007–08 season, Shakhtar picked up the Premier League trophy and were victorious in theUkrainian Cup Final.[17] He made 41 appearances, 28 of which came in the league.
The 2008–09 season saw Shakhtar win the Super Cup and theUEFA Cup. On 15 July 2008, Shakhtar emerged victorious in the Super Cup Final against Dynamo Kyiv. At the end of extra time, the teams were level at 1–1. In the ensuingpenalty shoot-out, Shakhtar converted all five of its penalties to win 5–3. Srna, who captained the side, scored one of the penalties.[18] On 3 August, he scored the first goal in a 3–0 victory overIllichivets Mariupol.[19] On 13 August, he scored the first goal in a 2–0 victory overDinamo Zagreb in theChampions League.[20] On 18 October he scored a goal in Shakhtar's 4–2 win againstKryvbas.[21] On 2 March, he scored the winning goal in Shakhtar's 2–1 league victory over Illichivets.[22] On 22 March, he scored the only goal in a league win overVorskla.[23] In the semi-final of the UEFA Cup, Shakhtar faced Dynamo Kyiv in an all-Ukrainian tie. After a 1–1 away draw in the first leg,[24] Shakhtar won 2–1 at theDonbas Arena for a 3–2 aggregate win to progress to the final.[25] Darijo played the full 90 minutes of both legs. On 20 May 2009, hecaptained Shakhtar in the 2–1 victory overWerder Bremen in theUEFA Cup Final.[26] Srna provided the assist forJádson's winning goal seven minutes into extra time. He also picked up a yellow card. This was the last UEFA Cup before its rebranding as the UEFA Europa League. Shakhtar finished thePremier League season in second position, 15 points behind champions Dynamo Kyiv.[27] Darijo made 46 appearances and scored 5 goals, with 25 appearances and 4 goals in the league.
In the2009–10 season, Shakhtar regained thePremier League title.[28] On 28 August, he played in Shakhtar's 1–0 extra time loss toBarcelona in the2009 UEFA Super Cup, picking up a yellow card on 65 minutes.[29] He scored the third goal in a 4–1 away victory overClub Brugge in theEuropa League.[30] He scored a goal and picked up a yellow card in a 2–0Ukrainian Cup victory over Dynamo Kyiv on 28 October.[31] He netted his first league goal of the season in a 2–1 victory againstZorya Luhansk on 20 March.[32] On 3 April, he scored the only goal in a league victory overObolon.[33] Srna played 39 matches, 26 in the league, and scored four goals, two of which came in the league.
The2010–11 season was extremely successful for Shakhtar as they won the treble (Premier League,Ukrainian Cup and the Super Cup).[34] He played in Shakhtar's 7–1 Super Cup victory overTavriya Simferopol on 4 July.[35] On 15 September, he netted the only goal, and picked up a yellow card, in a 1–0Champions League win overPartizan.[36] In the following match, against Tavriya, after going 1–0 down, Srna scored the equaliser in a 4–1 victory.[37] On 30 October, he was sent off in added time againstDnipro Dnipropetrovsk as Shakhtar won 1–0.[38] On 1 April, he scored the first goal in a 3–1 victory over Illichivets Mariupol.[39] On 7 May, againstMetalurh Donetsk, he scored the second goal in a 2–0 win.[40] On 25 May, he played in the 2–0Ukrainian Cup Final victory over Dynamo Kyiv, picking up a yellow card.[41] Srna was named in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Year according to player rater (statistics) in the 2010–11 season where Shakhtar lost in the quarter-final to Barcelona. Srna created five assists in five games.[42] He made 39 appearances, 27 of which were in the league, scoring four goals, three of which came in the league.
Shakhtar won thePremier League and theUkrainian Cup in the2011–12 season, Darijo's sixth league title with the club.[43] He scored a goal in first half injury time in a 2–0 away win over Metalurh Donetsk.[44] On 2 December, he scored the first goal in a 5–0 league victory overArsenal Kyiv at the Donbas Arena.[45] On 16 April, in the 27th gameweek of the season, Srna netted the final goal in a 5–1 victory overZorya Luhansk.[46] On 6 May, he played in theUkrainian Cup Final against Metalurh Donetsk in which Shakhtar emerged victorious after an extra time winner fromOleksandr Kucher made it 2–1.[47] This marked Srna's fourth Ukrainian Cup success with Shakhtar. He picked up a yellow card in the final match of the season, a 3–0 victory overOleksandriya.[48] Shakhtar won the league by four points over Dynamo Kyiv; Srna scored 3 goals in 25 league matches and made a total of 34 appearances in the season.
Darijo began the2012–13 season with an assist forLuiz Adriano in the sixth-minute of Shakhtar's 2–0 Super Cup victory over Metalurh Donetsk.[49] He assistedIlsinho for the second goal in a 3–1Premier League win againstHoverla Uzhhorod.[50] He assistedFernandinho for a 93rd-minute winner againstKryvbas Kryvyi Rih.[51] and added another forMarko Dević in a 4–0 victory againstVolyn Lutsk.[52] On 19 August, Srna assistedWillian for the third goal in a 5–1 win againstChornomorets Odesa[53] In the next match, he provided Luiz Adriano with an assist in a 3–0 win overKarpaty Lviv.[54] On 2 September, he assisted Oleksandr Kucher's second goal in a 3–1 victory against Dynamo Kyiv.[55] On 23 September, Srna scored afree-kick in a 4–1 victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the last 32 of theUkrainian Cup.[56] On 28 September, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.[57] He picked up the Man of the Match award for his contribution to win over Dnipro.[58] On 19 October, he assisted Ilsinho for a goal in a 2–1 victory against Illichivets.[59]
On 13 February 2013, Srna netted with an expertly-struck free-kick in the 31st minute in the first leg of theChampions League Round of 16 tie withBorussia Dortmund, which ended in a 2–2 draw.[60] At the end of the 2012–13 season in Ukraine, he finished with the most assists, with 12.[61][62]
In mid-season, Srna helped Shakhtar win the2014 United Supercup, a tournament between the top-two placed clubs from Russia and Ukraine, becoming the assists leader[63] and joint top scorer of the tournament.[64] By the end of the season, the club won the Ukraine Premier League and the 2014 Ukrainian Super Cup.
In the 2015–16 season, Srna played 41 games and scored six goals.[66] Shakhtar announced that their captain had extended his contract for the 2016–17 season, a day after the club celebrated their 80th anniversary.[66]
On 22 June 2018 Srna, signed one-year deal with Italian sideCagliari Calcio with an option to extend it for another year.[68] In June 2019, the contract ended and Srna left the club.
In July 2019, Srna returned to ShakhtarShakhtar Donetsk as an assistant manager on a one-year contract until 2020.[69] He then moved on to the Director of football role.
Srna made his full international debut for theCroatia national team in a friendly match againstRomania in November 2002. He went on to score his first international goal on his competitive debut for Croatia in theirUEFA Euro 2004 qualifier againstBelgium in March 2003, netting the opening goal in Croatia's 4–0 win. He made a total of six appearances in Croatia's qualifying campaign forEuro 2004, including both play-off matches againstSlovenia.
At the Euro 2004 finals, he appeared as a substitute in Croatia's group matches againstSwitzerland andEngland, before they were knocked out of the tournament in the first round.[12]
After Euro 2004, Srna went on to become one of the key players in Croatia's2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring five goals in nine appearances during the campaign and being the team's top goalscorer in the competition. During the 2006 World Cup qualifying, he scored both goals in Croatia's two 1–0 wins overSweden, including a long-range free kick in the away fixture inGothenburg. He also netted both goals in Croatia's 2–2 home draw againstBulgaria, as well as one goal in their 3–1 away win atIceland.
Srna then starred in all three games of Croatia's 2006 World Cup campaign. He was highly praised and remembered for his spectacular 30-yard free kick which put Croatia ahead againstAustralia in the infamous "Graham Poll three-yellow card" blunder match that ended 2–2. However, in previous group match againstJapan he missed a penalty in a 0–0 draw and Croatia finished third in the group stage with only 2 points.
In September 2006, Srna was temporarily dropped from the Croatian squad for aEuro 2008 qualifying match withRussia because of a late night partying spree in a local disco, along with teammatesBoško Balaban andIvica Olić.[70]
Srna was considered the hero of the match, when he came on as a substitute againstMacedonia in a Euro 2008 qualifying match and scored shortly after from a free-kick, which was shot into the right corner of the goal.[71] In the 88th minute, he provided a cross which found teammateEduardo, and allowed him to score and snatch a late win for Croatia. He also scored Croatia's equaliser in their hard-fought away victory againstIsrael, which eventually ended 4–3 in Croatia's favour. Srna went on to miss a penalty againstEstonia, however his overall contribution to teamwork attack compensated for this mistake, which Croatia quickly capitalised on to win 2–0.
Since helping his country qualify for Euro 2008 with a strong qualifying campaign, Srna was unsurprisingly named in their 23-man squad for the current tournament. On 12 June, Srna scored the opening goal in the 24th minute of Croatia's 2–1 victory overGermany in their second game ofGroup B. He was the only player to score for Croatia in their unsuccessful penalty shootout in the quarter-finals againstTurkey. At the conclusion of the match, Srna was seen struggling to hold back an emotional breakdown because of Croatia's strong efforts but eventual defeat.
After Euro 2008, Srna succeededNiko Kovač as national team captain.[72][73]
Srna started in all three games of the 2012 tournament as the captain, where Croatia finished third behind Spain and Italy, failing to qualify to the next stage. Italy and Spain went on to become the finalists of the tournament.
On 6 February 2013, Srna won his 100thcap in a friendly match againstSouth Korea atCraven Cottage,London, thereby equallingDario Šimić as Croatia's most capped player. In that match, Srna also scored his 20th international goal.[74]
Croatia qualified for the2014 World Cup, where Srna served asteam captain for his second official international tournament, after Euro 2012.[75] Croatia finished third in the group behind Brazil and Mexico and therefore failed to qualify for the next stage.
AtEuro 2016 in France, Srna, once again as team captain, played in Croatia's first group stage match against Turkey. Shortly after the match, however, he returned to Croatia upon the news of his father's death during the match. He returned to France to finish the tournament afterwards, to abide by his father's dying wish.[76] Croatia reached the knock-out phase of the tournament, but lost 1–0 toPortugal through an extra-timeRicardo Quaresma goal.
Srna amassed 134 caps and 22 goals for Croatia, which made him the country's most capped player at the time of his retirement.[77] He held this record for over eight years, until it was overtaken byLuka Modrić in 2021.[78]
Srna was born inMetković[79] onAdriatic coast of southernDalmatia toBosniak father Uzeir andCroat mother Milka. His father, aWorld War II orphan and a former footballer forFK Sarajevo, supported his fledgling football career despite discrimination during theYugoslav Wars and widespread corruption among football coaches.[80] Before leaving Croatia to join for Shakhtar Donetsk, he gave his parents a brand newMercedes.[81] He has atattoo of a deer playing football on his leg, as "Srna" inCroatian means "deer".[82] Srna has also helped Bosnian clubBorac Šamac, where his father played as goalkeeper and was also a coach.[83]
Srna has a half-brother, Renato, a coach atNeretva, from their father's first marriage.[82] His other brother Igor hasDown syndrome. As a result, Srna dedicates all his goals to him,[82] and even revealed a shirt under his jersey saying "Igor, svi smo uz tebe" ("Igor, we are all here for you") after scoring a goal againstNorth Macedonia in international play. He also has a tattoo reading "Igor" along his heart.[72]
While at Shakhtar, Srna frequently bought match tickets for orphans and often financed their travel to the stadium at his own expense.[72][84][85] In late 2014, he purchased 20 tonnes of tangerines from farms near Metković and had them donated to over 23,000 primary school children in theDonbas region during theongoing war there.[86]Srna married long-time girlfriend Mirela Forić, whom he met through mutual friend and footballer Boško Balaban.[87][88] Their daughter Kasja was born in July 2010 and their son Karlo was born in June 2015.[89][90]
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