Marcelo Brozovic

Marcelo Brozovic: A Brief Biography

Marcelo Brozovic, a Croatian footballer, gained recognition for his role as a defensive midfielder for Inter Milan in Serie A and the Croatian national team. He is widely regarded as one of the top defensive midfielders in the world. In 2013, he led Dinamo Zagreb to victory in the Croatian Supercup. Starting his soccer journey in 2002, he honed his skills at Hrvatski Dragovoljac's youth academy and graduated in 2010. His contributions were instrumental in Croatia's second-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and he also represented his country in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016. Renowned for his passing ability, tackling prowess, dynamic runs, and endurance, Brozovic excels as a deep-lying playmaker or box-to-box midfielder. His versatility allows him to perform effectively in any midfield position. Widely recognized as one of the world's best midfielders, he was included in Croatia's preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and ultimately made the final squad, helping his team reach the final against France. In a historic moment, Brozovic captained Inter in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final on June 10, 2023, becoming the first Croatian to lead a team in a Champions League final.

Early Life

Marcelo Brozovic, a Croatian footballer, was born on November 16, 1992, in Zagreb, Croatia. He holds Croatian nationality and belongs to the Croatian-white ethnicity. His religious beliefs align with Christianity, and he identifies as white in terms of race. Currently 30 years old, he celebrates his birthday on November 16 each year, falling under the zodiac sign of Scorpio. Marcelo is the son of Sanja Brozovic (mother) and Ivan Brozovic (father). He has two siblings, namely his sister Ema Brozovic and his brother Patrick Brozovic.

In terms of his education, Marcelo Brozovic completed his youth development at the nearby Hrvatski Dragovoljac Academy and marked his debut on July 24, 2010.

Club Career

• Marcelo Brozovic embarked on his football journey after completing his youth development at the neighboring Hrvatski Dragovoljac's youth setup. He kick-started his professional career on July 24, 2010, making his debut by starting and playing the entire 90 minutes in a 1-4 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb. Brozovic showcased his scoring prowess on March 18 of the subsequent year, netting his first goal which turned out to be the decisive winner against Karlovac.

Lokomotiva

• In July 2011, he signed with Lokomotiva, after Dragovoljac's relegation.
• He appeared in 27 league matches in his first campaign, scoring four times as Lokomotiva achieved a comfortable mid-table position.

Dinamo Zagreb

• In August 2012, Marcelo secured a seven-year contract with Dinamo Zagreb, taking over the role previously held by Milan Badelj, who had moved to Hamburger SV. Assigned the squad number 77, Brozovic made his first competitive appearance on September 14, coming off the bench in a goalless draw against NK Osijek at home. Merely four days later, he made his debut in the UEFA Champions League, playing the entire 90 minutes in a 0-2 loss to Porto during the group stage's first matchday.
• It wasn't until April 14 of the subsequent year that Marcelo found the back of the net for Dinamo Zagreb, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 victory against Inter Zapresic on home turf. In his debut season with the club, he amassed a total of 30 appearances across various competitions, with 23 of them coming in the league.
• He managed to score two goals during this period. Dinamo Zagreb emerged as the champions of the league and progressed to the second round of the 2012-2013 Croatian Football Cup, but unfortunately exited the group stage of the Champions League.

Inter Milan

• On January 24, 2015, Marcelo signed a one-and-a-half-year loan deal with Inter Milan, which included a conditional obligation for Inter to purchase him. This made him the 900th player to don the Nerazzurri shirt. Taking his preferred shirt number 77, previously worn by Sulley Muntari, he made his official debut for the club on February 1, 2015, coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 away victory against Sassuolo. 
• Brozovic scored his first goal for Inter on the final day of the season, contributing to a 4-3 win over Empoli. In his first season with Inter, he made 15 appearances in the league, including 13 as a starter, and scored one goal.
• In the following season, Brozovic started in the opening match of the 2015-2016 Serie A season against Atalanta. He continued his goal-scoring form by netting his first league goal of the season against Frosinone as a late substitute. He scored a remarkable long-range goal in a 4-0 away victory over Udinese, celebrating it with his teammates using his signature "EpicBrozo" celebration. Brozovic replicated the same goal against Cagliari in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia. 
• He provided assists to his teammates in matches against Hellas Verona and Sampdoria. In a thrilling Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Juventus, Brozovic scored a brace, including a penalty, to help Inter overturn a 3-0 defeat and equalize the aggregate score. However, Inter eventually lost in the penalty shootouts and was eliminated from the competition.
• The new season saw Brozovic featuring as a substitute in a league match against Chievo Verona, receiving a yellow card during his 20-minute appearance. In the opening match of the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League group stage against Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Brozovic started but was substituted early in the second half. His refusal to stay on the bench during that match led to controversies within Inter. As a result, he was left out of the squad for the league match against Juventus due to "unprofessional behavior" as stated by coach Frank de Boer. Brozovic returned to the squad for a league match against Cagliari but remained unused. 
• In his on-field debut in the UEFA Europa League group stage against Southampton, he was sent off with a second yellow card in the 77th minute. However, Brozovic regained his form under new coach Stefano Pioli, scoring goals against Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Fiorentina. He extended his contract with Inter Milan until 2021 and continued to impress with a double against Genoa.
• In the 2017-2018 season, Brozovic scored his first goals against Benevento and had a mixed performance against Bologna, resulting in criticism from some sections of the crowd. He later bounced back and established himself as a key player, making his 100th Serie A appearance in a defeat against Sassuolo. In the final match of the season, he provided crucial contributions to secure Inter's place in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the following season. 
• Brozovic began the 2018-2019 season by making his first Champions League appearance for Inter against Tottenham Hotspur and scoring a last-minute winner against Sampdoria. He also contributed goals against Lecce and Milan in the Derby della Madonnina, captained Inter in a victory over Milan, and provided an assist in the Europa League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. Inter reached the Europa League final but lost to Sevilla.
• On May 2, 2021, Inter secured the Serie A title with four matchdays remaining, ending Juventus' nine-season-long league-winning streak. This marked Brozovic's first trophy with Inter. In the 2021-2022 season, he made his 200th Serie A appearance and captained Inter in the UEFA Champions League final on 10 June 2023, becoming the first Croatian to achieve this feat. Unfortunately, Inter lost 1-0 to Manchester City, breaking the streak of Croatian players winning the Champions League since 2013.

International career

• Brozovic showcased his talent in various Croatian national youth teams, including the under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 categories. Particularly impressive was his performance with the under-21 squad in 2013, where he scored an impressive seven goals in just eight appearances.
• His potential didn't go unnoticed, and on May 31, 2014, Brozovic earned a spot in Niko Kovač's final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He made his debut for the senior national team on June 7, starting in a 1-0 victory against Australia. Five days later, he made his World Cup debut, playing the final 26 minutes in a 1-3 loss to Brazil.
• Following the 2014 World Cup, Brozovic established himself as a regular starter in Croatia's Euro 2016 qualifiers. He formed a formidable midfield trio with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, showcasing his skills and contributing to the team's success. He scored his first international goal against Azerbaijan in a dominant 6-0 victory in Osijek. Another notable goal came in March 2015 against Norway, where he gave Croatia a 1-0 lead with a well-placed shot from 20 meters out.
• In May 2016, Brozovic was selected to represent Croatia in the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament. He made his European Championship debut in Croatia's opening match against Turkey, playing the full 90 minutes as the team secured a 1-0 victory. He continued to make an impact for his country and scored a brace in a World Cup qualifier against Iceland on November 12, 2016.
• His impressive performances earned him a place in Croatia's preliminary 32-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He ultimately made the final squad and played a pivotal role as Croatia reached the final against France. Brozovic was a key figure in the starting lineup, playing the full 90 minutes in the 4-2 defeat to France.

Transfer News

• Inter on 1st July 2018 at 5m euros
• GNK Dinamo Zagreb on 30th July 2016 at the end of the loan
• Inter on 26th January 2015 at 3m euros a loan
• GNK Dinamo Zagreb  on 31st August 20120 at 2.4m euros
• NK Lokomotiva Zagreb on 1st July 2011 at 300K euros

Awards and Achievements

Dinamo Zagreb

• Prva HNL: 2012-2013, 2013-2014
• Croatian Supercup: 2013

Inter Milan

• Serie A: 2020-2021
• Coppa Italia: 2021-2022, 2022-2023 
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2021, 2022 
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2022-2023 
• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2019-2020

Croatia

• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2018; third place: 2022 

Individual

• UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2019-2020 
• Serie A Best Midfielder: 2021-2022 
• Serie A Player of the Month: April 2022 
• Serie A Team of the Year: 2021-2022 

Orders

• Order of Duke Branimir: 2018 

Who is Marcelo Brozovic married to?

Marcelo Brozovic entered the bond of matrimony with his lovely wife Silvija Lihtar in 2016, and their joy multiplied when their daughter, Aurora, arrived a year later. The couple experienced another bundle of joy in October 2019 when their son Rafael was born. Brozovic appears to be quite open about sharing his personal life with the public, demonstrating his affection for his fans and ensuring they are well-informed. He displays loyalty and devotion, as no controversies, rumors, or affairs have surfaced concerning his personal life. It is evident that he maintains a strong and loving relationship with his family. As for his sexual orientation, he identifies as straight.

Marcelo Brozovic's net worth

Marcelo Brozovic possesses a net worth estimated at $23 million as of 2023, primarily accumulated through his successful football career representing both the national team and his current club, Inter Milan. His annual salary amounts to an impressive $12,177,337.00. His current market value stands at €25.00m, with his highest market value recorded as €60.00m on December 12, 2019. Brozovic has also engaged in endorsement ventures with various brands. Demonstrating his generosity and philanthropy, in the summer of 2018, Brozovic generously donated sets of textbooks to all primary school students in  Croatia, for the upcoming school year. Additionally, in June 2020, he funded hip surgery for a woman from Macedonia whom he had never met before, highlighting his compassionate nature. While his football career serves as his primary source of income, Brozovic's actions reveal his willingness to make a positive impact beyond the realm of sports.

How tall is Marcelo Brozovic?

Marcelo Brozovic has undoubtedly achieved significant success in his career, standing tall at 1.81 meters (5 feet 11 inches) and maintaining a weight of 68 kilograms. With his light brown hair and captivating dark brown eyes, Brozovic possesses a striking appearance. His athletic body builds further to add to his overall appeal. Notably, his body art in the form of tattoos has garnered considerable attention and admiration from many.