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21 / Croatia · 1996–2008

Niko Kovač

CDM box-to-box
Caps · Croatia
83
Goals · Croatia
14
Life
1971
Clubs
Hertha BSC, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Red Bull Salzburg
#21
Editorial rank of 33 for Croatia
–
The people's rank, live from duel votes

A commanding captain for club and country, this powerful midfielder anchored teams like Bayern Munich and Hertha BSC with his astute positioning and leadership. Career record: 83 caps and 14 goals for Croatia; club career at Hertha BSC, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Red Bull Salzburg.

Career sourcesCareer dates · checked 4 October 2026
Identity and career · Wikidata Q154305
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Career record

1990–1991Hertha Zehlendorf
1992–1996Hertha BSC
1996–1999Bayer 04 Leverkusen
1999–2001Hamburger SV
2001–2003FC Bayern Munich
2003–2006Hertha BSC
2006–2009FC Red Bull Salzburg
Croatia83 caps, 14 goals

Sources

Shared the era

Croatia legends whose careers overlapped Kovač's

The world's great CDMs

Around Kovač in the almanac

One rank above: Eduardo da Silva at #20.

One rank below: Robert Kovač at #22.

Croatia's editorial top five: Luka Modrić · Davor Šuker · Stjepan Bobek · Vladimir Beara · Zvonimir Boban.

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