Ante Rukavina

Ante Rukavina (born 18 June 1986) is a retired Croatian footballer who last played for Dinamo Zagreb. He also played at Šibenik, Hajduk Split and Panathinaikos earlier in his career.

Not to be confused with Antonio Rukavina.

Ante Rukavina
Rukavina playing for Dinamo Zagreb in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-06-18) 18 June 1986
Place of birth Šibenik, SR Croatia,
SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Šibenik 52 (15)
2007–2008 Hajduk Split 35 (9)
2008–2010 Panathinaikos 36 (7)
2010–2016 Dinamo Zagreb 103 (20)
2014–2015 → Lokomotiva (loan) 29 (3)
2015–2016 → Viborg (loan) 5 (0)
Total 260 (54)
National team
2006–2007 Croatia U20 5 (1)
2007–2008 Croatia U21 9 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 September 2016

Club career

Rukavina started his professional career with his hometown club HNK Šibenik. He made his debut for Šibenik on 29 July 2006 under coach Ivan Pudar against NK Osijek, having turned 20 years old just one month earlier. After making a name for himself as one of the hottest young prospects in the Croatian First Football League, he moved down the Croatian coast to Split side Hajduk in a deal worth around €400,000 in January 2007. Over the next 18 months at Hajduk, Ante continued impressing European scouts by scoring 9 goals in 34 appearances in what was a difficult time for the Croatian giants.

On 5 July 2008, he signed for the Greek side Panathinaikos FC who saw him as a 'useful addition to their offensive lineup for the next season', considering him to be an 'impressive young prospect'. The four-year deal was reportedly worth €2.8 million. In two seasons at Panathinaikos, Rukavina managed 11 goals in 55 appearances but was ultimately judged as a flop considering his high fee and high expectations when he arrived at the Greek side.

Dinamo Zagreb

On 26 July 2010, Rukavina returned to Croatia and signed for champions Dinamo Zagreb in a transfer worth €700,000.[2]

He made his debut for the club on 4 August 2010 at home to Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol in the return leg of the third qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League. On 7 August 2010, he made his domestic league debut for Dinamo in a 1–1 draw at NK Varaždin, netting the opening goal of the match in the fifth minute. Later that month, he scored a brace to give the club a 2-0 win at Hungarian Győr FC in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-offs. He went on to make five appearances in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win at home to Villarreal on 16 September 2010.

On 18 July 2012, Rukavina scored a last-minute goal against Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad in a Champions League match to help his team to a 1–1 draw. He also netted twice in the return leg held a week later, which was won in a dramatic fashion by the Croatian side by a score of 3–2.

In January 2014, it was decided by Dinamo's sporting director and manager Zoran Mamic that Rukavina was surplus to the club's requirements. He was sent home early from Dinamo's winter training camp in Turkey and was told he was free to find a new club.[3]

In August 2014 he moved to NK Lokomotiva on a loan.[4]

In August 2015 he moved to Viborg FF in the Danish Superliga on loan, but only played 5 matches as substitute and not scoring any goals.

International career

Rukavina played for the Croatian national under-21 team between 2007 and 2008, Rukavina was called up to the senior side squad for the first time on 12 March 2007,[5] but did not appear for his country at full international level.

Career statistics
As of 26 October 2012
Club Season League Cup Supercup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
HNK Šibenik 2006–07 7600000076
HNK Hajduk Split 2006–07 6000000060
2007–08 269000020289
Panathinaikos 2008–09 257310070358
2009–10 110220071203
GNK Dinamo Zagreb 2010–11 214600083357
2011–12 1952000101316
2012–13 234100093337
2013–14 61300061152
Total 144361730049921048

Honours
Panathinaikos
Dinamo Zagreb
Individual

References
  1. http://www.goal.com/en/people/croatia/16188/ante-rukavina
  2. Attias, Vedran (26 July 2010). "Rukavina potpisao za Dinamo!". Sportnet.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  3. "Rukavina se vraća u Zagreb i može naći novi klub" (in Croatian). GNK Dinamo Zagreb. 22 January 2014.
  4. Rukavina moved to NK Lokomotiva on a loan Retrieved 5 August 2014
  5. Rukavina earns maiden Croatia call Archived 2 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, UEFA.com, 12 March 2007
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