Duje Čop is a Croatian footballer known for his role as a forward.
Čop's father, Davor, was also a footballer who played for Hajduk Split.
He began his professional career at Hajduk Split at just 17 years old.
Biography
Early Life
Duje Čop, a Croatian footballer, was born into a footballing family, with his father Davor also having played as a forward for Hajduk Split in the 1970s and 1980s. This familial connection to the sport likely influenced Čop's early passion for football.
Career
Čop began his professional career at the young age of 17 with HNK Hajduk Split during the 2007-08 season, where he made 15 appearances and scored 2 goals. After a brief stint at C.D. Nacional in Portugal, where he struggled for playing time, he returned to Hajduk Split before moving to RNK Split in 2011. At RNK Split, he made a significant impact by scoring the club's first-ever goal in European competitions during a UEFA Europa League match.
In 2012, Čop signed with GNK Dinamo Zagreb, where he continued to develop his skills and contributed to the team's success in the UEFA Champions League. His international career began in 2014 when he made his debut for the Croatian national team, later participating in UEFA Euro 2016 and scoring his first international goal in a friendly against Northern Ireland in 2016. Čop's career has seen him play for several clubs, including Cagliari Calcio, Sporting de Gijón, and Standard Liège, before returning to GNK Dinamo Zagreb and later joining NK Lokomotiva in 2023.
Legacy
After retiring from professional play, Čop transitioned into coaching and is currently serving as an assistant coach for the Croatian Football League club Rijeka. His journey from a young player in Hajduk Split to a national team member and now a coach reflects his deep commitment to the sport and his desire to contribute to the next generation of footballers.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Čop made his senior international debut for Croatia on 4 September 2014, replacing Luka Modrić for the final 30 minutes of a 3–0 friendly win over Cyprus in Pula. He made one appearance in Croatia's successful qualification campaign for UEFA Euro 2016; against Bulgaria on 10 October 2015, he came on for Marko Pjaca at the same mark and was sent off at the end of a 3–0 win for a foul on Strahil Popov. Čop was part of Croatia's Euro 2016 squad and made his UEFA European Championship debut in 2–1 group stage win against defending champions Spain. He scored his first international goal in a 3–0 friendly win over Northern Ireland on 15 November 2016. In May 2018 Čop was named in Croatia's preliminary 32-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but did not make the final 23.
International
Scores and results list Croatia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Čop goal.
Hajduk Split / Nacional
Čop turned professional in 2007–08 at only age 17, helping local Hajduk Split finish fifth in the top division. In his first professional season with Hajduk, he made 15 appearances and scored 2 goals. In July 2008, at the end of the season, he joined Nacional in Portugal. Scarcely used during his only season in Madeira (174 minutes in official games), Čop made his Primeira Liga debut on 24 January 2009 in a 1–1 home draw against Sporting Clube de Portugal. On 6 April, he scored his only goal in Portuguese football, replacing Mateus in added time away to Rio Ave and concluding a 3–0 win. He subsequently returned to Hajduk, being sparingly used over the course of two campaigns.
RNK Split
In July 2011, Čop terminated his contract with Hajduk and signed a four-year deal with neighbouring RNK Split. He made his debut for the team in a UEFA Europa League qualifying match against Slovenian side Domžale, scoring a goal in the away win. It was Split's first ever goal in European competitions. He also netted another goal against the same side in the second leg.
Dinamo Zagreb
In June 2012, he moved to defending champions GNK Dinamo Zagreb. He started the season with a goal against Sheriff Tiraspol in UEFA Champions League qualifying match at the Maksimir Stadium. He scored another important goal on Dinamo Zagreb road to 2012–13 Champions League, in the play-off match against Maribor. He made six appearances in the competition's group…
- Club
- C.D. Nacional (2008–2009)
- Club
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb (2012–2015)
- Club
- HNK Hajduk Split (2007–2008)
- Club
- RNK Split (2011–2012)
- Club
- HNK Hajduk Split (2009–2011)
- Club
- Cagliari Calcio (2015–2017)
- Club
- Málaga CF (2015–2016)
- Club
- Croatia national under-17 football team (2006–2006)
- Club
- Croatia national under-20 football team (2009–2010)
- Club
- Croatia national under-21 football team (2011–2012)
- Club
- Croatia men's national football team (2014–)
- Club
- Sporting de Gijón (2016–2017)
- Club
- Standard Liège (2017–2021)
- Club
- Real Valladolid (2018–2019)
- Club
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb (2021–2023)
- Club
- NK Celje (2022–2022)
- Club
- HNK Šibenik (2022–2023)
- Club
- NK Lokomotiva (2023–)
- National team
- Croatia
Personal
Čop's father Davor was also a footballer and a forward. He played for six seasons with Hajduk Split in the 1970s and 1980s.
Clubs
- Croatia men's national football team2014current
- NK Lokomotiva2023current
- Croatia national under-17 football team2006–2006
- HNK Hajduk Split2007–2008
- C.D. Nacional2008–2009
- Croatia national under-20 football team2009–2010
- HNK Hajduk Split2009–2011
- Croatia national under-21 football team2011–2012
- RNK Split2011–2012
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb2012–2015
- Cagliari Calcio2015–2017
- Málaga CF2015–2016
- Sporting de Gijón2016–2017
- Standard Liège2017–2021
- Real Valladolid2018–2019
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb2021–2023
- HNK Šibenik2022–2023
- NK Celje2022–2022
Played together with
- Aarón EscandellMálaga CF · 2012–2014
- Aarón EscandellMálaga CF · 2013–2017
Abdel AbqarMálaga CF
Abdelfettah BoukhrissStandard Liège · 2010–2012- Abdeljalil HaddaSporting de Gijón · 1998–2001
Abdiel ArroyoRNK Split · 2016–2016
Abdoul TapsobaStandard Liège · 2020- Abdullah QuayeMálaga CF · 1999–2001
- Abel SegoviaSporting de Gijón · 2002–2004
Abelardo FernándezSporting de Gijón · 1989–1994- Abid KovačevićGNK Dinamo Zagreb · 1980–1981
- Abílio Rafael Barbosa SousaC.D. Nacional · 2013–2014
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Duje Čop is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is current assistant coach of Croatian Football League club Rijeka.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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