Ivan Medarić

Club

Born in Sisak, Austro-Hungary (nowadays Croatia), he begin his career at local club HNK Segesta. In 1935, along his teammate Jozo Kovačević, they moved to Zagreb and were signed by HAŠK. A year later Medarić signed with HŠK Građanski Zagreb playing back then in the Yugoslav First League. In his first season with Građanski, he won the national title, but a year later he was back with HAŠK, and was part of HAŠK team that won the 1937–38 Yugoslav Football Championship. He won 2 Yugoslav championships in a row with two different clubs. He played with HAŠK until 1940 when he moved to Novi Sad and joined FK Vojvodina. He was part of Vojvodina so called "Millioners" team that finished third in the 1940–41 Serbian League and was qualified for the final phase of the Yugoslav League, however due to the start of the Second World War the championship was cancelled. In 1941 the city of Novi Sad was occupied by Hungary. FK Vojvodina stopped their activities. Medarić for some time continued playing football with NAK Novi Sad, then known as Újvideki AC and playing in the Hungarian championship. Medarić was in the group of Vojvodina players that joined NAK, among them there was goalkeeper Plac, Marjanović, Avramović, Jovanović and Živković, in order to avoid problems or even being sent to labour (concentration) camps. Medarić was in danger because he had been a member of the Yugoslav Communist Party since he was 20, and he has already been imprisoned for illegal activities…

After retiring, he was a coach for some time at Naprijed and at NK Lokomotiva. He was condecorated by the Yugoslav Football Association, and has lived in Zagreb until his death, on 30 November 1990.

Građanski Zagreb Yugoslav First League: 1936–37 HAŠK Yugoslav First League: 1937–38