Lovre Kalinić is a professional footballer from Croatia, known for his skills as a goalkeeper.
He began his professional career at HNK Hajduk Split, where he played from 2009 to 2017.
Kalinić represented the Croatia national under-17 football team in 2006, marking the start of his international career.
Biography
Early Life
Lovre Kalinić is a Croatian professional footballer born in 1990, who has made a name for himself as a talented goalkeeper. His football journey began in his youth, where he developed his skills and passion for the game, eventually leading him to join the prestigious HNK Hajduk Split youth academy.
Career
Kalinić made his professional debut for HNK Hajduk Split on April 23, 2011, at the age of 21, in a match against NK Slaven Belupo. Over the years, he had several loan spells, including stints at NK Junak Sinj, NK Novalja, and NK Karlovac 1919, before solidifying his position as the first-choice goalkeeper for Hajduk Split during the 2013-14 season. Notably, in the 2015-16 season, he set a record for the most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal in the Prva HNL, going 775 minutes without letting in a single goal.
In 2017, Kalinić transferred to KAA Gent, where he continued to impress, earning accolades such as the Best AA Gent-Player of the Season. His career took him to Aston Villa in 2019, where he played until 2022, and he returned to Hajduk Split for a second spell in 2022.
On the international stage, Kalinić has represented Croatia at various levels, including the under-17 and under-21 teams, before making his senior debut in 2014. He was part of the Croatian squad that reached the finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they finished as runners-up. Despite facing challenges with injuries and competition for the starting position, Kalinić has remained a respected figure in Croatian football.
Legacy
Kalinić's contributions to football have not gone unnoticed, as he has received several individual honors, including the Football Oscar for Best Goalkeeper in the Prva HNL in 2015 and 2016, and the Order of Duke Branimir in 2018. His journey reflects dedication and resilience, making him a notable figure in Croatian sports history.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Club
As of match played 30 March 2024
International
As of match played on 19 November 2019
After Stipe Pletikosa retired from international football in 2014, Kalinić became Croatia's second choice goalkeeper behind Danijel Subašić. He made his debut for Croatia in a November 2014 friendly match against Argentina. He was part of Croatia's UEFA Euro 2016 squad. In May 2018 he was named in Croatia's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He played the last match of the group stage against Iceland making several crucial saves. Croatia finished as the runners-up of the tournament, losing 4–2 to France in the final. After the tournament ended, Subašić retired from international football. Kalinić has thus been appointed as the first choice goalkeeper for the national team. However, due to injuries and the consequent drop in form, he was benched again in favour of Dominik Livaković. He was an unused substitute at the delayed UEFA Euro 2020, as Livaković played all four matches, and a year later, he remained on the standby list for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as Ivica Ivušić and Ivo Grbić were chosen to be reserve goalkeepers. Kalinić's last game for Croatia was a November 2019 friendly against Georgia, where he failed to save a weak shot from Giorgi Papunashvili, giving the Georgians the lead. However, Croatia turned the match into a 2–1 victory.
Hajduk Split
Lovre Kalinić made his HNK Hajduk Split debut on 23 April 2011, under manager Ante Miše at the age of 21, in a Prva HNL match against NK Slaven Belupo, which his side won, 2–1. After loans to Junak Sinj in 2009, Novalja in 2010 and Karlovac in 2012, Hajduk manager Igor Tudor brought Lovre Kalinić back to Hajduk Split to be the number one goalkeeper for the 2013–14 season. In the 2015–16 season, Kalinić set a new record for most consecutive minutes without a goal conceded in the 1. HNL. The goalkeeper went eight games, or 775 minutes, without conceding a goal. The previous record was held by Zoran Slavica, who went 711 minutes without conceding a goal in the Prva HNL. As a result of being part of Croatia's UEFA Euro 2016 squad, Kalinić missed the first three rounds of Hajduk's 2016–17 season, being granted an extended holiday by Hajduk boss Marijan Pušnik. He made his return on 28 July 2016, where Hajduk defeated FC Oleksandriya 3–0 in the Third Round of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League qualifying at CSC Nika Stadium, keeping a clean sheet. In September 2016, Kalinić signed a new five-year contract with Hajduk. In his time at Hajduk, Kalinić made 134 official appearances across seven seasons. In total, Kalinić spent 17 years of junior and senior football with Hajduk.
Gent
On 27 December 2016, Hajduk announced that Lovre Kalinić had played his last game for the club, with a move to Belgian First Division A side K.A.A. Gent completed. The transfer…
- Club
- HNK Hajduk Split (2009–2017)
- Club
- NK Novalja (2009–2010)
- Club
- NK Karlovac 1919 (2012–2012)
- Club
- Croatia national under-21 football team (2011–2013)
- Club
- NK Junak Sinj (2009–2009)
- Club
- KAA Gent (2017–2018)
- Club
- Aston Villa F.C. (2019–2022)
- Club
- Toulouse FC (2020–2020)
- Club
- HNK Hajduk Split (2021–2022)
- Club
- HNK Hajduk Split (2022–)
- National team
- Croatia
- Club
- Croatia national under-17 football team (2006–2006)
- Club
- Croatia men's national football team (2014–)
Legacy
Hajduk Split
Croatian Cup: 2012–13, 2021–22, 2022–23 Aston Villa
EFL Championship play-offs: 2019 Croatia
FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2018 Individual
Football Oscar Best Goalkeeper in Prva HNL: 2015, 2016 Best AA Gent-Player of the Season: 2016–17 Belgian Professional Goalkeeper of the Season: 2016–17 Belgian Goalkeeper of the Year: 2017, 2018 Orders
Order of Duke Branimir: 2018
Clubs
- Croatia men's national football team2014current
- HNK Hajduk Split2022current
- Croatia national under-17 football team2006–2006
- HNK Hajduk Split2009–2017
- NK Junak Sinj2009–2009
- NK Novalja2009–2010
- Croatia national under-21 football team2011–2013
- NK Karlovac 19192012–2012
- KAA Gent2017–2018
- Aston Villa F.C.2019–2022
- Toulouse FC2020–2020
- HNK Hajduk Split2021–2022
Played together with
Aaron HughesAston Villa F.C. · 2005–2007
Aaron TshibolaAston Villa F.C.
Aaron Wan-BissakaAston Villa F.C. · 2026- Abdelkader Ben BoualiToulouse FC · 1939–1940
- Abdelkader Ben BoualiToulouse FC · 1939–1940
Abdelkrim MerryToulouse FC · 1981–1982
Abel AguilarToulouse FC · 2013–2016- Abiodun ObafemiToulouse FC · 1995–1996
Aboubakary KoitaKAA Gent
Achille EmanáToulouse FC · 2001–2008
Adama TraoréAston Villa F.C. · 2015–2016- Adekanmi OlufadéKAA Gent · 2006–2010
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Lovre Kalinić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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