Ognjen Vukojević is a Croatian football manager and former professional football defender.
Vukojević played for FC Dynamo Kyiv from 2008 to 2015, winning the Ukrainian Premier League.
He was nicknamed 'Dinamo's Gattuso' during his time at GNK Dinamo Zagreb for his aggressive playing style.
Biography
Early Life
Ognjen Vukojević was born in Croatia and began his football journey at a young age, playing for Mladost Ždralovi before moving to NK Bjelovar. He later joined NK Varteks Varaždin in 1996, where he honed his skills until 2002. After a brief return to NK Bjelovar, he started his professional career at NK Slaven Belupo in 2003.
Career
Vukojević's career took off when he signed with GNK Dinamo Zagreb in December 2005. He made his debut in March 2006 and quickly became a key player, earning the nickname "Dinamo's Gattuso" for his tenacious playing style. He contributed significantly to the team's success, participating in European competitions and scoring crucial goals. After a successful stint at Dinamo, he played for FC Dynamo Kyiv from 2008 to 2015, where he won multiple titles, including the Ukrainian Premier League.
On the international stage, Vukojević made his debut for the Croatia national team in 2007 and was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2008, where he played in two matches. He earned a total of 55 caps and scored four goals before retiring from international football in 2014.
Managerial Career and Legacy
After retiring as a player, Vukojević transitioned into management, becoming the head coach of the Croatia national under-20 team in May 2019. He also serves as an assistant manager at Dynamo Kyiv and a scout for the Croatia national team. His contributions to Croatian football, both as a player and a manager, have solidified his legacy in the sport, particularly through his achievements with Dinamo Zagreb and Dynamo Kyiv.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
Early career
Vukojević started to play football at Mladost Ždralovi and moved to NK Bjelovar before joining NK Varteks Varaždin in 1996, where he would play until 2002, when, after finishing his youth years, he was released by the club. After a season back at NK Bjelovar, Vukojević started his professional career at Slaven Belupo in 2003. He moved to Belgian side Lierse S.K. in 2005, but was not given a chance to prove his talent at the club and decided to return to Croatia in December 2005, signing with Dinamo Zagreb.
Dinamo Zagreb
Vukojević made his debut for Dinamo Zagreb in their 3–0 win at home to Međimurje on 4 March 2006. During the 2006–07 season, he established himself as a regular at the club and was often nicknamed "Dinamo's Gattuso" because of his style of play. In the autumn of 2006, Vukojević also made six European appearances for Dinamo Zagreb, appearing in all of their four UEFA Champions League qualifiers against Ekranas and Arsenal as well as both of their matches against Auxerre in the first round of the UEFA Cup. He scored one goal in Dinamo's 5–2 win at home to Ekranas. In the first part of the 2007–08 season, Vukojević appeared in all of Dinamo Zagreb's 12 European matches that season, making six appearances in the UEFA Champions League qualifying and further six in the UEFA Cup. He scored one goal apiece in Dinamo's home matches against Domžale and Werder Bremen in the UEFA Champions League qualifying as well as both of their goals in…
Vukojević was first called up to the Croatia national team in August 2007. He made his international debut on 16 October 2007 in Croatia's 3–0 win in a friendly match against Slovakia, coming on as a half-time substitute and scoring his first international goal only two minutes into the second half to give Croatia a 2–0 lead. His competitive debut for Croatia came in their 2–0 away defeat at Macedonia in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, where he came off the bench to replace Niko Kranjčar in the final 15 minutes of the game. Vukojević was also part of Croatia's squad at the UEFA Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland, where he appeared in two of the team's four matches. He came on as a late substitute for Ivica Olić in Croatia's opening match against Austria and played all 90 minutes in their final group match against Poland. Croatia won both of these matches 1–0. He made his first appearance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Croatia's goalless draw at Ukraine on 11 October 2008 and also appeared in their 4–0 win at home to Andorra four days later, being in the starting line-up for both of these matches. On 27 June 2014, Vukojević announced his retirement from the Croatia national team. He earned a total of 55 caps, scoring 4 goals, and his final international was a May 2014 friendly match against Mali.
International goals
On 10 May 2019, Vukojević was named the manager of the Croatia national under-20 team.
- Club
- Spartak Moscow (2013–2013)
- Club
- Lierse S.K. (2005–2005)
- Club
- NK Bjelovar (2001–2003)
- Club
- FC Dynamo Kyiv (2008–2015)
- Club
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb (2006–2008)
- Club
- NK Slaven Belupo (2003–2005)
- Club
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb (2014–2015)
- Club
- FK Austria Wien (2015–2017)
- Club
- Croatia national under-21 football team (2003–2005)
- Club
- Croatia men's national football team (2007–2014)
- Club
- Croatia national under-20 football team (2003–2003)
- National team
- Croatia
Legacy
Dinamo Zagreb
Prva HNL: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2014–15 Croatian Football Cup: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2014–15 Croatian Football Super Cup: 2006 Dynamo Kyiv
Ukrainian Premier League: 2008–09 Ukrainian Cup: 2013–14 Ukrainian Super Cup: 2009, 2011
Clubs
- NK Bjelovar2001–2003
- Croatia national under-20 football team2003–2003
- Croatia national under-21 football team2003–2005
- NK Slaven Belupo2003–2005
- Lierse S.K.2005–2005
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb2006–2008
- Croatia men's national football team2007–2014
- FC Dynamo Kyiv2008–2015
- Spartak Moscow2013–2013
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb2014–2015
- FK Austria Wien2015–2017
Played together with
- Abdelillah BaguiSpartak Moscow · 2003–2003
Abdou JammehLierse S.K. · 2009–2010
Abdul Majeed WarisSpartak Moscow · 2013–2014
Abdullahi Ibrahim AlhassanFK Austria Wien- Adam LedwońFK Austria Wien · 2000–2002
Adam PetroušFK Austria Wien · 2005–2005- Adam WolaninSpartak Moscow · 1941–1941
Aderinsola Habib EseolaFC Dynamo Kyiv · 2009–2010
Admir MehmediFC Dynamo Kyiv · 2012–2014- Adnan GušoSpartak Moscow · 2001–2001
- Adnan GušoSpartak Moscow · 2001–2002
- Adrian ŠemperCroatia national under-21 football team
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Ognjen Vukojević is a Croatian football manager and former professional football defender. He is currently the manager of the Croatia national under-20 team, an assistant manager of Ukrainian Premier League club Dynamo Kyiv, and a scout of the Croatia national team.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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