Petar Krpan

Born in Osijek, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Krpan started his career with local club NK Osijek. Due to the war breaking out in 1991, as a 17-year-old he engaged in battle to help save his hometown. He moved to Sporting Clube de Portugal in 1998, being scarcely used during his one-and-a-half-season spell. In January 2000, staying in Portugal, Krpan left for U.D. Leiria and played for the team until the summer of 2001, initially on loan. He then returned to Croatia and played one season apiece for Osijek, NK Zagreb and HNK Hajduk Split, before returning to Leiria for 2004–05; he was an important attacking element during the campaign as the latter team barely avoided relegation from the Primeira Liga, notably scoring in a 1–1 away draw against FC Porto. In 2005, Krpan once again moved back to his country by joining HNK Rijeka, where he spent one season before moving to second division side NK Inter Zaprešić.

Krpan won three caps for the Croatia national team in 1998, all as a second-half substitute. His debut occurred on 6 June in a friendly match with Australia, in Zagreb. His final international was a September 1998 European Championship qualification match away against the Republic of Ireland. Krpan was a member of the bronze medal-winning squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup where he made one appearance, playing the last 13 minutes of the round-of-16 match against Romania (1–0).

Club

NK Zagreb Croatian First League: 2001–02 Hajduk Split Croatian First League: 2003–04 Croatian Football Cup: 2002–03 Rijeka Croatian Football Cup: 2005–06 Inter Zaprešić Croatian Second League: 2006–07

Individual

Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport: 1998

Orders

Order of the Croatian Interlace – 1998