List of Croatian sportspeople: Difference between revisions

This is a partial list of famous Croatian sportspeople.

Individual Sports

Alpine Skiing

• Stipe Božić - alpinist
• Janica Kostelić - A.S. World Cup Champion in 2001, 2003 & 2006 - (4 Olympic Golds & 2 Silvers)
• Ivica Kostelić - Alpine skier, Olympic silver medalist
• Vladimir Sabich - American skier murdered by girlfriend Claudine Longet

Boxing

• Željko Mavrović - Fmr. European Boxing Champion
• Mate Parlov - Fmr. WBC & European Light Heavyweight Champion
• George Chuvalo - Fmr. Canadian Heavyweight Champion
• Bob Mirovic - 8 Times Australian Heavyweight Champion
• Fritzie Zivic (The Croat Comet) - Fmr. World Welterweight Champion
• Stjepan Božić - WBF Super Middleweight Champion
• Stipe Drviš - World Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion
• Mario Preskar

Chess

• Braslav Rabar
• Petar Trifunović
• Vladimir Vuković
• Ivan Morovic - Chilean Chess player, International Grandmaster (Best Latin American chess player)
• Zdenko Kožul
• Ante Šarić - one of the youngest Croatian International Grandmasters

MMA

• Pat Miletich (The Croatian Sensation) - Fmr. UFC Champion
• Elvis Sinosic - Croatian- Australian Mixed Martial Artist (UFC)
• Mirko Filipović (Cro Cop) - Mixed Martial Artist
• Branko Cikatić - First K-1 Grand Prix Winner
• Siniša Andrijašević - K1 Kickboxer
• Stefan Leko -Croatian heritage. German K1 Kickboxer
• Mark Arapovic - Australian Mixed Martial Artist (Boxing, Judo)
• Johnny “Miller” Miletich who was present at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles as part of the boxing squad

Motorsport

• Mario Andretti - F1 World Champion (ethnic Italian)
• Robbie Francevic - NZ Touring car race driver
• Frank Radisich - NZ Racing car driver (Father of Paul Radisich)
• Paul Radisich - NZ Racing car driver (Son of Frank Radisich)
• Gary Gabelich - American automobile-racing driver
• Bill Vukovich - American hall of fame racing driver

Swimming

• Veljko Rogošic - Marathon swimmer
• Duje Draganja - Swimmer, Olympic Silver Medalist
• Ðurdica Bjedov - Swimmer
• Gordan Kožulj - Swimmer
• Miloš Milošević - Swimmer

Table tennis

• Žarko Dolinar - Table tennis champion
• Zoran Primorac - 1993 & 1997 World Cup winner
• Dragutin Šurbek - Doubles world champion in 1979 and 1983
• Antun Stipančić - Doubles world champion in 1979
• Tamara Boroš - (#7 - Greatest non-Asian in the World)
• Tan Ruiwu - Table tennis player (ethnic Chinese)

Tennis

• Mario Ančić - Davis Cup champion (#8)
• Javier Frana - Argentinian Olympic medalist
• Ivan Ljubičić - Davis Cup champion (#4)
• Dominik Hrbaty - Slovak tennis player
• Karolina Šprem - Tennis player
• Marin Čilić - #1 Junior in the World - Roland Garros Champion (Junior, Singles)
• Iva Majoli - Roland Garros Champion
• Evie Dominiković - Australian tennis player
• Goran Ivanišević - Wimbledon champion (4 times Wimbledon finalist)
• Ivo Karlović - Tallest tennis player ever
• Nikola Pilić - 4 Times Davis Cup Winner (Roland Garros Finalist in 1973)
• Željko Franulović - Roland Garros Finalist in 1970
• Mirjana Lučić - Australian Open Doubles Champion (with Hingis)
• Franjo Puncec - #10 in 1938
• Boro Jovanovic - #7 in 1963
• Frank Dancevic
• Tathiana Garbin

Triathlon

• Dejan Patrčević

Wrestling

• Jerry Sags - Fmr. WWF & WCW Tag Team Champion (The Nasty Boys)
• Josip Peruzović - WWE Hall of Famer (Nikolai Volkoff)
• Stan Stasiak - WWF World Heavyweight Champion
• Shawn Stasiak - WWF Wrestler
• Hugo Savinovich - WWE Spanish broadcaster
• Thomas Boric - WWF Wrestler (Paul Diamond, Kato, Max Moon)
• Victor Jovica

Team Sports

Football

• Dorian Šimić - Official International Water-Boy [1992 - 2008]
• Saša Bjelanović - Ascoli Calcio 1898
• Miroslav "Ciro" Blaževic - Neuchâtel Xamax coach
• Igor Budan - Ascoli Calcio 1898
• Siniša Mihajlović - Internazionale Milano F.C. (Croatian mother)
• Dario Šimić - A.C. Milan (Also brother of infamous Croatian Water-Boy)
• Davor Šuker
• Igor Tudor - A.C. Siena, on loan from Juventus
• Nikola Dragin
• Ivan Klasnić - Werder Bremen
• Niko Kovač
• Robert Kovač - Juventus (Bayern Munich)
• Niko Kranjčar - Portsmouth FC
• Dado Prso
• Jurica Vranješ - Werder Bremen
• Zvonimir Boban (AC Milan)
• Alen Bokšić (Lazio, Juventus, Middlesbrough)
• Josip Skoblar - European Golden Boot, 1971
• Davor Suker (Golden Boot winner at the 1998 WC) (Real Madrid, Arsenal, Munich 1860)
• Robert Prosinečki (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Sevilla FC)
• Dražan Jerković (Golden Boot winner at the 1962 EURO & 1966 WC)
• Aljoša Asanović
• Dražen Ladić
• Josip Katalinski
• Srecko Katanec
• Ico Hitrec
• Zlatko Cajkovski
• Zlatko Vujović
• Robert Jarni (Juventus, Real Madrid)
• Davor Vugrinec (Lecce, Atalanta)
• Marinko Jurendic

European Footballers

• Teddy Lučić - Swedish footballer (Croatian father & Finnish mother)
• Zlatan Ibrahimović - Swedish football player, Inter Milano (Bosniak father, Croat mother)
• Tarcisio Burgnich - Fmr. Italian footballer

Australian Footballers

• Mark Bresciano (Croatian mother)
• Mark Bosnich
• Ante Covic
• Jason Culina
• Steve Horvat
• Zeljko Kalac
• Ante Milicic
• Ljubo Milicevic
• Tom Pondeljak
• Tony Popovic
• Mark Rudan
• Josip Skoko
• Mark Viduka
• David Zdrilic
• Ned Zelic
• Eugene Galekovic
• Richie Alagich
• Robert Bajic
• Sime Kovacevic
• Ante Kovacevic
• Ante Milicic
• Ruben Zadkovich
• Matthew Spiranovic
• Daniel Visevic
• Mate Dugandzic

Americas footballers

From Argentina:

• Daniel Ruben Bilos
• Leonardo Pisculichi (Piškulić)
• Mirko Saric
• Mariano Esteban Uglessich

From Canada:

• Ante Jazic
• Johnny Sulentic
• Nick Dasovic
• Branko Segota

From Chile:

• Lucas Tudor
• Ivo Basay

From Costa Rica:

• José Rafael Fello Meza Ivankovich - soccer legend; a stadium in Cost Rica is named after him Estadio José Rafael Fello Meza Ivankovich

From the USA:

• Ante Razov - American football player
• Dean Ljubicic - American bodybuilder

NZ Footballers

• Paul Urlovic
• Ivan Vicelich
• Chris Zoricich

American Football

• Bill Belichick - NFL Coach
• Nick Saban - NFL Coach
• Brian Billick - NFL Coach
• Steve Belichick - Fmr. NFL player & coach
• Jared Hamilton - Yale University Football Player
• Joe Kuharich - Fmr. NFL Coach
• Tony Mandarich - Fmr. NFL player
• John Mandarich - Fmr. CFL player
• Frank Sinkwich - Fmr. NFL player, 1942 winner of the Heisman Trophy
• Chris Zorich - Fmr. NFL player (African-American father, Croatian mother)
• Elvis Grbac - Fmr. NFL player
• Brian Generalovich - Fmr. University of Pittsburgh collegiate basketball & football player (Serbian father)
• Steve Spoljaric - Fmr. Fordham University collegiate football player, Bishop McDevitt High School (Harrisburg, PA)

Australian rules football

• Brent Grgic - Australian rules footballer
• Peter Sumich - Australian rules footballer
• Adrian Barich - Australian rules footballer and Rugby League player
• Alan Didak - Australian rules footballer
• Matthew Pavlich - Australian rules footballer
• Allen Jakovich - Australian rules footballer
• Glen Jakovich - Australian rules footballer
• Darren Gaspar - #1 pick in 1993
• Travis Gaspar - Australian rules footballer
• Damien Gaspar - Australian rules footballer
• Ivan Maric - Australian rules footballer
• Steven Jurica - Australian rules footballer
• Craig Starcevich - Australian rules footballer
• Marc Dragicevic - Australian rules footballer
• Gordon Fode - Australian rules footballer
• Ilija Grgic - Australian rules footballer
• John Gerovich - Australian rules footballer
• Steven Salopek - Australian rules footballer
• Jacob Surjan - Australian rules footballer
• Judd Lalich - Australian rules footballer
• Jon Dorotich - Australian rules footballer
• Steven Bilcich - Australian rules footballer
• Val Perovic - Australian rules footballer
• Anthony Begovich - Australian rules footballer
• Gavin Crosisca - Australian rules footballer
• Ray Gabelich - Australian rules footballer
• Sam Kekovich - Australian rules footballer
• Brian Kekovich - Australian rules footballer
• Tom Grljusich - Australian rules footballer
• George Grljusich - Australian rules footballer

Baseball

• Roger Maris - Baseball Legend
• Ed Jurak - Baseball player
• Johnny Pesky - Baseball player
• Mickey Lolich - Baseball player
• Paul Spoljaric - Baseball player
• Erv Palica (Pavlicevich) - Baseball player

Basketball

• John Abramovic - Fmr. NBA and player
• Andrew Bogut - Australian NBA player of Croatian descent (Drafted 1st Overall 2005)
• Pete Maravich - NBA Hall of Famer
• Dražen Petrović - NBA Hall of Famer
• Dražen Dalipagić - NBA Hall of Famer
• Krešimir Ćosić - NBA Hall of Famer
• Frank Drmic - Australian basketball player
• Gordan Giriček - NBA player
• Vinko Jelovac - basketball player
• Željko Jerkov - basketball player
• Mario Kasun - NBA player
• Toni Kukoč - NBA player (NBA Sixth Man of the Year, 1995-1996 season)
• Jack Marin - Fmr. American NBA Star
• Kevin McHale - NBA Hall of Famer (Croatian mother)
• George Mikan - NBA Hall of Famer
• Dražen Petrović - NBA Hall of Famer
• Zoran Planinić - NBA player
• Dino Rađa - Fmr. NBA player
• Dalibor Bagarić - Fmr. NBA player
• Steve Stipanovich - Fmr. NBA player, No.2 pick in 1983 NBA Draft
• Predrag Stojaković - NBA Star (ethnic Serb)
• Bruno Šundov - Fmr. NBA player
• Žan Tabak - Fmr. NBA player
• Rudy Tomjanovich - Fmr. NBA player and coach, No.2 pick in 1970 NBA Draft
• Andy Tonkovich - 1948 first NBA pick
• Andrew Vlahov - Fmr. Australian NBA player
• Stojko Vranković - Fmr. NBA player
• Vedran Vukusic - Fmr. Northwestern Wildcats basketball, Big Ten leading scorer 2005-2006
• Uros Slokar - NBA player
• Franjo Arapović - Fmr. NBA Player

See Old Timers for a list of early day NBA players of Croatian descent

Cricketers

• Simon Katich - Australian cricket player
• Anton Devcich - NZ cricket player
• Joseph Yovich - NZ cricket player
• Leonard Stephen Pascoe - Australian cricket player

Handball

• Hrvoje Horvat - Handball player
• Mirza Džomba
• Ivano Balić
• Petar Metličić
• Blaženko Lacković
• Vlado Šola
• Slavko Goluža
• Irfan Smajlagić
• Patrik Ćavar

Hockey

• Frank Mahovlich - NHL Hall of Famer (1958 Calder Trophy Winner)
• Peter Mahovlich - Fmr. NHL player, nr. 2 in 1963 NHL Amateur Draft
• Joe Sakic - NHL player (2001 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner)
• John Kordic - Fmr. NHL player
• Dan Kordic - Fmr. NHL player
• Mark Pavelich - Fmr. NHL player (Miracle On Ice)
• Matt Pavelich - Fmr. NHL player
• Marty Pavelich - NHL Hall of Famer
• Cory Sarich - NHL player
• Adrien Plavsic - ([Serb] father, [Croat] mother) Fmr. NHL player
• Tony Hrkac - Fmr. NHL player
• Joel Prpic - Hockey player (brief appearance in the NHL)
• Rob Valicevic - NHL player
• David Spanjol - WPHA player

Rugby

• Dean Bosnich - Rugby League player
• Frano Botica - Rugby Union player
• Ned Catic - Rugby League player
• Ivan Cleary - Rugby League player and coach
• Danny Crnkovic - Rugby League player
• Ivan Henjak - Rugby League player
• Matt Henjak - Rugby Union player
• Max Krilich - Rugby league player
• Dan Luger - Rugby Union player
• Tony Mestrov - Rugby League player
• James Stosic - NZ Rugby League player

Volleyball

• Marcos Milinkovic - Argentine volleyball player
• Alejandro Spajic - Argentine volleyball player

Waterpolo

• Ozren Bonačić - Fmr. water polo player & coach
• Perica Bukić - Water polo player and politician
• Milivoj Bebić

Other Sports

• Filip Petrović - world champion powerlifter
• Mirko Filipovic - K1,UFC,PRIDE fighter
• Matija Ljubek - Kayakist
• Sofia Mulanovich - famous Peruvian surfer
• Dean Lukin - Weightlifter
• Bruno Bulic - Cyclist
• Val and Sandra Bezic - Canadian figure skating pair
• Franjo Mihalic - Marathon athlete
• Štefica Krištof - Bowling champion
• The Great Antonio - Strongman and eccentric
• Marijan Matijasevich - "The strongest man in the world"
• Juraj Barbaric - Strongman
• Frank Nobilo - NZ Golfer
• Luka Grubor - UK Olympic Gold Medalist (Rowing)

See also

• List of VFL/AFL players by ethnicity