Marcelo Brozovic: Early Life, Clubs, Family, Net Worth, Career & Stats

Marcelo Brozovic is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr and also for the Croatian national team. His talents were nurtured in Hrvatski Dragovoljac’s youth club where Brozovic appeared in 22 games for his childhood club in 2011, but unfortunately, the side was relegated. Later, Brozovic signed with Lokomotiva, where he spent one season, leading the club to a mid-table finish.

In August 2012, Brozovic moved to a new Zagreb club, this time to Dinamo Zagreb, he then moved to Inter Milan and had a successful career there. He captained the team to their first Serie A title in over a decade in 2021, as well as two European finals (Europa League in 2020 and Champions League in 2023). In the summer of 2023, Brozovic moved to the Saudi Pro League, signing with Al Nassr for a fee of €18 million. Brozovic also represented Croatia on many successful occasions.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

EARLY LIFE

Born on 16^th November 1992, he was raised in the village of Okuje near Velika Gorica in Zagreb, by the time Marcelo was aged 9-10 years old, he had joined the youth system of the local club Hrvatski Dragovoljac at Novi Zagreb neighborhood to experience competitive football. The turning point of Marcelo’s career came midway in July 2011 when he joined NK Lokomotiva after Dragovoljac slipped into relegation. He slowly rose to fame, and then signed for Inter Milan where he truly made his mark.

Also Raed: Saudi Pro League: Al-Nassr – Club details, history, top players and future objectives

CLUB CAREER

EARLY CAREER

Brozovic was born in Zagreb and graduated from neighboring Hrvatski Dragovoljac’s youth setup. He made his debut as a professional on 24 July 2010, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–4 loss against Dinamo Zagreb. Brozovic scored his first goal on 18 March of the following year, the winner against Karlovac.

Lokomotiva

In July 2011, he signed with Lokomotiva, after Dragovoljac’s relegation. He appeared in 27 league matches in his first campaign, scoring four times as Lokomotiva achieved a comfortable mid-table position.

DINAMO ZAGREB

In August 2012, Brozovic signed a seven-year contract with Dinamo Zagreb, as a replacement for Hamburger SV-bound Milan Badelj. Brozovic finished his first season with the club by making 30 appearances in all competitions, including 23 in the league, scoring twice in the process, as Dinamo Zagreb won the league, reached the second round of the 2012–13 Croatian Football Cup, and was eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League.

INTER MILAN

On 24 January 2015, Brozovic signed with Inter Milan on a one-and-a-half year-loan deal. He made his official debut with the club on 1 February 2015, coming on as a substitute in the 3–1 away upset of Inter against Sassuolo. Brozovic finished his first Interseason with 15 league appearances, 13 of them as a starter and one goal. He was then signed permanently for €5 million.

In the 2018–19 season, Brozovic made his first UEFA Champions League appearance for Inter on 18 September in the opening Group B match in a 2–1 comeback win versus Tottenham Hotspur. On 10 June 2023, Brozovic captained Inter in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final, becoming the first Croatian to captain a team in a Champions League final. Brozovic spent 7 seasons with Inter, making over 300 appearances with the club.

AL-NASSR

During the 2023 summer transfer window Saudi Professional League club Al Nassr signed Brozovic for a transfer fee of €18m. On 25 July 2023, he made his debut for the club in a 5-0 defeat against Celta Vigo in a friendly, playing 54 minutes. On 31 July 2023, he made his competitive debut for the club in a 4-1 away win against Union Sportive Monastirienne in the Arab Club Champions Cup playing the full 90 minutes. He also won the Arab Club Championship with the team.

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

Brozovic appeared with Croatia in the under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 categories. With the latter he appeared well during 2013, scoring seven goals in eight appearances. Brozovic made his debut for the main squad on 7 June, starting in a 1–0 success against Australia, he went on to make his World Cup debut playing the last 26 minutes in a 1–3 loss against Brazil. In May 2016, Brozovic was part of Croatia’s squad for the UEFA Euro 2016.

In May 2018, he was named in Croatia’s preliminary 32-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He made the final squad, as Croatia progressed to the final versus France. In May 2021, Brozovic‡was called up for the postponed UEFA Euro 2020. In November 2022, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Croatia managed to win the bronze medal in the latter, after a 2–1 win over Morocco in the third-place play-off.

RECORDS

• The Croatia midfielder covered 16.7 km during the 120 minutes, more distance than any player has ever covered in World Cup history.

AWARDS ACHIEVEMENTS

Dinamo Zagreb

Prva HNL: 2012–13, 2013–14

Croatian Supercup: 2013

Inter Milan

Serie A: 2020–21

Coppa Italia: 2021–22, 2022–23

Supercoppa Italiana: 2021, 2022

UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2022–23

UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2019–20

Al Nassr

Arab Club Champions Cup: 2023

Croatia

FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2018; third place: 2022

UEFA Nations League runner-up: 2022–23

Individual

UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2019–20

Serie A Best Midfielder: 2021–22

Serie A Player of the Month: April 2022

Serie A Team of the Year: 2021–22

Orders

Order of Duke Branimir: 2018

PERSONAL LIFE

Brozovic married Silvija Lihtar in 2016; together they have a daughter named Aurora who was born one year later. In October 2019 they had their second child, a son called Rafael. he is also known for philanthropic work, in summer 2018, Brozovic donated sets of textbooks to all primary school students for the forthcoming school year in CeriÄ, Croatia. In June 2020, he paid for a hip surgery for a Macedonian woman whom he had never met before.

NET WORTH

He currently has an estimated net worth of 23 Million Dollars.

FAMILY

He was born to his mother, Sanja Brozovic, and his father, Ivan Brozovic, he grew up alongside his brother, Patrick Brozovic, and sister, Ema Brozovic.

PARTNER

Silvija Lihtar, who is currently 30 years old, is the wife of the new star of Al Nassr’s side, Marcelo Brozovic. Born in 1993, Silvija met Marcelo in his hometown of Velika Gorica in Croatia and they began dating in 2012. Silvija does not currently boast a large social media following

HOUSES

He reportedly had a home in San Siro Italy, his recent homes are not known but he does enjoy a luxurious lifestyle.