Mladen Petric Croatian footballer, forward Date of Birth: 01.01.1981 Country: Croatia

1. Biography of Mladen Petric
2. Early Career
3. Success at Basel
4. International Career
5. Moving to Germany and Hamburg

Biography of Mladen Petric

Mladen Petric is a well-known Croatian football player and striker. He was born on January 1, 1981, in a small village called Dubrava, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When the war broke out in Yugoslavia, Petric's family relocated to the town of Noienhof in Switzerland.

Early Career

From a young age, Petric had a passion for sports. His love for football led him to join the local football club, Noienhof. After several successful matches, he was able to showcase his potential and established himself as a promising young player. As a result, he signed a professional contract with Baden club in 1998. A year later, Petric transferred to Grasshopper Club Zurich.

Success at Basel

Petric spent five seasons at Grasshopper Club Zurich. In the summer of 2004, he made a controversial move that drew criticism from fans. During the celebration of winning the championship title, Petric publicly burned a scarf belonging to Basel, a club that was a constant rival of Grasshopper. Despite the backlash, he signed a four-year contract with Basel for a transfer fee of 3 million euros. Over time, the incident was forgotten, and Petric proved his loyalty to the club through his performances.

As a player for Basel, Mladen Petric achieved great success. He became the top scorer of the Swiss championship in the 2005-2006 season, scoring 15 goals in 31 matches. In the same season, he played in all twelve UEFA Cup matches, helping Basel reach the quarter-finals. The following season was equally successful for Petric. In the first round of the UEFA Cup, he scored a goal against Macedonian team Rabotnicki in a 6-2 victory for Basel. In a crucial group stage match against Nancy, Petric stood in as goalkeeper and brilliantly saved a penalty, preserving the 2-2 draw. In the 2006-2007 season, Petric once again became the top scorer of the Swiss championship, with 19 goals to his name.

International Career

In 2001, Mladen Petric received his first call-up to the Croatian national team. He made his debut in a match against South Korea. However, he did not make the cut for the team's roster in the 2002 World Cup. Petric scored his first goal for the national team during a friendly match against Wales, which ended in a 1-1 draw. After a three-year absence from the national team following a Euro 2004 qualifying match against Estonia, Petric returned to the squad in 2006. Although he did not participate in the 2006 World Cup, his name remained among the candidates.

One of Petric's notable moments for the national team was in a match against Italy in August 2006. He scored four goals in 60 minutes, becoming the first Croatian player to achieve a poker in a single game. The match ended with a crushing 7-0 victory for Croatia, which became the team's biggest win in history. Petric's goal against England on November 21, 2007, in a match that ended with a 3-2 victory for Croatia, helped Russia qualify for the Euro 2008 final tournament.

Moving to Germany and Hamburg

In 2007, Mladen Petric transferred to Borussia Dortmund in Germany, where he spent only one season. He played in 29 matches and scored 13 goals. From 2008 onwards, Petric became a player for Hamburg SV, a club he continues to represent to this day.