Nikola Nikola Kalinic
Croatia- Early Life and Club Career
- Premier League and Ukrainian Sojourn
- Fiorentina and Milan
- International Career
- Personal Life
Early Life and Club Career
Nikola Kalinić was born in Solin, Croatia, on January 5, 1988. He began his football career at the renowned Croatian club Hajduk Split, joining the club's academy in 1998. In 2005, he made his debut for the senior team before going on loan to Pula and Šibenik in the subsequent two seasons.
Upon his return from loan in 2007, Kalinić's prolific goalscoring (17 in his first season) earned him a call-up to the Croatian national team and a spot in the UEFA Euro 2008 squad. His impressive performances caught the attention of Blackburn Rovers, who acquired him for a reported €7 million in 2009.
Premier League and Ukrainian Sojourn
Kalinić spent two seasons at Blackburn Rovers, achieving mid-table finishes in the English Premier League. In August 2011, he joined Ukrainian club Dnipro on a four-year contract. Despite initial struggles under Coach Juande Ramos, he became a key player under Myron Markevych, helping Dnipro reach the final of the 2015 UEFA Europa League.
However, rumors of Kalinić's impending departure from Dnipro surfaced in August 2015, and he subsequently left the club, expressing gratitude and appreciation for his time there.
Fiorentina and Milan
In August 2015, Kalinić signed for Italian club Fiorentina on a four-year contract. He became a regular starter and one of the team's top scorers. In January 2017, he was close to joining Tianjin Quanjian in China but ultimately decided to remain in Florence.
Amidst rumors of Fiorentina's potential sale, Kalinić and other players expressed their desire to leave the club. In August 2017, he was loaned to AC Milan with an obligation to buy the following summer. He made his club debut in the opening round of the 2017/18 Serie A season against Cagliari.
International Career
Kalinić represented Croatia at youth levels from 2003 to 2010 before making his senior debut in 2008. He participated in the UEFA Euro tournaments of 2008, 2012, and 2016.
Personal Life
Nikola Kalinić is married to Croatian Ivana, and they have a son together.
