Croatian to Lift UEFA Champions League Trophy for 6th Year in a Row
- by croatiaweek
- in Sport
Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic aiming for third Champions League title in a row (Photo: UEFA)
Liverpool’s dramatic 7-6 victory on aggregate over Roma in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League last night has set up a final with Real Madrid and an impressive statistic for Croatian football.
Whatever happens on 26 May in Kiev there is one thing which is certain, a Croatian footballer will be part of the winning UEFA Champions League club for an impressive sixth year in a row.
If Real Madrid win then Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic will win their third Champions League in a row. If Liverpool manages to get up in Kiev then Croatian defender Dejan Lovren will have claimed his first.
Dejan Lovren (photo credit: HNS)
The great run of Croatians lifting the Champions League all started back in the 2012/13 season when Mario Mandzukic scored in the final against Borussia Dortmund to help Bayern Munich secure the title.
Mario Mandzukic
The following season Luka Modric won his first Champions League with Real Madrid, followed by Ivan Rakitic with Barcelona the next season. In the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, Modric and Kovacic claimed the trophy with Real Madrid.
Ivan Rakitić
This year’s final is also the second in a row which features three Croatian players. Last year Modric, Kovacic and Mandzukic were all involved.
