- Listen now: everything is launched! Should Marcus Rashford leave Man United to direct the attack by Aston Villa?
The former international Croatia Nikola Pokrivac tragically died at the age of 39 after a serious car accident in Karlovac, Croatia.
According to local police, the incident occurred Friday evening while Pokrivac returned from training with his current team, NK Vojnic, a fourth division club.
The accident involved four vehicles and also won the life of another person who was not traveling with Pokrivac. Two of his teammates suffered critical injuries and remain hospitalized.
The Croatian federation said in a press release: “It is impossible to find words of comfort in such a shocking and unimaginably sad moment when we lost a young life.”
Their president Marijan Kustic added: “It is impossible to find words of comfort in such a shocking and unimaginably sad moment where we lost a young life.
“ I cannot express my deepest condolences to Nikola’s family and to be dear to this irreplaceable loss, and the HNS and the Croatian football family will serve them in these most difficult times.
“Nikola was an exceptional footballer who lived for football until his last moment in this world, and who showed great courage in life by overcoming a cruel disease. It is a great loss for our football community, and particularly painful for his family. Our prayers are with Nikola and his family.
Pokrivac obtained 15 ceilings for the Croatian national team between 2008 and 2010, participating in the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament.
Throughout his career, he played for clubs such as Dinamo Zagreb, as Monaco and Red Bull Salzburg.
In 2015, he received a diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma, leading to his retirement from professional football. Nevertheless, he continued to play in lower level Croats.
