# Denis Kolinger

Denis Kolinger (born 14 January 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Lokomotiva. Born in Germany, he has represented the Croatia national team.

## Club career

Kolinger was born in Malsch, Germany where his parents were working before they returned to Stankovo in Croatia when he was three months old. He started out at NK Jaska in nearby Jastrebarsko, moving on to the NK Zagreb academy at the age of 13. He went through all the ranks of the club, debuting for the senior side in the 2011/12 season, becoming a first-team regular in the following season. After NK Zagreb was relegated after the 2015/16 season, Kolinger moved to NK Lokomotiva, signing a four-year contract.
On 15 January 2021, Kolinger moved to Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on a three-year deal. In August 2024, Kolinger's contract was terminated by mutual agreement.

## International career

A Croatian youth international in U16, U17, U18 and U19 categories, Kolinger refused a call-up to the Croatia U21 national football team under Nenad Gračan in August 2014 claiming that he wanted to play for Germany, that he feels he is a German rather than a Croat and is therefore willing to take the chance and seek out German nationality, which he could since it is the country of his birth. However, in early 2015 he changed his mind, claiming that he realized it would be too hard for him to join the Germany U21 national football team and since March 2015 rejoined the Croatia U21 team.
He made his senior debut for Croatia in a May 2017 friendly match against Mexico, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Fran Tudor.

## Career Statistics
### Club

    As of match played 21 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| NK Zagreb | 2011-12 | 1. HNL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| NK Zagreb | 2012-13 | 1. HNL | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| NK Zagreb | 2013-14 | 2. HNL | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 0 |
| NK Zagreb | 2014-15 | 1. HNL | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 30 | 2 |
| NK Zagreb | 2015-16 | 1. HNL | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 0 |
| NK Zagreb | Total | Total | 102 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 106 | 2 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2016-17 | 1. HNL | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2017-18 | 1. HNL | 30 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 4 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2018-19 | 1. HNL | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 0 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2019-20 | 1. HNL | 32 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 37 | 2 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2020-21 | 1 HNL | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | Total | Total | 128 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 147 | 6 |
| Vejle | 2020-21 | Danish Superliga | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 1 |
| Vejle | 2021-22 | Danish Superliga | 29 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 2 |
| Vejle | 2023-24 | Danish Superliga | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| Vejle | 2024-25 | Danish Superliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Vejle | Total | Total | 68 | 2 | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 79 | 3 |
| CFR Cluj (loan) | 2022-23 | Liga I | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 2 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2024-25 | HNL | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 332 | 10 | 36 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 379 | 13 |
* ↑ Includes Croatian Cup, Danish Cup, Cupa României
* ↑ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, One appearance in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, Seven appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Liga I European play-offs

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Croatia | 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 1 | 0 |

## Honours

NK Zagreb
* 2. NL: 2013–14
Lokomotiva Zagreb
* Croatian Cup runner-up: 2019–20
CFR Cluj
* Supercupa României runner-up: 2022