Marko Kraljević (footballer)

Marko Kraljević (footballer)
Marko Kraljević (born 1 November 1965) is a former footballer and current head coach of Singapore Premier League club, Hougang United.
Club career
Marko Kraljević played in the Malaysian Premier League for Kelantan. and Hong Kong Rangers in 1995. He won the Hong Kong Senior Shield and Hong Kong FA Cup in the successful season of 1994–95. Next, he travelled to Singapore to play in the S.League during its early years for Balestier Central, and later with Tampines Rovers and Jurong FC as a striker.
Coaching career
Balestier Khalsa
After he retired, Kraljević started off his coaching career with the Balestier Khalsa Centre of Excellence (COE) under-16 team, working his way up to become the head coach of the Prime League team for the Tigers.
Woodlands Wellington
He then moved to become the Prime League coach of Woodlands Wellington in 2012.
Balestier Khalsa
Kraljević returned to Balestier as head coach for their 2014 S.League season. He quickly transformed the team into one of the toughest in the League, winning the club's first ever Singapore Cup and awarded the S.League Coach of the Year at the end of that season.
Kraljević led Balestier Khalsa in the AFC Cup in 2015, along the way, they won 2013 AFC Cup semi finalist, East Bengal 2–1. With limited resource in 2016, Kraljević still able produce some positive results, beating Dhivehi Premier League champions, New Radiant 3–0 and held them 2–2 away from home before winning Hong Kong Premier League winners 1–0 at Jalan Besar Stadium as the underdog. Balestier ended the season with a fourth place in the Singapore Cup.
Kelantan
After five years with Balestier Khalsa, where he becomes the longest serving head coach of the Tigers, Kraljevic was appointed as new head coach of Kelantan FA in January 2019, returning to the team he has played for in the 1990s. However, his contract was terminated on April the same year, with Kelantan occupying the relegation spot in 2019 Malaysia Premier League.
Hougang United
In 2022, Kraljević joined Hougang United as their head of youth, leading the coaching responsibility for the club's U-21 side. On 17 April 2023, Kraljević replaced Firdaus Kassim as interim head coach for the team after the team failed to win any matches since they won the opening match in the 2023 Singapore Premier League season. Firdaus took over Kraljević's position as head of youth.
Honours
Player
Hong Kong Rangers
Hong Kong Senior Shield: 1994–95
Hong Kong FA Cup: 1994–95
Manager
Balestier Khalsa
Singapore Cup: 2014
League Cup: 2015 (Runner-up)
League Cup Plate Tournament: 2014 (Runner-up)
Community Shield: 2015 (Runner-up)
Individual
S.League Coach of the Year: 2014
Personal life
Marko is also the successful joint-owner of the Stadio futsal facilities found around Singapore together with V. Sundramoorthy.
He is married to a Singaporean wife and has two children.
References
External links
Former tiger returns as coach
1965 births
Living people
Footballers from Düsseldorf
German people of Croatian descent
Men's association football midfielders
Yugoslav men's footballers
Croatian men's footballers
NK Osijek players
Kelantan F.C. players
Hong Kong Rangers FC players
Balestier Khalsa FC players
Tampines Rovers FC players
Jurong FC players
Yugoslav First League players
Singapore Premier League players
Croatian expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia
Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia
Expatriate men's footballers in Singapore
Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Singapore
Expatriate men's footballers in Hong Kong
Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Hong Kong
Croatian football managers
Balestier Khalsa FC managers
Singapore Premier League managers
Croatian expatriate football managers
Expatriate football managers in Singapore
Expatriate football managers in Malaysia