Inter Milan Croatian senior team
Which team did the player Mateo Kovačić belong to from 2013 to 2014?
Mateo Kovačić Mateo Kovačić ( ; born 6 May 1994 ) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the Croatia national team . Kovačić is usually deployed as a central midfielder or box to box midfielder , but he is considered to be a versatile midfielder who can play in deeper positions . He also adapted to playing either wide on the left or as an attacking midfielder earlier in his career . Kovačić began his professional career with Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 16 , with whom he won two consecutive league titles , before joining Inter Milan in 2013 . After the 2014–15 season , he moved to Real Madrid , where he won the 2015–16 , 2016–17 and 2017–18 Champions League . He joined Chelsea on one-year loan in 2018 , winning the 2018–19 Europa League in the process and eventually signing permanently for the Premier League club . After the 2019–20 season , he was named Chelsea Player of the Year . A full Croatian international since 2013 , Kovačić represented the nation at the 2014 FIFA World Cup , UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup , reaching the final of the latter tournament . He was nicknamed Il Professore ( The Professor ) by the Italian sports journalists . Club career . Youth career . Kovačić began playing at an early age at the local LASK Linzs academy . In 2007 , when Kovačić was 13 , he was spotted by scouts from several prominent European clubs , including Ajax , Inter Milan , Juventus and Bayern Munich , but his family opted to move to Zagreb instead , where he joined the academy of Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb . Kovačić suffered a serious injury in 2009 in which his leg was broken , but he returned to the pitch after a lengthy recovery on 31 May 2010 , appearing in the last match of the Croatian under-17 academy league , in a friendly 5–0 win against RNK Split under-17s . Dinamo Zagreb . Kovačić started training with the clubs senior squad under manager , Vahid Halilhodžić , four months later , on 6 October 2010 , but continued to appear for the club in academy league matches during October . Later that month , it was reported by the local sports daily , Sportske novosti , that Arsenals chief scout , Steve Rowley , had arrived in Zagreb to watch him perform in under-17 matches against Cibalia and NK Zagreb . Kovačić eventually had his professional league debut in the 2010–11 Croatian First Football League away match against Hrvatski Dragovoljac on 20 November 2010 , in which he scored Dinamos fourth goal in their 6–0 win . This made him the youngest goalscorer in the history of the league , at the age of 16 years and 198 days , breaking the record set only a week earlier by Dino Špehar who had scored for NK Osijek at the age of 16 years and 278 days on 13 November 2010 . In his first senior season with Dinamo Zagreb he managed to appear in 7 matches , making a contribution in winning the league title . In the 2011–12 season , Kovačić rapidly established himself as a first team regular . He played mainly in the position of left midfielder in 4–2–3–1 system . In the beginning of the season , he helped the team reach the Group Stage of the seasons Champions League for the first time in 12 years . Being only 17 years old , he appeared in the starting lineup of Dinamos first group match against Real Madrid . He finished his first European season with Dinamo by scoring a goal against Olympique Lyonnais in the last game of the Group Stage in Zagreb and thus became the second youngest ever scorer in the Champions League . In the domestic league , he was a regular starter , appearing in 25 league matches and scoring five goals in the process . During a league match against NK Lučko , he became the youngest player to wear the captains armband in Dinamos history , taking the captaincy from Leandro Cufre . It was another successful season for him in domestic competitions as he appeared in 32 domestic league and cup matches during that season , helping Dinamo to win their seventh consecutive league title . He also scored in the Croatian Cup final against NK Osijek on Maksimir Stadium . In December 2011 , he was named Croatian Football Hope of the Year . In the beginning of 2012–13 season , he suffered a metatarsal bone injury that caused him to miss several games on the clubs qualifying road to another Champions League . He returned just in time to play in Dinamos first Champions League game against Porto . Kovačić played in all six Dinamo Zagrebs matches in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League group stage , against Porto , Paris Saint-Germain and Dynamo Kyiv . He continued to impress with his mature performances at a young age during the first half of the season . In October 2012 , he was nominated for Golden Boy , an award given by sports journalists to a young player from Europe perceived to have been the most impressive during a season . During the seasons winter break , Dinamos board threw away the speculations about Kovačić leaving the club in the near future by saying they are building a new team around him and another rising star , Alen Halilović . However , on 30 January 2013 , the media surprisingly revealed Kovačić was sold to Italian Serie A club Inter Milan . During his time with Dinamo , Kovačić won two domestic league titles and two Croatian Cup titles , appearing in a total of 73 official matches , including 12 appearances in the UEFA Champions League . Inter Milan . On 31 January 2013 , Kovačić agreed to a transfer to Inter Milan . It was revealed the deal was worth €15 million in total , with €11 million paid immediately and €4 million when and if Inter qualifies for the UEFA Champions League . Upon his arrival , Kovačić was given the number 10 shirt , previously worn by Wesley Sneijder . 2012–13 season . Kovačić made his Inter Milan debut three days later on 3 February , coming on as a half-time substitute in a Serie A match against Siena . On 14 February , Kovačić made his European debut before the home crowd at San Siro in UEFA Europa League match against CFR Cluj . He provided the winning assist for Rodrigo Palacio , who made it 2–0 for Inter , impressing the crowd with his performance , and was given standing ovations while being substituted off in the 89th minute . He also played full 90 minutes in the 3–0 away win against CFR Cluj as Inter proceeded to the next round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League . Kovačić made his first domestic league start for Inter in the next round of Serie A in a 1–4 away loss against Fiorentina . In the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League , Inter was drawn to play against Tottenham Hotspur . After a 3–0 loss in London , Inter needed a 4–0 win in Milan to proceed to the next round . The match ended in a 4–1 win for Inter after the match went into extra time , with Kovačić playing as a starter . He impressed with his composure and playmaking ability , once again receiving ovations by the fans . Then-Inter manager Andrea Stramaccioni hailed his performances on several occasions , describing him as a star for the future . On 30 March , Kovačić was a starter in his first Derby dItalia against Juventus at San Siro . The derby ended in a 1–2 win for Juventus , with Kovačić starting the action that resulted in Rodrigo Palacios 1–1 equalizer . Kovačić was a starter in Inters next Serie A match , a 0–2 away win against Sampdoria , as well as in their surprising 3–4 loss to Atalanta at San Siro , where he provided an assist for Ricky Álvarezs goal . By the end of the second half of the season , he was a starter in all of the clubs Serie A fixtures , as Inter finished in disappointing ninth place on the Serie A table . In May , he was given the Gentleman Revelation of the Year award , awarded by Inter fans . 2013–14 season . Kovačić missed most of the pre-season training with the squad due to series of small injuries , and made his comeback just few days before the first official match of the new season , a Coppa Italia match against Cittadella at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza . During the pre-season interviews , new Inter manager Walter Mazzarri hinted Kovačić would be given a new role on the pitch , a role similar to Marek Hamšíks in Napoli . During the first half of the season , Kovačić played regularly , although he struggled with adjusting to his new tactical role . Kovačić made his first assist of the season in the match against Livorno , when he delivered an assist for Yuto Nagatomo . Unlike the previous season under manager Andrea Stramaccioni , Kovačić was not a regular starter during the 2013–14 season . In 32 Serie A matches played , he started only 14 , playing the entire 90 minutes on just eight occasions . He received the chance to restore his confidence towards the end of the season , as he was Mazzarris first-choice in the midfield in Inters last six matches . On 10 May , in Javier Zanettis last competitive match at the San Siro , Kovačić made three assists in 4–1 victory over Lazio . 2014–15 season . After being subjected to persistent transfer speculation over the summer , in September 2014 , Kovačić was offered a contract extension until 2019 . He started the season in strong fashion , scoring a hat-trick in the second leg of Europa League play-off round against Stjarnan on 28 August . He scored his first league goal for Inter and assisted twice in a 7–0 win over Sassuolo on 14 September 2014 . He scored the clubs only goal in a 1–1 away draw with Palermo . He also scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win against Chievo and scored a wonder goal in a 2–2 drawn against Lazio . On 6 January 2015 , he was sent-off in a 1–1 draw with Juventus for a foul on Stephan Lichtsteiner . Three days later , Kovačić renewed his contract with Inter until June 2019 . Real Madrid . On 16 August 2015 , Inter manager Roberto Mancini confirmed the club was forced to sell Kovačić to Real Madrid due to Financial Fair Play regulations . Speaking during a press conference after a friendly against Greek club AEK Athens , Mancini said , There are rules that have to be respected . I dont think anyone wanted this to happen but we have the Financial Fair Play regulations to follow . Were all sorry about it : myself , the president , the management and the players themselves . Real Madrid also confirmed the transfer two days later , announcing Kovačić had signed a six-year contract with the club . The transfer fee was €29 million , according to Inters financial filing in the section Management Report ( ) . On 19 August , Kovačić was unveiled as a new player by Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium , where it was revealed he would wear the number 16 shirt for the club . Kovačić became the fifth Croatian player , after Robert Prosinečki , Davor Šuker , Robert Jarni and Luka Modrić , to join Real Madrid . Four days after his presentation , he made his debut as a 70th-minute substitute for Isco as Real Madrid began the Liga season with a goalless draw at promoted Sporting de Gijón . He scored his first goal in an 8–0 home win over Malmö FF on 8 December 2015 . On 3 January 2016 , Kovačić received a straight red card in a 2–2 draw at Valencia for a foul on João Cancelo . Until the end of his first season with Los Blancos , he made a total of 34 appearances . In the opening months of the season , he was used quite regularly by then Real Madrid manager Rafael Benítez , playing in almost every midfield position there is – sometimes central , sometimes wide , sometimes further forward . However , after Zinedine Zidane replaced Benítez in early January , Kovačićs appearances became increasingly infrequent . With the Frenchman preferring to use a very defined starting 11 whenever possible instead of the more specific-lineups-for-specific-opponents approach employed by his predecessor , there was little room for Kovačić . He made eight appearances and scored one goal en Real Madrids route to the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League title . Kovačić scored his first Liga goal on 29 January 2017 in a 3–0 win over Real Sociedad . He was a part-time starter when Madrid won the 2016–17 La Liga and the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League . During the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League , Kovačić made six appearances when Madrid won their third consecutive—and 13th overall—UEFA Champions League title . Chelsea . On 8 August 2018 , Kovačić joined Chelsea on a one-year loan . He made his debut in a 3–2 home win against Arsenal on 18 August , appearing as a second-half substitute . On 29 May 2019 , he was named a starter for 2019 UEFA Europa League Final in Baku , playing until 78th minute when he was substituted off for Ross Barkley , as Chelsea defeated Arsenal 4–1 . On 1 July , Kovačić completed a permanent transfer to Chelsea , signing a five-year contract . After an underwhelming season under Maurizio Sarri , he turned into one of the most important Chelsea players under new coach Frank Lampard . Kovačić scored his first goal for Chelsea on 27 November , in a 2–2 Champions League draw against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium . On 7 December , he scored his first Premier League goal in a 1–3 away loss to Everton . In the 2020 FA Cup Final on 1 August 2020 , he was controversially sent off for a rather soft challenge on Granit Xhaka , as Chelsea lost 2–1 to Arsenal . On 25 August , he was named the Chelsea Player of the Year . On 23 September 2020 , Kovačić marked his 100th appearance for the club against Barnsley in the third round of the EFL Cup as Chelsea won 6–0 at home . After a rougher start of the season , Kovačić regained form from the previous season following the appointment of new manager Thomas Tuchel . Ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Porto , Kovačić sustained a tendon injury and was forced to miss the semi-final tie against his former club Real Madrid , which Chelsea won 3–1 on aggregate . Despite previously winning three Champions Leagues , on 29 May 2021 , Kovačić played in a Champions League Final for the first time in his career , coming on for Mason Mount in the 80th minute , as Chelsea defeated Manchester City 1–0 . International career . Kovačić appeared for the Croatian national team at various youth levels , debuting in May 2008 in an under-14 friendly match against Slovakia . Since 2011 , he was a regular member of the Croatia under-19 and under-21 teams . In August 2012 , Kovačić received his first competitive call-up for the Croatian senior team match against Switzerland , but did not play because of injury . Subsequently , he received a call up for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in March 2013 . He made his senior debut in a qualification match against Serbia on 22 March 2013 , playing as a central midfielder alongside Luka Modrić , instead of a regular team starter , Ognjen Vukojević . Four days later , he played against Wales at Liberty Stadium , coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–2 win . His third match of the campaign came in June , when Croatia faced Scotland in Zagreb and suffered a frustrating defeat as they were unable to score despite a string of good chances . By the end of the qualifiers , Kovačić made two more competitive appearances for Croatia , as Croatia scraped into the FIFA World Cup play-offs having taken only one point from their last four qualifiers . Although he didnt participate in the scoreless first leg of the play-off against Iceland in Reykjavík , Kovačić started the second and decisive leg between the two national teams in Zagreb , making an assist for the teams second goal as they reached the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals 2–0 on aggregate . On 2 June 2014 , Kovačić was confirmed as a member of Croatias 2014 FIFA World Cup squad . He was in Croatias starting team for the opening game of the tournament , a 3–1 defeat to World Cup hosts Brazil at the Arena Corinthians , São Paulo , where he played for his team for 60 minutes before being substituted . He went to play all the remaining games in the group stage , as Croatia was eliminated in a group stage . On 7 June 2015 , he scored his first international goal in a 4–0 victory over Gibraltar , coming in his 20th appearance for the team . On 4 June 2018 , Kovačić was selected in Croatias 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup . On 22 June , Kovačić provided an assist to his teammate Ivan Rakitić as he scored Croatias third goal in a 3–0 win over Argentina in their second group stage match of the tournament . Croatia was beaten 4–2 by France in the final on 15 July . Kovačić appeared in Croatias Nations League matches against Spain away and England home , that ended up as 6–0 defeat and a goalless draw , respectively . He featured throughout Croatias successful Euro 2020 qualifying campaign , as they finished top of the group . In a 2–1 win over Wales in Osijek on 8 June 2019 , he scored what would have been a goal for 2–0 , however it was disallowed as Andrej Kramarić was in an offside position . In a return leg on 13 October , in the build-up to the Wales goal , Kovačić was controversially injured by Ben Davies as the match ended up as a 1–1 draw . During 2020–21 Nations League , Kovačić was heavily criticized for his inefficiency in the national team , especially after making an error that led to Dejan Kuluševskis opening goal in Croatias crucial match against Sweden on 14 November 2020 , that eventually finished as a 2–1 defeat . However , three days later , he scored a brace in a 3–2 defeat to Portugal , which eventually saved Croatia from relegation to League B as they achieved better goal difference than Sweden . Style of play . Kovačić has been described as a great technician with excellent dribbling abilities . He is considered to be a versatile midfielder , having played in different midfield positions . He started off as an attacking midfielder at Dinamo Zagreb , but he transformed his game at Inter where he was deployed out wide and also as a central midfielder , functioning as a deep-lying playmaker , while being coached by Andrea Stramaccioni . One of his trademarks is dropping deep to receive the ball and then driving forward , often performing his slalom runs . Under the coach , Walter Mazzarri , he was often used in a more advanced position . Former manager Giovanni Trapattoni once claimed that Kovačić knows how to really reach the ball from deep and drive up the pitch like a raging bull . Proven by his pass completion percentages , Kovačić is known for distributing the ball up the pitch . Reception . The Croatia under-17 manager , Martin Novoselac , reportedly said of Kovačić , I havent seen a youngster with so much talent since the days of Robert Prosinečki , referring to his fast development and talent . Kovačić revealed that precisely Prosinečki is the player he admired the most while growing up . His compatriot , Zvonimir Boban , who played for Milan for over a decade , in an interview with Sky Italia in 2013 said , He has talents that could make him even better than me , he is an incredibly serious professional for someone his age . Kovačić is a complete player . He is not a born regista but he is playing there now . He is a complete talent that can still grow — he has incredible potential . Trapattoni described him as a mixture of Kaká and Clarence Seedorf , because of his style of play and technical characteristics . Long-time Inter captain Javier Zanetti stated that , with the exception of Ronaldo , who had arrived to Inter when he was 21 , Kovačić was the most promising youngster he had seen in his 19 years at the club . Personal life . Kovačić was born in Linz , Austria , to Bosnian Croat parents Stipo and Ružica who had moved there from Zabrđe near Kotor Varoš , Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the Yugoslav Wars . He is a devout Roman Catholic and he attends church every Sunday . He speaks five languages : Croatian , German , English , Italian and Spanish . He named Luka Modrić his football idol . In 2017 , Kovačić married his longtime girlfriend Izabel Andrijanić . On 12 October 2020 , Andrijanić gave birth to their first child , a baby boy named Ivan . Honours . Dinamo Zagreb - Prva HNL : 2010–11 , 2011–12 , 2012–13 - Croatian Cup : 2010–11 , 2011–12 Real Madrid - La Liga : 2016–17 - Supercopa de España : 2017 - UEFA Champions League : 2015–16 , 2016–17 , 2017–18 - UEFA Super Cup : 2016 , 2017 - FIFA Club World Cup : 2016 , 2017 Chelsea - UEFA Champions League : 2020–21 - UEFA Europa League : 2018–19 - FA Cup runner-up : 2019–20 - EFL Cup runner-up : 2018–19 Croatia - FIFA World Cup runner-up : 2018 Individual - Croatian Football Hope of the Year : 2011 - Chelsea Player of the Year : 2019–20 Orders - Order of Duke Branimir : 2018 External links . - Profile at the Real Madrid CF website - Profile at the Chelsea C.F . website