Niko Kranjčar

Who is Niko Kranjčar?

Niko Kranjčar is a Croatian footballer who plays for Dynamo Kyiv and the Croatia national team. He primary plays as attacking midfielder, but can also operate as a winger or second striker.

He represented two of the biggest clubs in his homeland, playing for Dinamo Zagreb before sparking controversy by making a move to their fierce rivals Hajduk Split in January 2005. A transfer to England with Portsmouth soon followed in August 2006, and after several years of attempting to hold on to their key players, Portsmouth decided to sell him at the start of the 2009–10 season, opening the way for a move to Tottenham in September 2009, where he was reunited with his former manager at Portsmouth, Harry Redknapp.

Hailed as the next Robert Prosinečki, Kranjčar was given his international debut by his father Zlatko in August 2004. Since then, Kranjčar has represented his country on 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2012. So far he has won 81 caps for the Croatia national team, scoring 16 goals in the process.

Kranjčar spent his childhood years in Austria, where his father played for Rapid Vienna.