Dubravko Pavličić Explained

Dubravko Pavličić
Birth Date:28 November 1967
Birth Place:Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia (modern Croatia)
Death Place:Elche, Spain
Position:Centre back
Youthclubs1:Radnik Velika Gorica
Years1:1987–1989
Clubs1:Dinamo Zagreb
Caps1:56
Goals1:2
Years2:1990–1994
Clubs2:Rijeka
Caps2:104
Goals2:2
Years3:1994–1997
Clubs3:Hércules
Caps3:95
Goals3:8
Years4:1997–2000
Clubs4:Salamanca
Caps4:57
Goals4:1
Years5:2000–2001
Clubs5:Racing Ferrol
Caps5:29
Goals5:2
Totalcaps:321
Totalgoals:14
Nationalyears1:1987
Nationalteam1:Yugoslavia U20
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1992–1997
Nationalteam2:Croatia
Nationalcaps2:22
Nationalgoals2:0

Dubravko Pavličić (28 November 1967 – 4 April 2012) was a Croatian footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

Born in Zagreb, Socialist Republic of Croatia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (modern Croatia), Pavličić started playing professionally for local NK Dinamo, being irregularly used over the course of three seasons. He developed into a top division player with NK Rijeka, helping it to two sixth place finishes and one fourth in the newly founded Croatian First Football League; in the 1993–94 Croatian Cup, he scored the game's only goal in the second leg of the final, albeit in an eventual 1–2 aggregate loss.

In the 1994, summer Pavličić moved to Spain and signed for Hércules CF, in Segunda División, winning promotion to La Liga in his second year and netting a career-best six goals in 38 games in the following season, which nonetheless ended in relegation, with the player scoring in both games against FC Barcelona (3–2 win at the Camp Nou and 2–1 success at home). He stayed in the top level with UD Salamanca, dropping down a division in 1999.

In the 2000 off-season, 32-year-old Pavličić signed for Racing de Ferrol – division two – retiring at the end of the campaign. He settled in the nation subsequently, also playing amateur football for club Sporting Plaza in the Alicante area.[1]

International career

Pavličić played for Croatia for five years, gaining a total of 22 caps.[2] His debut came on 8 July 1992 in a 1–3 friendly loss with Australia in Adelaide, and he was selected for the squad that appeared at UEFA Euro 1996, playing two group stage games (one minute against Turkey, full match against Portugal) in an eventual quarter final exit. His final international was a June 1997 Kirin Cup match against Turkey.[3]

Previously, Pavličić was a member of the highly talented Yugoslavia under-20 team that won the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship in Chile, playing all the games in the tournament.

Death

Pavličić died of pancreatic cancer on 4 April 2012 in Elche, aged 44.[4] [5]

Career statistics

Club statistics

[6] [7]

Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
SeasonClubLeagueApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps Goals
YugoslaviaLeagueYugoslav CupLeague CupEuropeTotal
1986–87Dinamo ZagrebYugoslav First League100010
1987–88900090
1988–892313140302
1989–902313140302
NK Rijeka910091
1990–9126050310
CroatiaLeagueCroatian CupSuper CupEuropeTotal
1992NK RijekaPrva HNL18031211
1992–9328140321
1993–9425082332
SpainLeagueCopa del ReySupercopa de EspañaEuropeTotal
1994–95Hércules CFSegunda División27110281
1995–9630170371
1996–97La Liga38630416
1997–98UD SalamancaLa Liga30040340
1998–9918100181
1999–00Segunda División15020170
1999–00Racing de Ferrol29200292
Country Yugoslavia91311200801105
Croatia71111530000864
Spain18711170000020411
Total34925435008040030

International appearances

Croatia national team
YearAppsGoals
199230
199310
199430
199550
199680
199720
Total220

Honours

Hércules CF

1995–96

Yugoslavia U-20

1987

Notes and References

  1. News: Dubravko Pavlicic. Dubravko Pavlicic. mitosfutbolisticos. Spanish. 4 June 2010.
  2. Web site: Croatia – Record International Players. RSSSF. 28 April 2009.
  3. Web site: Player Database. 12 November 2022. EU-football.
  4. News: Preminuo Dubravko Pavličić. Dubravko Pavličić dies. Sportnet. Tolić. Josip. Croatian. 4 April 2012.
  5. News: Fallece Dubravko Pavlicic, mito de la defensa del Hércules. Dubravko Pavlicic, legendary Hércules defender, dies. Terra. Spanish. 4 April 2012.
  6. News: Dubravko Pavičić Spain statistics. bdfutbol.com. 7 November 2017.
  7. News: Dubravko Pavičić. povijest.gnkdinamo.hr . 7 November 2017.