Ivan Graf Explained

Ivan Graf
Birth Date:17 June 1987
Birth Place:Zagreb, Croatia
Position:Defender
Height:1.94 m
Currentclub:Opatija
Youthyears1:–2006
Youthclubs1:Kustošija
Years1:2006–2007
Clubs1:Kustošija
Years2:2007–2009
Clubs2:Vrapče
Years3:2009–2010
Clubs3:Primorje
Caps3:39
Goals3:4
Years4:2011
Caps4:9
Goals4:0
Years5:2012–2013
Clubs5:Lučko
Caps5:16
Goals5:0
Years6:2013
Clubs6:NK Zagreb
Caps6:13
Goals6:0
Years7:2013–2014
Clubs7:Istra 1961
Caps7:26
Goals7:1
Years8:2015
Clubs8:Irtysh
Caps8:12
Goals8:0
Years9:2016–2021
Clubs9:Kaisar
Caps9:110
Goals9:5
Years10:2021–2022
Caps10:25
Goals10:1
Years11:2023
Clubs11:Kyzylzhar
Caps11:21
Goals11:1
Years12:2024–
Clubs12:Opatija
Pcupdate:20 November 2023

Ivan Graf (born 17 June 1987) is a Croatian footballer who plays as a defender for Opatija.

Club career

Born in capital city of Croatia, Zagreb, Graf started his football path in football school of local city based lower league Kustošija football club where he spent his entire youth career. With Kustošija he also kicked off his senior career in 2006–07 season which was his first senior competitive season. After debut season with Kustošija he decided to leave his domestic club on a free transfer and joined another lower league city club, neighbouring Vrapče on a two-year contract for the start of 2007–08 season. Graf spent two seasons in row with Vrapče and by the end of 2008–09 season with his two-year contract completed he decided not to extend his contract and stay at Vrapče. He felt as a free player it was time to move on and to change the domain of Croatian lower league football after playing it for three seasons.[1]

Primorje Ajdovščina

Therefore, joining Slovenian club Primorje Ajdovščina the following season[1] was seen as uncommon move due to general opinion at the time that Slovenian football was limited compared to Croatian one in almost all aspects of football such as tactics, training, style of play, finance, managing, fan base and overall status of football and was not attractive enough for Croatian football players whose financial demands were higher. However, Graf made a firm decision to join NK Primorje Ajdovščina due to initiative from Primorje head coach Vjekoslav Lokica.[2] Croatian coach Lokica after tight relegation from Slovenian PrvaLiga in 2008–09 season was preparing the team for express comeback and saw in young Graf a key figure to secure the promotion. NK Primorje was seen till then for a number of seasons as a stable Slovenian first division club and with Graf in defence they achieved the goal, becoming Slovenian Second League Champions with only two games lost and sixteen goals conceded in entire 2009–10 season winning so promotion to Slovenian PrvaLiga for 2010–11 season in style. In October 2010, it was announced that the salaries of him along with four other players were due. As a result, he started a legal procedure. He was also linked to a transfer to fellow Slovenian club Domžale.

In March 2011, he moved to Ukrainian club Tavriya on a two-year contract and became the sixth signing for the club in the winter transfer window.[3] In October, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.[4]

Graf returned to Croatia in 2012 and signed for Lučko on an undisclosed fee.[5] In 2013, he was transferred to Zagreb. In July, he joined fellow Croatian club Istra 1961.[6] He made his debut in a 3–1 victory against Osijek where he scored a goal in the 59th minute.[7]

Kazakhstan

Graf joined Kazakhstan Premier League team FC Irtysh Pavlodar at the start of the 2015 season, being told he could leave the club in July 2015,[8] before signing a new one-year deal with Irtysh Pavlodar in January 2016.[9] Prior to the 2016 season, Graf joined FC Kaisar.[10] On 4 February 2021, Graf joined Shakhter Karagandy from Kaisar.[11] On 29 January 2023, Graf signed a contract with FC Kyzylzhar.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: I u Kazahstanu se veselim uspjesima Kustošije. Even in Kazakhstan I look forward to the success of Kustošija. Zagrebački List. Igor Capan. 18 August 2017. 8 October 2019. hr.
  2. Web site: Primorje dolguje pet plač. Primorje owes five wages. Nogomania. Miran Zore. 28 October 2010. 28 September 2017. sl.
  3. Web site: Иван Граф подписал контракт с "Таврией" [Ivan Graf signed a contract with "Tavria"] ]. UA Football . 29 September 2017 . ru.
  4. Web site: Трое игроков покинули "Таврию" [Three players left "Tavria"] ]. UA Football . 29 September 2017 . ru.
  5. Web site: Ivan Graf je prešao iz - Tavriya Simferopol u ekipu - Lučko za neobjavljenu sumu [Ivan Graf transferred from Tavriya Simferopol to Lučko for an undisclosed fee] ]. Soccerfame . 29 September 2017 . hr . 15 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122652/http://hr.soccerfame.com/transfer/8550/ivan-graf . dead .
  6. Web site: Ivan Graf je prešao u ekipu - Istra 1961 na slobodnom transferu [Ivan Graf transferred to Istra 1961 on a free transfer] ]. Footballinf . 29 September 2017 . hr . https://web.archive.org/web/20181215121353/http://www.footballinf.rs/transfer/21585/ivan-graf . 15 December 2018 . dead .
  7. Web site: Osijek 1 : 3 Istra 1961 . Sportnet . 29 September 2017 . hr.
  8. Web site: "Иртыш" отзаявил Ивана Графа и Алана Гатагова . fcirtysh.kz/ . FC Irtysh Pavlodar . 13 July 2015 . ru . 1 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704071908/http://fcirtysh.kz/news/145-irtysh-otzayavil-ivana-grafa-i-alana-gatagova.html . 4 July 2015 . dead .
  9. Web site: Иван Граф продлил контракт с Иртышом . sports.kz . Sports KZ . 1 November 2017 . ru . 13 January 2016.
  10. Web site: Заявка ФК Кайсар на сезон 2016 года . sports.kz . Sports KZ . 1 November 2017 . ru . 28 March 2016.
  11. Web site: ОФИЦИАЛЬНО: ИВАН ГРАФ — ИГРОК ФК ШАХТЕР . shakhter.kz/ . FC Shakhter Karagandy . 16 February 2021 . Russian . 4 February 2021.
  12. Web site: Иван Граф официально нашел новый клуб в КПЛ . ru . 2023-01-29.