Marko Kraljević (footballer) explained

Marko Kraljević
Birth Date:1 November 1965
Birth Place:Düsseldorf, West Germany
Position:Attacking midfielder
Years1:1990
Clubs1:Osijek
Years2:1991–1994
Clubs2:Kelantan
Years3:1995
Clubs3:HK Rangers
Years4:1996–1998
Clubs4:Balestier Central
Years5:1999–2000
Clubs5:Tampines Rovers
Years6:2001
Clubs6:Jurong FC
Manageryears1:2008–2011
Managerclubs1:Balestier Khalsa U22
Manageryears2:2012–2013
Managerclubs2:Woodlands Wellington U22
Manageryears3:2014–2019
Managerclubs3:Balestier Khalsa
Manageryears4:2019
Managerclubs4:Kelantan
Manageryears5:2019–2021
Managerclubs5:Balestier Khalsa
Manageryears6:2022–2023
Managerclubs6:Hougang United (U21)
Manageryears7:2023–
Managerclubs7:Hougang United

Marko Kraljević (born 1 November 1965) is a Croatian football coach and former player who is the head coach of Singapore Premier League club Hougang United.

Playing career

An attacking-midfielder, Kraljević played in the Malaysian Premier League for Kelantan.[1] 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.[2] Next, he travelled to Singapore to play in the S.League during its early years for Balestier Central,[3] [4] and later with Tampines Rovers and Jurong FC as a striker.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7] [8] However, his contract was terminated on April the same year, with Kelantan occupying the relegation spot in 2019 Malaysia Premier League.[9]

Balestier Khalsa

In 2019, Kraljević returned to Balestier as head coach.[10]

Hougang United

In 2022, Kraljević joined Hougang United as their head of youth, leading the coaching responsibility for the club's U-21 side.[11] 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.

Personal life

Marko is the joint-owner of the Stadio futsal facilities found around Singapore together with V. Sundramoorthy.[12]

He is married to a Singaporean wife and has two children.

Honours

Player

Hong Kong Rangers

Manager

Balestier Khalsa

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New Straits Times. Kraljevic back and raring for action.
  2. Web site: Kraljevic off to Singapore.
  3. Web site: Balestier Khalsa Football Club. History and Tradition of Balestier Khalsa Football Club.
  4. Web site: AsiaOne. The ante has been upped. https://web.archive.org/web/20140223005323/http://news.asiaone.com/print/News/Latest%2BNews/Sports/Story/A1Story20120426-342226.html. dead. 23 February 2014.
  5. Web site: Game over, go home? . . 16 June 2012.
  6. Web site: Balestier appoint former player Kraljevic as new coach | Goal.com. www.goal.com.
  7. Web site: Kraljevic to take over as Kelantan coach. 26 January 2019.
  8. Web site: Kraljevic kembali selepas 25 tahun berkelana. 28 January 2019.
  9. Web site: FIFA shows how it's done, slaps Kelantan FA with three-point deduction | Goal.com. www.goal.com.
  10. Web site: 4 October 2019 . Marko Kraljević back at Balestier Khalsa Goal.com Singapore . 21 November 2023 . www.goal.com . en-SG.
  11. Web site: Lee . David . 17 April 2023 . SPL bottom team Hougang replace head coach Firdaus Kassim with Marko Kraljevic . 20 April 2023 . . en.
  12. Web site: Futsal fever hits Singapore . . 16 June 2012.