A rocker at the EUROs: Labrović in focus

A leader on the pitch

FC Augsburg have signed Croatian international goalkeeper Nediljko Labrović ahead of the new season. Firstly though, the 24-year-old has the small matter of the European Championships in Germany ahead of him. We’re taking a closer look at our new signing.

Nediljko Labrović will never forget 26th March 2024. In the Misr Stadium, around 50 kilometres east of Cairo, the 1.96-metre-tall goalkeeper made his international debut for the Croatian senior side. Labrović was in net for the ‘Vrateni’ in the first half and helped his side to a 4-2 friendly win over Egypt. “That was the best moment of my career so far,” said Labrović in an interview with FCA TV.

The 24-year-old will hope that more memorable moments are to follow – maybe even this summer, when Labrović will be part of Croatia’s EURO 2024 squad. Zlatko Dalić’s side are currently preparing for the tournament in Neuruppin. They will face Spain, Italy and Albania in a so-called ‘group of death’. Along with Ivica Ivušić, Labrović will likely serve as a back-up to first-choice ‘keeper Dominik Livaković.

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A vocal and confident presence

Despite his young age – Labrović was born on 10th October 1999 near Split – the towering netminder already has considerable experience between the sticks. He has already made 120 appearances in the Croatian league, the SuperSport HNL, alone, and has also played 11 times in the Conference League qualifying rounds. He has also kept a very impressive 40 clean sheets in 109 competitive games for HNK Rijeka.

Off the pitch, the Croatian cuts a quiet and mild-mannered figure. But on it, Labrović is a different animal altogether. Describing himself as “loud” and “self-confident,” the stopper can count his leadership, physicality and dynamic style of play among his strengths. Having taken over the captain’s armband at Rijeka at the age of 22, he departs for FCA having guided the club to a second-place finish in the Croatian top flight last season.

“The move is a dream come true for me,” says Labrović, who will link up with compatriots Kristijan Jakić, Dion Beljo and David Čolina in Augsburg. In his free time, he likes to read or listen to music with a cup of coffee. His favourite band? The English metal group Motörhead.