Denis Kolinger (born 14 January 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Lokomotiva. Born in Germany, he has represented the Croatia national team.
Club career
Kolinger was born in Malsch, Germany where his parents were working before they returned to Stankovo in Croatia when he was three months old.[2] He started out at NK Jaska in nearby Jastrebarsko, moving on to the NK Zagreb academy at the age of 13.[3] He went through all the ranks of the club, debuting for the senior side in the 2011/12 season, becoming a first-team regular in the following season. After NK Zagreb was relegated after the 2015/16 season, Kolinger moved to NK Lokomotiva, signing a four-year contract.[4]
On 15 January 2021, Kolinger moved to Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on a three-year deal.[5] In August 2024, Kolinger's contract was terminated by mutual agreement.[6]
International career
A Croatian youth international in U16, U17, U18 and U19 categories, Kolinger refused a call-up to the Croatia U21 national football team under Nenad Gračan in August 2014 claiming that he wanted to play for Germany, that he feels he is a German rather than a Croat and is therefore willing to take the chance and seek out German nationality, which he could since it is the country of his birth.[7] However, in early 2015 he changed his mind, claiming that he realized it would be too hard for him to join the Germany U21 national football team and since March 2015 rejoined the Croatia U21 team.[8]
He made his senior debut for Croatia in a May 2017 friendly match against Mexico, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Fran Tudor.[9]
Career Statistics
Club
- As of match played 21 December 2024[10]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| NK Zagreb | 2011-12 | 1. HNL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2012-13 | 1. HNL | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2013-14 | 2. HNL | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2014-15 | 1. HNL | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2015-16 | 1. HNL | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| Total | 102 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 106 | 2 | ||||
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2016-17 | 1. HNL | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | |
| 2017-18 | 1. HNL | 30 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 4 | |||
| 2018-19 | 1. HNL | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2019-20 | 1. HNL | 32 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2020-21 | 1 HNL | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 128 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 147 | 6 | |||
| Vejle | 2020-21 | Danish Superliga | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2021-22 | Danish Superliga | 29 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 2 | |||
| 2023-24 | Danish Superliga | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2024-25 | Danish Superliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 68 | 2 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 79 | 3 | ||||
| CFR Cluj (loan) | 2022-23 | Liga I | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 1 | 32 | 2 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2024-25 | HNL | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 332 | 10 | 36 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 379 | 13 | ||
- ^ Includes Croatian Cup, Danish Cup, Cupa României
- ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, One appearance in UEFA Europa League
- ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, Seven appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ Appearance(s) in Liga I European play-offs
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
Honours
NK Zagreb
Lokomotiva Zagreb
- Croatian Cup runner-up: 2019–20
CFR Cluj
- Supercupa României runner-up: 2022
References
- ^ Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
- ^ Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
- ^ "Comet database" (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ Denis Kolinger iz Zagreba prešao u Lokomotivu at Večernji List
- ^ Vejle Boldklub forstærker med købet af kroatisk forsvarskriger Archived 15 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine, vejle-boldklub.dk, 15 January 2021
- ^ Vejle Boldklub ophæver med Denis Kolinger, vejle-boldklub.dk, 20 August 2024
- ^ Denis Kolinger: Srce me vuče prema Njemačkoj at Goal.com Croatia]
- ^ Volio bih igrati za Njemačku, ali znam da bi to bilo teško pa sam izabrao Hrvatsku at Večernji List
- ^ "Player Database". EU-football. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ Denis Kolinger at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ "Denis Kolinger". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
External links
- Denis Kolinger at Soccerway
- Denis Kolinger at the Croatian Football Federation
- Denis Kolinger at National-Football-Teams.com
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