Nikola Šafarić

Nikola Šafarić

Personal information
Full name	Nikola Šafarić
Date of birth	(1981-03-11) 11 March 1981
Place of birth	Čakovec, SFR Yugoslavia
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	NK Međimurje
Number	8
Youth career
	Venera Sveti Juraj na Bregu
	Čakovec
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2007	Varteks	195	(40)
2007–2008	Rijeka	34	(2)
2008–2010	Slaven Belupo	51	(3)
2010–2011	Varaždin	47	(6)
2011–2013	Kaposvári	43	(1)
2013–2015	Zavrč	50	(5)
2015–	NK Međimurje
International career
1998–1999	Croatia U17	10	(3)
1999–2000	Croatia U19	8	(0)
2000–2004	Croatia U21	17	(1)
2004–2006	Croatia	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 January 2015

Nikola Šafarić (born 11 March 1981) is a Croatian football midfielder who plays for NK Međimurje in the Treća HNL.

Club career

Early years

In 1998, Šafarić started his football career in Varaždin for Varteks as a young 17-year-old midfielder. He quickly established himself as irreplaceable in the Varteks team. Before his 20th birthday he has already played around 40 league games for Varteks and scoring several goals in the process.

Best years in Varteks

From the 2002–03 season, Nikola finally stepped up on the big scene. He became a first team regular in Varteks and in the next 5 seasons he scored 32 goals in the domestic league only. His good games as well as passion for football and leadership ability could not go unnoticed so he was appointed as team`s captain. Nikola Šafarić is also a great penalty and free kick taker and although he could play every possible position in the midfield he says he "plays best as a defensive midfielder."

Rijeka

In the beginning of the 2007–08 season, Nikola Šafarić was sold to Rijeka. In Rijeka, Nikola was welcomed by many as a great acquisition. He instantly "grabbed" first team position and was one of the team's best players by scoring two goals and adding three more assists, which helped Rijeka to finish at the fourth place in the Prva HNL.

Slaven Belupo

On 31 August 2008, Šafarić signed a 2-year contract with Slaven Belupo.

Kaposvári

He signed for Kaposvári in 2011.

Inter Zaprešić

In January 2015, he signed for the Druga HNL outfit NK Inter Zaprešić.

International career

Nikola Šafarić was a member of every Croatia national football team categories (U17, U19, U21, senior team). That's why he was predicted a great international club career. But, unfortunately, up to this date Nikola has made only three appearances for Croatia national football team. His international debut came against Israel in the 1–0 friendly win at Varaždin on 18 August 2004. His second and third international cap came on 2006 Carlsberg Cup in Hong Kong on which Croatia finished third.

External links

• Nikola Šafarić at the Croatian Football Federation website (Croatian)
• PrvaLiga profile (Slovene)