The Panathinaikos - Croatian Connection

The Panathinaikos - Croatian Connection

By: Antonios Theodosis

Athenian based club Panathinaikos is a part of the “big four” of Greece, and like their rivals, Panathinaikos have seen their fair share of foreign talent come in through the ranks. In my last article, I covered the connection Panathinaikos had with players from Argentina and the success many of the Argentine’s brought to the club. For the Panathinaikos faithful, the connection does not stop with Argentinian players. The Greens have also seen their fair share of notable Croatian players come in through the ranks and help bring success to the club. Some of these notable players are: Velemir Zajec, Mario Galinovic, Goran Vlaovic, Mladen Petric, Gordan Schildenfeld, and Danijel Pranjic - with the latter granting me the opportunity to answer some questions I had regarding the Panathinaikos - Croatian connection. However, the connection does not stop with the players. Gate Thirteen, Panathinaikos’ ultras fan group have formed a friendship with Croatian powerhouse club Dinamo Zagreb’s ultras, the Bad Blue Boys. We can see that the connection is one that stems from all facets of the club, from players and to the fans. 

1980s:

Velimir Zajec: One of the first and most notable Croatian players to have played for the Greens was Velimir Zajec. At the time, a well known, highly skilled player that could play in the midfield and on the defensive line. He made his name at Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Panathinaikos in 1984. At Panathinaikos he was played as a sweeper at times, often coming up to clear dangerous possessions from opponents. Standing at five feet ten inches tall, Zajec possessed an incredible heading ability that allowed him to score off of set pieces delivered by teammate and fellow club legend Juan Ramon Rocha. With sixty-seven appearances and eleven goals to his name, Zajec would go on to taste success with the Greens. Reaching the Champions League semi-final in 1985, winning the league double in 1986, and making the quarter-final of the UEFA cup in 1988. After his playing career had ended,  Zajec was tasked with running the youth academy at Panathinaikos and also coached the men's side in the 1996-1997 season. Along with this, he also became director of football in 2002. The love and admiration the fans had for Zajec was not forgotten. In 2010, after having won the league double, Panathinaikos fans were treated with a special “fiesta” legends match. In it, the clubs most famous players had the opportunity to dawn the Green shirt once more and Velimir Zajec was no exception. He is one of the most notable players to have played for Panathinaikos. 

2000s:

Goran Vlaovic: Delving into the 2000’s, Panathinaikos would see the Croatian connection deepen with the signing of Goran Vlaovic from Spanish side Valencia in 2000. The marksmen would soon become a component in some of Panathinaikos’ biggest games. With exceptional vision, positioning, and natural scoring ability Vlaovic scored twenty-nine goals in his sixty-four appearances for the Athenians. Arguably his greatest asset was his ability to score from set pieces. On one occasion scoring from range against Schalke 04 in the Champions League in 2001. Like Zajec, Vlaovic also won the league double with Panathinaikos in the 2003-2004 season. Fans that grew up watching the club in the early 2000’s remember Vlaovic fondly for his unique play style and ability to adapt his positioning to score from difficult angles. 

Mario Galinovic:  In 2004 Panathinaikos would sign the ever reliable Mario Galinovic, who served the club for a total of seven years. Galinovic racked up one hundred eighteen appearances for the club over the course of his stay with the Athens based club and won the league double in the 2009-2010 season. Perhaps one of his most interesting feats with the club, in twenty appearances for Panathinaikos in the Champions League, Galinovic was able to keep a clean sheet against some of Europe’s elite teams, such as Barcelona and Inter-Milan. Like the great Zajec, Galinovic was a participant in the Panathinaikos fiesta match in 2010. His contribution to the club through the years and reliability between the sticks leave Panathinaikos with nothing but good things to say about the Croatian shot-stopper. 

2010s: 

Danijel Pranjic: The 2010’s saw the arrival of three Croatian aces, one of them eventual fan favorite Danijel Pranjic who arrived in the summer of 2013. Pranjic is a beloved player amongst Panathinaikos fans. In his eighty appearances for the club Pranjic scored nine goals, one of them a memorable goal against Olympiakos in Panathinaikos’ emphatic 0-3 win in 2014 against their eternal rivals. Pranjic also helped his side get a crucial lead against Olympiakos in 2015 with a cross into the box that led to an own goal that gave Panathinaikos a 1-0 lead and eventual 2-1 win. Along with these memorable aspects, Pranjic also became yet another Croatian to become a winner with Panathinaikos. In 2014 he won the Greek Cup in a final against PAOK which ended 4-1 in the Green’s favor. Perhaps Pranjic’s most admirable characteristic while with the club was his machine-like effort in the midfield and ability to play multiple positions, it is something Panathinaikos fans quickly picked up and appreciate Pranjic for today. Danijel granted me the opportunity to ask him some questions for this blog. As a Croatian player that has played for the greens he has first hand experience with the Panathinaikos-Croatian connection. 

There have been many notable Croatian players that have made their mark at Panathinaikos. How does it feel to also be a part of the list of notable Croatian players? 

Danijel Pranjic: Well it was a big pleasure to be in such a group of Croatian players who played for such a big and historical club like Panathinaikos. It is a special feeling to wear the green shirt, every time I did this I was wearing it with pride and honor. I always played with my heart for this shirt, always tried to give the best of me. Panathinaikos and its supporters have a special place in my heart and it will always be like that. 

Gate Thirteen has a connection with Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb, how do Panathinaikos fans compare to the football fans in Croatia? 

Danijel Pranjic: To compare fans is easy, they are almost the same. In Croatia I played for Dinamo Zagreb and fans of Dinamo are similar to Gate Thirteen. B.B.B [Bad Blue Boys] and Gate Thirteen are brothers in the football world, they support each other and they are full of love for their clubs. They live Panathinaikos and they live Dinamo. Big respect from my point of view to all of them. 

Anything you would like to say to Panathinaikos fans during this difficult period? 

Danijel Pranjic: I can only say one thing: in difficult moments you show how big and loyal you are, and they [Panathinaikos fans] are big and loyal, they support the club even in this difficult time and that's the only way. Better days will come. 

Gordon Schildenfeld: Along with Danijel Pranjic came fellow compatriot Gordon Schildenfeld. With his fifty-seven appearances and two goals the Croatian center back would quickly become a vital piece to Yiannis Anastasiou’s side. Schildenfled played a pivotal role in Panathinaikos’ huge 0-3 win against Olympiakos by keeping a clean-sheet against the reds. Shildenfeld also played a crucial role in the 2014 cup final and his key pass to fellow countryman Mladen Petric against Olympiakos a year later would seal the derby win for the Greens in the Leoforos stadium. His hard working, and strategic play at the back made him a notable player to Panathinaikos’ big wins during his time at the club. 

Mladen Petric: The arrival of Mladen Petric marks the last time Panathinaikos had a Croatian player play for the club. The marksman joined in January 2014 after a stint in England, but took a few months to heal from injury and eventually play. Petric brought experience to a Panathinaikos side that was mixed with young Greek prospects and more experienced foreign players and eventually won the Greek cup with the Greens. With fifty-seven appearances, Petric found the back of the net thirteen times. His most notable being the previously mentioned left footed volley against Olympiakos, from the assist of his compatriot Gordon Schildenfled. Petric would play as a second striker next to the prolific Marcus Berg and also adopted the number ten role under Yiannis Anastasiou on a few occasions. At the end of the 2015-2016 season he would hang up his playing boots after a long career of playing high level football. 

The Panathinaikos-Croatian connection can go even deeper than the players mentioned above. Some honorable mentions include: Aljosa Asanovic, Daniel Saric, Silvio Maric, Anthony Seric, and Igor Biscan.  Interestingly, Panathinaikos has had so many Croatian players play for the club that a starting eleven could be made consisting only of Croatians. The connection stems from the pitch to the fans and is truly one of the most unique relationships in football. With such a great track record of Croatian talent, it is only a matter of time before Panathinaikos fans will have yet another Croatian star amongst the ranks that can hopefully help lead the club to more titles. 

Hellas Football 

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