Former Croatia and Monaco midfielder Nikola Pokrivac tragically killed in car crash

Former Croatian international footballer Nikola Pokrivac has tragically passed away following a car accident, as confirmed by the Croatian Football Association (HNS). The participant of the 2008 European Championship was just 39 years old.

The HNS reported that the incident took place on Friday evening in the city of Karlovac. Pokrivac, who concluded his professional playing career in 2015 due to a serious illness, had recently been active with a lower league club. Throughout his career, he earned 15 caps for the Croatian national team.

Reports from Croatian media indicate that the accident occurred post-training, involving three teammates who were in the vehicle with Pokrivac, all of whom sustained serious injuries. Additionally, another individual was killed in the multi-car incident.

Pokrivac made a total of 15 appearances for the Croatian national team during his career. His professional journey included tenures at AS Monaco and RB Salzburg, where he celebrated winning the Austrian Bundesliga title under coach Huub Stevens in the 2019/10 season.