Daniel Koprivcic

Daniel Koprivcic (born 3 August 1981) is a retired footballer who played for Auckland City FC and Waitakere United in the New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC). He is considered to be one of the best players in the NZFC, having scored many goals for former club Waitakere United and for Auckland City in not only the NZFC but the Oceania Champions League. He holds the record as the only player to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup six times.

Daniel Koprivcic
Personal information
Full name Daniel Koprivcic
Date of birth (1981-08-03) 3 August 1981
Place of birth Osijek, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Waitakere United
2009–2014 Auckland City 73 (19)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 August 2015

Early life

Koprivcic was born in Croatia and emigrated to New Zealand with his family in his early teens in 1995.[1][2]

Club career

Early career

Koprivcic played his early football for Central United in Auckland, later moving to Mangere United.[2]

Waitakere United

He played for NZFC club Waitakere United from 2006–2009 and also appeared for the club in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup for Waitakere.

Auckland City

In 2009, he moved to Auckland City FC where he scored 4 goals in 13 appearances, as well as notching up 6 appearances in the 2009–10 OFC Champions League and scoring 7 goals. His most valuable time at Auckland City came when he was selected to represent the team at the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in which Auckland City finished 5th out of 7th, the best an Oceania team had ever finished.[3][4]

At the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup, he became the first player to compete at four Club World Cups. He went on to make two further tournament appearances, his last at the 2013 competition.[5][6][7][8]

Koprivcic retired in 2014.[9]

International career

In 2003 Koprivcic was called up for an Under-23 international between New Zealand U-23 and Japan U-23 in Kobe. He came on as a substitute in a 4–0 loss.[1][10]

Honours

Club

With Waitakere United

With Auckland City FC

Individual
  • OFC Champions League Golden Ball: 2011[11]
  • Daniel Koprivcic has the record number of participations in the FIFA Club World Cup, taking part in the six tournaments: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013

References
  1. Young, Geoff (18 May 2003). "Croatian answers the call for his adopted country". Sunday Star-Times.
  2. Maddaford, Terry (25 November 2011). "Soccer: Tomorrow the world - but first, Manawatu". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  3. "Third time lucky for Koprivcic". FIFA. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  4. "Club World Cup: Auckland City Striker Daniel Koprivcic Delighted With Win Against Al Ahly". Goal.com. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  5. "Soccer: Kiwi amateur a Club World Cup record-breaker". New Zealand Herald. 20 November 2011.
  6. "Auckland's unlikely record-breaker". FIFA. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  7. "The FIFA Club World Cup in numbers". FIFA. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  8. "Daniel Koprivcic - Playing career at FIFA Tournaments". FIFA. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  9. "Navy Blues about to roll". Auckland City Football Club. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015. Daniel Koprivcic, has retired from top level football
  10. "New Zealand - U-23 International Matches". RSSSF.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  11. "Auckland City book place at FIFA Club World Cup". Oceania Football Confederation. 17 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
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