Nikola Pokrivac Dies in Car Crash at 39

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) reported on Friday that former national team midfielder Nikola Pokrivac, 39, had sadly passed away in a traffic accident. Four vehicles in all were involved in the tragic incident that happened in Karlovac, a city in central Croatia.

Local media accounts state that another person in a different car perished in the collision as well. The reason of the accident is still under inquiry.

Pokrivac died on the scene after travelling with three of his friends from NK Vojnić, a fourth-division Croatian team. Two of the other three were said to be in critical condition; the other three were severely hurt.

Known for his tenacity and field vision, Pokrivac earned fifteen caps for the Croatian national team between 2008 and 2009. His career in clubs was remarkable; he played for AS Monaco, Dinamo Zagreb, Red Bull Salzburg, and other European clubs.

The HNS said in a statement great grief on the death:

“The news of Nikola Pokrivac’s untimely death hurts. In Croatian football, he was a cherished colleague and a revered person. The Croatian Football Federation remarked in a statement: “Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the injured players.”

Pokrivac was valued for his determination as much as for his football ability. Before returning to football following a protracted recovery, he was making headlines in 2014 for valiantly battling Hodgkin’s cancer.

From all throughout the Croatian football fraternity and beyond, homages to Pokrivac as a warrior and a gentleman of the game have rushed in.