Mateo Kovacic is a professional football player for Chelsea FC and the Croatian national team. The 29-year-old can play in deeper positions but he’s typically used in a central or box-to-box role. Early in his career, he also learned to play either wide on the left or as an attacking midfielder.
Kovai has been praised for his exceptional dribbling skills and his fantastic technical ability. Due to his experience playing in several midfield positions, he is regarded as a dynamic midfielder.
At Dinamo Zagreb, where he started his career, he played as an attacking midfielder. However, under Andrea Stramaccioni’s tutelage at Inter, where he was used as a deep-lying playmaker in both central and outfield positions, he significantly upped his game.
He is renowned for frequently doing his solo runs while charging forward after diving deep to catch the ball. He typically played a position that required technicality.
Everything you need to know about Mateo Kovacic:
| Full name | Mateo Kovačić |
| Nickname | The Professor (Il Professore), Kova |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 6th May 1994 |
| Mateo Kovačić’s age | 29 as of June 2022 |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Place of birth | Linz, Austria |
| Current residence(s) | Zagreb, Croatia, and London, UK |
| Nationality | Croatian |
| Ethnicity | European |
| Mateo Kovačić’s height in feet and inches | 5’7″ |
| Height in centimeters | 176 |
| Weight in pounds | 176.3 |
| Weight in kilograms | 80 |
| Hair color | Dark brown |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Education | Linzer Athletik Sport Klub (LASK Linz) |
| Profession | Professional soccer player |
| Current market value | $43.8 million |
| Highest market value | $46.9 million |
Who is Mateo Kovacic
In 1991, his parents, Stipo and Ruzica, fled Bosnia at the start of the Yugoslavian wars. He was born to a tight-knit, staunch Catholic family in Linz, Austria, three years later.
Burdened by the family’s needs, Stipo did not realize his son’s talent early. Mateo began playing soccer at about three years of age. After receiving news of his prowess, his mother began taking him for football training sessions as soon as he turned five.
His exposure to the game at a very young age gave him an edge in becoming the prolific midfielder he is today. During his Making of Me interview with Chelsea, Kova said,
I was younger than everybody. I remember I was very small, my shirt was too long, and everything was super big. But, I was good and learned fast because I started playing with kids seven or eight years old.
Kovacic Net Worth yearly breakdown
| Year | Weekly Wage | Yearly Salary | Club | Position | League | Age | Contract Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | £150,000 | £7,800,000 | Chelsea | DM, AM C | Premier League | 27 | 30-06-2024 |
| 2021 | £150,000 | £7,800,000 | Chelsea | DM, M/AM | Premier League | 26 | 30-06-2024 |
| 2020 | £150,000 | £7,800,000 | Chelsea | DM, M/AM | Premier League | 25 | 30-06-2024 |
| 2019 | £107,000 | £5,564,000 | R. Madrid | DM, M/AM | Premier League | 24 | 30-06-2019 |
| 2018 | £106,000 | £5,512,000 | R. Madrid | DM, M/AM | La Liga | 23 | 30-06-2021 |
| 2017 | £102,000 | £5,304,000 | R. Madrid | DM, M/AM | La Liga | 22 | 29-06-2021 |
| 2016 | £84,000 | £4,368,000 | R. Madrid | DM, M/AM | LIGA BBVA | 21 | 29-06-2021 |
| 2015 | £37,000 | £1,924,000 | F.C. Internazionale | DM, M/AM | Serie A | 20 | 29-06-2019 |
| 2014 | £42,000 | £2,184,000 | F.C. Internazionale | DM, M/AM | Serie A | 19 | 29-06-2017 |
Career
| Position (s) | Central, attacking, and defensive midfield |
| Number | 8 |
| Current team | Chelsea |
| Former teams | ASKÖ Ebelsberg, LASK Linz, GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Croatian National Football Team, Inter Milan, Real Madrid |
He played for ASK Ebelsberg Linz Youth club for a year before joining LASK academy in 2000. After leaving the academy, top European teams including Ajax, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Juventus started competing to secure his services. Finally, he made a conscious decision to go on with GNK Dinamo, where he played for the under-15 and under-17 teams.
He broke several records and become one of the most in-demand midfielders because of his skill, dedication, and spirit. He established himself as the club’s youngest club captain and best scorer while playing for Dinamo.
After winning two league and cup doubles with the Croatian powerhouse Dinamo, Kovacic leave for Inter Milan in January 2013. He was one of the most sought-after assets in Europe thanks to his performances at such a young age, particularly in the Champions League.
Because of his outstanding first half-season at Inter, he fought his way into the starting XI and won the club’s Young Player of the Year title.
When Real Madrid made an approach in the summer of 2015 after two more seasons at the San Siro, the Nerazzurri were forced to sell one of their key players due to their dire financial situation. Kovacic moved to Madrid after making over 100 appearances in Italy.
Kovacic spent most of his time at the Bernabeu as a substitute due to the intense rivalry for playing time at Real Madrid. Nevertheless, throughout his three years at Real Madrid, he played extensively and made over 100 appearances, including in the Champions League, which Real Madrid won each year Kovacic was there. His other exploits included winning the Spanish Cup and La Liga.
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Kovacic made his Chelsea debut when he came off the bench in an early-season win over Arsenal, the Croatian impressing with his clever use of the ball and technical qualities, before making his first start in our next match away at Newcastle. He quickly became an important member of the three-man midfield favored by Maurizio Sarri, playing on the left of the trio, and ever since he has become an integral part of the London club.
International
He debuted for Croatia in 2013, and along with playing his part as Croatia entered uncharted territory, he started each of their games at the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. He played five games during Croatia’s run to the World Cup final in 2018, as well as setting up one of their goals in a memorable 3-0 victory over Argentina during the tournament.
Kovacic was a regular in the side throughout Euro 2020 qualifying and the 2020/21 Nations League, scoring a crucial brace against Portugal in their last game of the latter, which meant they avoided relegation on goal difference. That continued at the delayed Euro 2020 tournament itself, starting all four of Croatia’s matches and setting up the decisive goal that sealed their place in the knockout stages with a 3-1 win over Scotland before they were eliminated in extra time by Spain in the last 16.
Mateo Kovačić’s stats
| Appearances 2021-22 | 25 |
| Minutes played | 1556 |
| Games started | 16 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Wins | 63 |
| Losses | 27 |
| Assists 2021-22 | 5 |
| Total passes | 6291 |
| Total passes 2021-22 | 1193 |
| Passes completed | 1059 |
| Pass accuracy | 89% |
| Tackles | 69 |
| Successful tackles | 51 |
| Tacke success | 74% |
| Shooting accuracy | 20% |
Kovačić Family
Kovačić was born in Linz, Austria, to Bosnian Croat parents Stipo and Ružica who had moved there from Zabrđe near Kotor Varoš, Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of the Yugoslav Wars. He is a devout Roman Catholic and he attends church every Sunday.
He speaks five languages: Croatian, German, English, Italian, and Spanish. In 2017, Kovačić married his longtime girlfriend Izabel Andrijanić.
On 12 October 2020, Andrijanić gave birth to their first child, a baby boy named Ivan. The child was christened in July 2021, with Luka Modrić being his godfather.
He made a cameo appearance in Jakov Sedlar’s 2021 film The Match, alongside Croatia teammate Dejan Lovren
| Father | Stipo Kovačić |
| Mother | Ružica Kovačić |
| Sister | Katarina |
| Sister | Jelena |
| Mateo Kovačić’s wife | Izabel Andrijanić |
| Children | Ivan |
Izabel Kovačić
Mateo is married to his long-time girlfriend Izabel Andrijanić, famously known as the Croatian Shakira because of her good looks and blonde wavy hair. The CEO of Lunilou clothing brand is blessed with one child.
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Mateo Kovačić’s net worth
His net worth is currently valued at about $22.9 million.
| Contract term | Five years |
| Mateo Kovačić’s contract | $47.4 million |
| Average annual salary | $9.48 million |
| Nike endorsement deal | Unknown |
Mateo Kovačić’s cars and houses
Like all the other Chelsea players’ lifestyles, Kova lives lavishly. Although he keeps details of his wealth private, we know he owns a 2021 Audi Q7 from his days in Real Madrid. He also owns a home in Zagreb, Croatia, and London.
Is Mateo Kovačić on Socia Media?
| 4.7 million followers as of 16th June 2022 | |
| 337.8 thousand followers as of 16th June 2022 |
Although Mateo Kovačić’s net worth may not measure up to other top Croatian footballers such as Luka Modric, he still brings national pride for his talent and character. Moreover, as his career grows through the years, so will his financial success.
