Croatia national under-21 football team

The Croatia national under-21 football team represents Croatia in international football matches for players 21 or under. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Croatia. It is a member of UEFA in Europe and FIFA in global competitions. The team's colours reference two national symbols: the Croatian checkerboard and the country's tricolour. They are colloquially referred to as the Mladi vatreni ('Young Blazers'). So far, the Mladi vatreni qualified for six UEFA European Under-21 Championships, namely in 2000, 2004, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2027. Croatia was unable to pass the group stage until the 2021 Euro when it was eliminated in the quarter-finals, its greatest accomplishment in the European competition so far.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2026

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

PositionNameHead coach Ivica OlićAssistant coaches Ante Tomić Renato Pilipović Niko KranjčarGoalkeeping coach Darko StanekovićFitness coaches Vedran Naglić Aris NaglićAnalyst Nikola BuzadžićDoctors Mislav Rakić Boban Dangubić Nino Brajković Physiotherapists Tomislav BuljanTechnical secretary Josip TomaškoKit men Milan Vincek Luka Karlo

Players

Current squad The following players were named in the squad for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group H matches against Hungary, Ukraine and Lithuania on 26 September, 2 and 6 October 2026; respectively.

Caps and goals correct as of 2 October 2026, after the match against Ukraine

Recent call-ups The following players have also been called up to the squad in the last 12 months and are still eligible for selection.

INJ = Injured or ill. WD = Withdrew. SUS = Suspended from participating. RET = Retired after latest call-up. SEN = Joined the Croatia senior team instead. PRE = Preliminary squad.

Competitive record

Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Tournament played fully or partially on home soil

UEFA European Under-21 Championship

recordQualifications recordYearRoundPositionSquadPositionManager1978colspan=9 rowspan=7 colspan=8 rowspan=9 1980198219841986198819901992colspan=9 1994colspan=9 1996rowspan=2 colspan=9 4/6105231312Martin Novoselac 19983/58404139Ivo Šušak 2000Group stage7/8301246Squad1/510721289Ivo Šušak 2002colspan=9 2/4OFF8341107Martin Novoselac 2004Group stage7/8301235Squad1/48422115Martin Novoselac 2006colspan=9 rowspan=7 1/6OFF128131611Slaven Bilić 20073/3200224Dražen Ladić 20092/6107122012Dražen Ladić 20111/5OFF105231815Dražen Ladić 20134/58215716Ivo Šušak 20151/5OFF10613229Niko Kovač / Nenad Gračan 20173/6106222411Nenad Gračan 2019Group stage10/12301248Squad1/610811315Nenad Gračan 2021Quarter-finals7/16410357Squad 1 / Squad 22/6 10 6 2 2 37 7Nenad Gračan/Igor Bišćan 2023Group stage14/16301203Squad1/6 8 6 1 1 19 7Igor Bišćan/Dragan Skočić 2025colspan=9 2/6OFF 12 8 1 3 23 17Dragan Skočić/Ivica Olić 2027colspan=9 colspan=8 TotalQuarter-finals5/241614111629145842338290154

MatchesFirst match 1–2 (Trnava, Slovakia; 27 May 2000)Biggest win 3–2 (Koper, Slovenia; 28 March 2021)Biggest defeat 4–1 (Serravalle, San Marino; 18 June 2019)

Notes OFF = Lost in play-offs.

Statistics

Managers

The following table provides a summary of the complete record of each manager including their results regarding European Under-21 Championship.

Key: Pld–games played, W–games won, D–games drawn; L–games lost, %–win percentage

Manager Tenure Pld W D L Win % Tournaments 1994–19962000–2004 1996 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2002 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2004 European Championship – Group stage 1997–20002011–2013 1998 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2000 European Championship – Group stage 2013 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2004–2006 2006 European Championship – Play-offs (c)2005 2006 European Championship – Failed to qualifyHe coached the U21 team during the first play-off to 2006 European Championship lost 1:3 to Serbia HNS: Serbia-Croatia 3:1, 2005 (c)2005 2006 European Championship – Failed to qualifyHe coached the U21 team during the second play-off to 2006 European Championship lost 1:2 to Serbia HNS: Croatia-Serbia 1:2, 2005 (c)As a temporary manager he coached the U21 team during the friendly 1:1 draw against Italy HNS: Croatia-Italy 1:1, 20052005 2006–2011 2007 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2009 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2011 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2013 2013–2019 2015 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2017 European Championship – Failed to qualify 2019 European Championship – Group stage 2019–2023 2021 European Championship – Quarter-finals 2023– 2023 European Championship – Group stage Last updated: Croatia vs Belarus, 20 November 2023. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.

Most capped players

Players in bold are still active with Croatia.

#NameCareerCapsGoals1Luka Ivanušec2017–202128102Tomislav Vranjić2002–20052603Tomislav Bušić2005–200825124Nikola Moro2017–20212465Josip Tadić2005–20082256Ivan Leko1994–2000215Mato Jajalo2007–201048Tomo Šokota1997–20001910Roko Šimić2021–8Nikola Vlašić2015–20197Lovro Majer2017–20215Davor Vugrinec1994–19973Dejan Lovren2007–20103Mario Lučić2002–20042Domagoj Vida2007–20102Dario Smoje1997–20001Boško Šutalo2019–20221Mario Carević2001–20040Luka Vučko2004–20060Borna Sosa2017–20200

Top goalscorers

Players in bold are still active with Croatia.

#NameGoalsCapsRatioCareer1Tomislav Bušić12292005–20082Tomo Šokota10191997–2000Luka Ivanušec282017–20214Josip Brekalo9172016–20195Eduardo da Silva8122004–2005Stipe Perica122013–2016Roko Šimić192021–8Marcelo Brozović7132011–2014Nikola Vlašić192015–201910Ante Rukavina692007–2008Marin Ljubičić112021–Mario Pašalić142014–2016Mihael Mikić151999–2001Sandro Kulenović152019–2021Nikola Moro242017–2021

Record per opponent

Opponent Total: 57 teams played

Croatia national under-21 football team

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