Milan Badelj was a member of the Croatian squad that finished runners-up in the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well as part of the country's squad at its 2014 edition and the UEFA Euro's editions in 2012,2016 and 2020.
20 Facts About Milan Badelj
1.
2.
Milan Badelj signed for Dinamo Zagreb as a 17-year-old in 2007, just after he was snapped up from the youth system of Dinamo Zagreb's city rival, NK Zagreb.
3.
Milan Badelj played in 28 matches and scored seven goals for Lokomotiva in the Croatian Third League.
4.
At an early age, Badelj was already spotted as a possible replacement for Luka Modric, a key figure in the Dinamo Zagreb first-team squad that joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2008.
5.
In 2008, Milan Badelj joined the first team and immediately established himself as an important player.
6.
Milan Badelj made his senior debut for Dinamo in Champions League qualifier against Northern Irish club Linfield.
7.
Milan Badelj finished his first season with Dinamo with 31 domestic appearances and 12 UEFA Cup appearances.
Related searches
Davide Astori 8.
Milan Badelj appeared in all six of Dinamo's group stage games against Real Madrid, Lyon and Ajax.
9.
In what would be his final game at the Stadion Maksimir for Dinamo, in a Champions League playoff match against Slovenian side Maribor, Milan Badelj scored an own goal that gave the opposition an equaliser in the first leg match.
10.
However, Milan Badelj later scored the winning goal at the other end in the second half.
11.
Milan Badelj made his domestic debut soon after joining the club in a match against Werder Bremen.
12.
Milan Badelj soon established himself as a first-team regular, typically operating as a deep-lying playmaker.
13.
In 2018, after the sudden death of Davide Astori due to cardiac arrest in early March 2018, Milan Badelj was appointed as team captain.
14.
Milan Badelj joined Lazio on 1 August 2018, on a free transfer.
15.
On 5 August 2019, Milan Badelj joined Fiorentina on loan until 30 June 2020 with an option to buy.
16.
Fiorentina chose not to activate the option and Milan Badelj returned to Lazio at the end of the spell.
17.
On 16 September 2020, Milan Badelj signed a three-year contract with Genoa.
18.
In 2010, Milan Badelj was selected for the Croatia national team squad for the first time, but was mostly on the bench.
19.
Milan Badelj was selected for the UEFA Euro 2012 squad; and in May 2014, was selected for the final squad at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil following an injury to Ivan Mocinic.
20.
In May 2018, Milan Badelj was selected for the final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.