Talent factory with locational disadvantage: Former FCB forward Ivica Olić talks about Dinamo Zagreb's strengths and weakesses and reveals which players to keep an eye on at the Allianz Arena.
Ivica Olić' first big dream was to wear the Dinamo Zagreb shirt. "There were only two options in Croatia back then: You were a Dinamo fan or you favoured Hajduk", says Olić, who was a Dinamo fan. To this day, Dinamo is Croatia's most successful football club, winning 18 out of 19 domestic championship titles since 2006. They only won one in the five years prior to that, with forward Ivica Olić: "It was the only year I played for Dinamo Zagreb." But his dream had come true when top scorer Olić joined Dinamo from local rivals and reigning champions NK Zagreb. It had been the first time a club other than Hajduk or Dinamo won the title since the foundation of the Croatian league. "It was the most awesome feeling back then, I still remember," says Olić.
Bayern are favourites
When Dinamo Zagreb take on FC Bayern in the Champions League, the roles are clearly defined. "Anything other than three points for FC Bayern would be a huge surprise," according to Olić. When he was at Dinamo, a season without a championship title was a lost season: "Similar to FC Bayern." The 45-year-old played for Munich from 2009 to 2012, scoring 13 goals in 55 matches, including legendary ones like the last-minute goal against Manchester United in the quarter-finals or his hat-trick against Olympique Lyon in the semi-finals. He was the second-most prolific Champions League scorer on seven goals behind Lionel Messi and won the double with FC Bayern in 2010.
"Before the draw I hoped Dinamo would face FC Bayern. Now it's the first match of the Champions League campaign – of course I have to be there when my two former clubs face off," says Olić, who has two hearts: "I love Dinamo, but I had my best time at FC Bayern. I think Dinamo will turn in a good display, they'll fight. But they know FC Bayern are the big favourites."
Dinamo the gold standard in Croatia
Dinamo have achieved a special status in Croatia: "The difference in quality in the league is huge," says Olić, who coaches the Croatia U-21s after years as part of the coaching staff of the Croatia senior squad. They finished eight points clear of runners-up HNK Rijeka last season. Neither Rijeka nor Hajduk Split were able to qualify for European competition. "Dinamo are a force, especially at home in front of their noisy fans. They beat Tottenham Hotspur and Atalanta Bergamo in Zagreb. Their fans can help them achieve big victories." It is another advantage for FC Bayern that the match against the Croatian record champions will be staged at the Allianz Arena. The Bavarians played one match at Zagreb's Stadium Maksimir in recent years, beating Dinamo 2-0 on the road and 5-0 at the Allianz Arena in 2015. Bayern were held to a goalless draw at Stadium Maksimir in the 1962/63 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup quarter-finals before losing 4-1 in Munich. Dinamo lost 2-0 to Valencia in the final.
The former FC Bayern forward sees the serial winners' confidence as their greatest strength: "Dinamo have a good mix of international experience and young talents." The club's talent factory produces the country's best talents year after year – recently Joško Gvardiol, Matteo Kovačić, Luka Modrić and Daniel Olmo. "Their biggest dream comes true for many lads in Croatia when Dinamo approaches them" – as they approached Olić back then.
This leads to a high turnover of players, their biggest weakness. "Dinamo needs transfer fees to keep their status in Croatia, but they still can't match the salaries paid abroad."
Rivals getting stronger
Olić thinks strong Dinamo players like Martin Baturina (21) or Petar Sučić (20) might soon join even bigger clubs. "For Dinamo it's always about finding new talents and creating a good mix between them and experienced players." Like forward Bruno Petković (29), who has made 41 appearances for Croatia and was Dinamo's most prolific striker last season, scoring 11 goals.
But their domestic rivals are getting stronger. Clubs like Rijeka and NK Osijek have big sponsors. The times when it was only between Dinamo and Hajduk for young boys might soon be over.
Dinamo lost their dress rehearsal against none other than Hajduk:
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