View source for Zvonimir Boban

{{Short description|Croatian footballer (born 1968)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name          = Zvonimir Boban
| image         = Zvonimir Boban in 2018.jpg
| caption       = Boban in 2018
| order         = 
| office        = President of [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]
| term_start    = 16 September 2025
| term_end      = 
| predecessor   = [[Velimir Zajec]]
| successor     = 
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1968|10|08|df=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Imotski]], [[Socialist Republic of Croatia|SR Croatia]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|SFR Yugoslavia]]
| height        = 1.83 m<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/EN/players/show_player_profile/0,3173,282,00.html|title=Zvonimir Boban|publisher=AC Milan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000303211748/http://www.acmilan.com/EN/players/show_player_profile/0,3173,282,00.html|archive-date=3 March 2000}}</ref>
| spouse        = {{Marriage|Leonarda Lončar|1994}}
| children      = 5
| alma_mater    = [[University of Zagreb]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| occupation    = [[Football player|Footballer]]<br />Football administrator
| signature     = 
| signature_alt = 
| module        =
{{Infobox football biography
| embed=yes
| header-color=#B0C4DE
| name = 
| image = 
| full_name = 
| birth_date = 
| birth_place = 
| height = 
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1978–1981
| youthclubs1 = {{ill|Mračaj Runović|hr|NK Mračaj Runović}}
| youthyears2 = 1981–1982
| youthclubs2 = [[HNK Hajduk Split Academy|Hajduk Split]]
| youthyears3 = 1983–1985
| youthclubs3 = [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb Academy|Dinamo Zagreb]]
| years1 = 1985–1991
| clubs1 = [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]
| caps1 = 112
| goals1 = 45
| years2 = 1991–2001
| clubs2 = [[AC Milan]]
| caps2 = 178
| goals2 = 21
| years3 = 1991–1992
| clubs3 = → [[AS Bari|Bari]] (loan)
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2001
| clubs4 = → [[Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]] (loan)
| caps4 = 4
| goals4 = 0
| totalcaps = 311
| totalgoals = 68
| nationalyears1 = 1987
| nationalteam1 = [[Yugoslavia national under-20 football team|Yugoslavia U20]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 1988–1991
| nationalteam2 = [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]]
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 1992–1999
| nationalteam3 = [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]]
| nationalcaps3 = 49
| nationalgoals3 = 12
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|YUG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|Winner|[[1987 FIFA World Youth Championship|1987 Chile]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Under-21 Championship]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1990 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|1990]]|}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|CRO}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 France]]|}}
}}}}

'''Zvonimir Boban''' ({{IPA|hr|zʋônimiːr bǒban|hr|hr-Zvonimir Boban.ogg}}; born 8 October 1968) is a Croatian former professional [[association football|footballer]] who  serves as president of [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb]]. A [[midfielder]], Boban played most of his career for Italian club [[AC Milan]] with whom he won four [[Serie A]] titles and one [[UEFA Champions League]] title. He also [[captain (association football)|captained]] the [[Croatia national football team|Croatia national team]] which won third place at the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]].

Before 1990 and the international recognition of Croatia's national team, Boban had played for the [[Yugoslavia national under-20 football team|Yugoslavia under-20]] team which won the [[1987 FIFA World Youth Championship|1987 World Youth Championship]]. Boban scored three times in this tournament, as well as scoring in the final (drawn 1–1 with [[Germany national under-20 football team|West Germany]]) and then converting the decisive penalty in the shootout. Having made his debut for the senior [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] team in 1988, Boban switched to playing for Croatia after the national team's inception, debuting against [[Romania national football team|Romania]] in December 1990. Having appeared seven times for Yugoslavia, scoring once, Boban was [[Cap (sport)|capped]] 49 times for Croatia, scoring 12 goals, between 1992 and 1999.

Since retiring from playing in 2002, Boban gained a history degree from the [[University of Zagreb]]. He has also become a football [[pundit (expert)|pundit]] on Croatian and Italian television, working most notably for [[Sky Italia]] and [[RTL Televizija]].

==Club career==

===Dinamo Zagreb===
Born in [[Imotski]], Boban started his career with [[NK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]. He made his debut for the team in the 1985–86 season, aged 16. He would play 109 games for the club over six seasons, scoring 45 goals and becoming club captain aged 19.<ref name="Calcio">{{cite web|last=Schiavone|first=David|title=Legend of Calcio: Zvonimir Boban|url=http://www.serieaweekly.com/2010/04/legend-of-calcio-zvonimir-boban.html|access-date=6 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409000821/http://www.serieaweekly.com/2010/04/legend-of-calcio-zvonimir-boban.html|archive-date=9 April 2010}}</ref>

====Dinamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot====
{{Main|Dinamo Zagreb–Red Star Belgrade riot}}
In a game against [[Red Star Belgrade]] on 13 May 1990, Boban kicked a police officer in the face for assaulting a Dinamo supporter after a riot broke out in the stadium.<ref name=Independent>{{cite news|last=Haylett|first=Trevor|title=Boban the inspiration for Croatia|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boban-the-inspiration-for-croatia-1576947.html|access-date=7 June 2011|location=London|work=The Independent|date=10 October 1995|archive-date=11 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111121902/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boban-the-inspiration-for-croatia-1576947.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> This incident made Boban an icon of resistance in Croatia.<ref name="Calcio" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Podnar|first=Ozren|title=The Day Yugoslav Soccer Died|url=http://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/news/balkans-soccer/football-war.html|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref>

It is cited by some as the expression of Croatian discontent with the Yugoslav regime.<ref>{{cite web|last=machiavelli|title=Arkan, Zvonimir Boban, football and the bloody end of Yugoslavia|url=http://footballprovince.cafebabel.com/en/post/2008/01/28/Arkanas-Z-Bobanas-futbolas-ir-kruvinas-Jugoslavijos-galas|access-date=6 June 2011|archive-date=16 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816135017/http://footballprovince.cafebabel.com/en/post/2008/01/28/Arkanas-Z-Bobanas-futbolas-ir-kruvinas-Jugoslavijos-galas|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=J-Rock|title=May 13 – The Match That Started a War|url=http://www.onthisfootballday.com/football-history/may-13-the-match-that-started-a-war.php|access-date=10 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005233845/http://www.onthisfootballday.com/football-history/may-13-the-match-that-started-a-war.php|archive-date=5 October 2011}}</ref> It also earned him a suspension from the Yugoslav national team, causing him to miss the [[1990 World Cup]] in Italy. In January 2011, the match (due to the incident) was named by [[CNN]] as one of "five [[Association football|football]] games that changed the world".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sarajevo-x.com/sport/nogomet/clanak/110111018 |title=Utakmica Dinamo-Crvena zvezda među pet koje su promijenile svijet |publisher=Sarajevo-x.com |access-date=16 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/01/05/iraq.asia.six.games/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113045356/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/football/01/05/iraq.asia.six.games/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 January 2011|title=Five games that changed the world|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=21 July 2024}}</ref> The police officer (who turned out to be a Bosniak) later forgave Boban for his action.

===Serie A===
[[AC Milan]] signed Boban in 1991 in a deal worth £8 million.<ref name = "Calcio" /> Milan immediately loaned him to [[AS Bari|Bari]], as they felt he needed time to settle in Italy without counting as one of the 3 non-Italian players the club was limited to at the time. Bari were relegated in this season, but Boban ably demonstrated his ability in the team and was recalled to Milan. He stayed in the club for nine seasons, and enjoyed great success with them, helping the team to the [[1994 UEFA Champions League final|1994]] [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] title and contributing to the [[1995 UEFA Champions League final|1995]] campaign in which they ended as runners-up. Playing 251 games for Milan and scoring 30 goals, Boban won four [[Serie A]] titles, as well as three [[Supercoppa Italiana|Italian Supercups]]. In the second leg of the [[1994 European Super Cup]] final against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in Milan, he scored the opening goal in Milan's 2–0 aggregate victory.<ref name="hhmrs">{{cite news |first=Harry |last=Harris |title=Taking the pizza |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London |date=9 February 1995 |pages=36–37}}</ref> In August 2001, with his role at Milan diminished due to the signing of [[Rui Costa]],<ref name = "Calcio" /> he was loaned to [[La Liga]] side [[RC Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Nic|title=Boban agrees to Celta loan deal|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11849_2214943,00.html|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref> where he played in only four league matches. Unhappy with his role as a substitute, he retired in October 2001 and finished his last season earlier than he intended.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan-online.com/zvonimir-boban.php|title=Zvonimir Boban|publisher=acmilan-online.com|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20011014/ai_n13963256/pg_2/?tag=content;col1|title=Boban to call it a day|publisher=The Sunday Herald|date=14 October 2001|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/1602234.stm|title=Boban retires|publisher=BBC|date=16 October 2001|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref>

==International career==

===Yugoslavia===
Boban played a big part in [[Yugoslavia national under-20 football team|Yugoslavia]]'s win in 1987 [[FIFA U-20 World Cup|World Youth Championship]]. He scored three goals for Yugoslavia in this tournament, and also scored a decisive penalty in the final shootout.<ref name=FIFA>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=155688/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703065340/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=155688/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2008|title=FIFA – Zvonimir Boban Stats|publisher=FIFA.com|access-date=6 June 2011}}</ref> At the full international level, he earned seven [[cap (sport)|caps]] for [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] between 1988 and 1991,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reprezentacija.rs/boban-zvonimir|title=Boban Zvonimir|date=27 November 2009 |access-date=6 June 2011}}</ref> debuting against [[Republic of Ireland national football team|the Republic of Ireland]] on 27 April 1988. He played his last game for Yugoslavia on 16 May 1991 against the [[Faroe Islands national football team|Faroe Islands]], during which he scored his only goal for Yugoslavia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reprezentacija.rs/505-jugoslavija-farska-ostrva-7-0/|title=(1991) Jugoslavija - Farska Ostrva 7:0|date=15 May 1991 |access-date=8 June 2011}}</ref>

===Croatia===
When the nation of Croatia declared its independence of Yugoslavia, Boban left Yugoslavia to play for [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]]. He played his first international match for Croatia against a [[Romania national football team|Romanian]] side on 22 December 1990. The match was considered unofficial because Croatia at that time was not affiliated to [[FIFA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/croatia-v-romania-22-december-1990-242709/|title=Croatia v Romania, 22 December 1990. The match was considered unofficial by FIFA|publisher=11v11.com|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sveosportu.com/hrvatskareprezentacijanogomet/Hrvatskareprezentacija.htm |title=Sve o sportu |publisher=Sve o sportu |access-date=16 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716171205/http://www.sveosportu.com/hrvatskareprezentacijanogomet/Hrvatskareprezentacija.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011}}</ref> This match was only the second fixture Croatia had played as an independent nation since 1956. Boban played his last match for the national team in a friendly against [[France national football team|France]] on 13 November 1999. He blamed back pain for his decision to quit international football,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wldcup.com/news/1999Nov/19991110_2943_world_soccer.html|title=Boban calls time on Croatia career|access-date=6 June 2011}}</ref> but would go on to play in two more seasons of club football. In his career with the Croatia national team, Boban won 49 international caps and scored 12 goals.

====1998 World Cup====
Boban was a member of the Croatian team that finished third at the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]], captaining the squad at that tournament, as he had at the [[UEFA Euro 1996]]. At the tournament, he sported a slightly unusual haircut with his number 10 shaved onto the back of his head and highlighted in red dye. A mistake he made in the semi-final allowed [[France national football team|France]] to equalize immediately after Croatia had fought hard to earn a one-goal lead.<ref>{{cite web|last=Oberjurge|first=Paul|title=Thuram finds perfect time to finally find net.|url=http://www.soccertimes.com/worldcup/1998/games/jul09.htm|access-date=7 June 2011|archive-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314014755/http://www.soccertimes.com/worldcup/1998/games/jul09.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> To make matters worse, Boban was injured and wanted to come off at half time<ref name="hale">{{cite web|last=Hale|first=Alex|title=Zvonimir Boban|url=http://www.trivela.co.uk/veteran_corluka_archives.html?part_id=88241&post_id=6102&action=view_comments|publisher=Trivela.co.uk|access-date=10 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325053420/http://www.trivela.co.uk/veteran_corluka_archives.html?part_id=88241&post_id=6102&action=view_comments|archive-date=25 March 2012}}</ref> but stayed on until the 65th minute, when he was replaced by [[Silvio Marić]]. France won the match 2–1 and eventually won the tournament. Croatia went on to defeat the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]], with Boban providing the pass to [[Davor Šuker]] to score the winner,<ref>{{cite web|title=CROATIA – NETHERLANDS|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1998/playoff_cro_v_hol.html|access-date=7 June 2011}}</ref> allowing Croatia to attain third place and receive the bronze medal.

==Style of play==
Nicknamed ''[[Zorro]]'', Boban was a talented and creative yet tenacious and hard-working player, known for his use of [[Dummy (football)|feints]] to beat opponents. He was gifted with excellent vision, passing range, [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills, technical ability, and an eye for the final ball; he mixed these attributes with a unique tactical versatility and intelligence, which enabled him to be deployed in several [[Midfielder|midfield]] and [[Forward (association football)|offensive]] positions throughout his career. In addition to his preferred [[Playmaker|playmaking]] role behind the forwards as an [[attacking midfielder]], he was also capable of playing on the [[Winger (association football)|wing]], as a [[central midfielder]], or even as a [[Second striker|supporting striker]], due to his powerful and accurate [[Curl (association football)|bending]] shots from distance; he was also effective from [[Set piece (football)|set-pieces]]. Throughout his career, he also became known for his vocal presence, determination and aggression on the pitch, as well as his strong character.<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Zvonimir Boban">{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/archive/show_player/Zvonimir-Boban|title=AC Milan Hall of Fame: Zvonimir Boban|publisher=AC Milan|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Magliarossonera.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/protagonisti/Gioc-Boban.html|title=Zvonimir BOBAN|publisher=Magliarossonera.it|language=it|access-date=10 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2045208-where-does-luka-modric-rank-among-croatias-greatest-midfielders#slide9 |title=Where Does Luka Modric Rank Among Croatia's Greatest Midfielders? |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Holiga |first1=Aleksandar |date=29 April 2014 |access-date=14 July 2019 }}</ref>

==Post-playing career==
[[File:Vladimir Putin's meeting with the legends of world football (2018-07-06) 13.jpg|thumb|Boban (far left) with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] (centre) at the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] in Russia]]

Boban officially retired from football in 2002 after receiving little pitch time at Celta Vigo.<ref name="BBC" /> On 7 October 2002, Boban organised and played in a farewell [[testimonial match|testimonial]], with Croatia's 1998 World Cup team supported by tennis star [[Goran Ivanišević]] matching up against a World XI featuring such stars as [[Rivaldo]], [[Marco van Basten]] and [[Lothar Matthäus]].<ref name="bach">{{cite web|last=Bach|first=Nenand|title=Croatia's Boban leaves football with farewell match|url=http://www.croatia.org/crown/articles/8213/1/E-Croatias-Boban-leaves-football-with-farewell-match.html|access-date=7 June 2011}}</ref>

Since retiring from football, Boban, always known to be a literary man, completed his history degree at the [[University of Zagreb]]. He graduated from the [[Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb]] in 2004, with a thesis named "Christianity in the Roman Empire".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/10943/50-najbogatijih-hrvata |title=50 najbogatijih Hrvata |trans-title=50 richest Croats |publisher=[[Nacional (weekly)]] |date=30 March 2004 |access-date=16 August 2011 |language=hr |archive-date=27 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527141755/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/10943/50-najbogatijih-hrvata}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Podnar|first=Ozren|title=Zvonimir Boban: Next Croatian FA President, Or Deputy Minister Of Sports?|url=http://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/news/balkans-soccer/boban.html|access-date=6 June 2011}}</ref>

He also started a career in [[sports journalism]], being the administration president for the Croatian daily sports newspaper ''[[Sportske novosti]]'', a co-commentator during live broadcasts of the Croatia national team's away matches on the country's commercially-funded national TV station [[RTL Televizija]] as well as a commentator for [[SKY Italia]] and columnist for ''[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]''. As a commentator, Boban has become known as frank and outspoken.<ref>{{cite web|last=Romao|first=Kevin|title=Whatever happened to – Zvonimir Boban|url=http://www.graduatetimes.com/sport/2011/04/11/what-ever-happened-to-zvonimir-boban/|publisher=The Graduate Times|access-date=7 June 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004033734/http://www.graduatetimes.com/sport/2011/04/11/what-ever-happened-to-zvonimir-boban/|archive-date=4 October 2011}}</ref> Boban also owns a restaurant in Zagreb, called "Boban".<ref name = "Calcio" />

Boban has always maintained that he would never become a coach.
{{cquote|1=Football has broadened my horizons. For a while, I will take a rest from it but one thing is certain. Never, never shall I become a coach. My nerves are not up to it.|4=Zvonimir Boban|5=interview after retirement<ref name="bach" />}}

===FIFA===
On 30 May 2016, Boban was appointed [[FIFA]]'s Deputy Secretary-General, focusing on developing the game and the organization of competitions. He has been immediately among the endorsers of the implementation of technology on the field and played a fundamental role in the development of the [[video assistant referee]]. In fact, during the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]] played in [[Russia]], the first-ever with the VAR, he lived in [[Moscow]] alongside [[Pierluigi Collina]], chairman of FIFA's Referees' Committee, and [[Massimo Busacca]], head of FIFA's Refereeing Department, thus bringing referees' world closer to the Institutions. On 14 June 2019, after three years in office, he resigned. FIFA President [[Gianni Infantino]] had words of thanks for the Croatian: "I cannot thank Zvonimir enough for everything he has done for FIFA and for the game of football over the last three years by our side. Nobody embodies football better than he does and he has always worked for the good of the game. Many of the positive changes that we have made over the last three years could not have been achieved without Zvone. He has shown the same commitment, heart, and passion at FIFA that characterized his attitude on the pitch. We will miss him a lot at FIFA." One of Infantino's collaborators at FIFA said it was a massive loss, especially now that his work was beginning to make a difference for the whole organization.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-roles-idUKKCN0YL1P4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018133759/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-roles-idUKKCN0YL1P4|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2017|title=Former Croatia captain Boban given high-ranking FIFA role|last=Homewood|first=Brian|work=Reuters UK|access-date=5 June 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref>

===AC Milan===
In June 2019, Boban resigned from his FIFA job to return to his former club [[AC Milan]] where he was hired as a Chief Football Officer, the closest cooperator of the club's technical director [[Paolo Maldini]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=HINA |title=Nije odolio pozivu: Zvonimir Boban napušta FIFA-u i stiže u Milan za šefa nogometnih operacija |url=https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/sport/domaci-nogomet/nije-odolio-pozivu-zvonimir-boban-napusta-fifa-u-i-stize-u-milan-za-sefa-nogometnih-operacija-608849 |website=Slobodna Dalmacija |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=hr-hr |date=14 June 2019}}</ref> However, he was sacked on 7 March 2020, after he publicly criticized club CEO [[Ivan Gazidis]], who negotiated a possible job offer with German manager [[Ralf Rangnick]] for the [[2020–21 AC Milan season|2020−21 season]] behind Boban and Maldini's backs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milan i službeno potvrdio ono o čemu se pričalo: Zvone Boban dobio otkaz! |url=https://gol.dnevnik.hr/clanak/rubrika/nogomet/sluzbeno-zvonimir-boban-dobio-otkaz-u-milanu---596654.html |website=Gol.hr |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=hr |date=7 March 2020}}</ref>

===UEFA===
In April 2021, Boban was hired by [[UEFA]] as the Chief of Football, first ever person to hold that position.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rogulj |first1=Daniela |title=Zvonimir Boban to Become First-Ever UEFA Head of Football |url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/sport/52220-uefa-head-of-football |website=Total Croatia News |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=en-gb |date=17 April 2021 |archive-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425154613/https://www.total-croatia-news.com/sport/52220-uefa-head-of-football |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zvonimir Boban to be appointed UEFA role {{!}} Croatia Week |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/zvonimir-boban-to-be-appointed-uefa-role/ |website=Croatia Week |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=en |date=17 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Matteoni |first1=Robert |title=Zvonimir Boban ima novi posao: Dobio funkciju koju još nitko nikad nije obnašao u povijesti nogometa! |url=https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/nogomet-mix/zvonimir-boban-ima-novi-posao-dobio-funkciju-koju-jos-nitko-nikad-nije-obnasao-u-povijesti-nogometa-15065991 |website=Sportske novosti |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=hr-hr |date=16 April 2021}}</ref>

===GNK Dinamo===
In April 2025 Boban was announced as new chairman of the board of [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb]] returning to the club he was captain after almost 34 years. Boban would run entire sports policy of the club. <ref>{{cite web |title=Proslavljeni plavi kapetan Zvonimir Boban postaje novi predsjednik Uprave Dinama |url=https://gnkdinamo.hr/hr/vijesti/clanak/proslavljeni-plavi-kapetan-zvonimir-boban-postaje-novi-predsjednik-uprave-dinama |website=GNK Dinamo |access-date=5 July 2025 |language=hr |date=14 April 2025}}</ref> His official term as chairman of the board started at 1st of June 2025.

==Personal life==
[[File:Zvonimir Boban.jpg|thumb|upright|Boban in 2008]]

Boban married Leonarda Lončar, a fashion designer, in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zvonimir & Leonarda Boban|url=http://www.story.hr/zvijezdani-imenik/zvonimir-leonarda-boban|publisher=Story.Hr|access-date=7 June 2011}}</ref> They have five children: adopted children Marija, Gabrijel, Marta, Rafael, and a biological daughter Ruža (Rose).<ref>{{cite web|title=Zvonimir Boban becomes father for a fifth time|url=http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Panorama/2009-11-30/7502/Zvonimir_Boban_becomes_father_for_a_fifth_time|publisher=Croatian Times|access-date=7 June 2011|archive-date=5 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005185832/http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Panorama/2009-11-30/7502/Zvonimir_Boban_becomes_father_for_a_fifth_time|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2021, the couple separated,<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 May 2021|title=Razišli se Zvonimir i Leonarda Boban: 'Nadam se da će ljudi shvatiti delikatnost ove odluke'|url=https://www.vecernji.hr/showbiz/razisli-se-se-zvonimir-i-leonarda-boban-nadam-se-da-ce-ljudi-shvatiti-delikatnost-ove-odluke-1489652|access-date=5 May 2021|website=Večernji list|language=hr}}</ref> but they reunited in 2024.

Boban is also a keen tennis player.<ref name="hale" /> He is known to be close friends with [[Goran Ivanišević]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Staunton|first=Peter|title=Top 10 – Roland Garros Special: When Football Meets Tennis|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/2377/top-10/2010/05/27/1945026/top-10-roland-garros-special-when-football-meets-tennis|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref> with whom he plays at his private indoor clay tennis court.<ref>{{cite news|last=Law|first=David|title=Ivanisevic promises final display of fireworks|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/ivanisevic-promises-final-display-of-fireworks-612478.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/ivanisevic-promises-final-display-of-fireworks-612478.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=10 June 2011|location=London|work=The Independent|date=1 January 2003}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{NFT player|13709|name=Boban, Zvonimir|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Zvonimir Boban Dinamo Zagreb statistics|url=http://povijest.gnkdinamo.hr/popis-igra%C4%8Da/zvonimir-boban.html|publisher=Povijest.gnkdinamo.hr|access-date=7 October 2017|archive-date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007220523/http://povijest.gnkdinamo.hr/popis-igra%C4%8Da/zvonimir-boban.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Yugoslav Cup]], [[Coppa Italia]], [[Copa del Rey]].}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]
|[[1985–86 Yugoslav First League|1985–86]]
|[[Yugoslav First League]]
|2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
|[[1986–87 Yugoslav First League|1986–87]]
|Yugoslav First League
|28||8||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||28||8
|-
|[[1987–88 Yugoslav First League|1987–88]]
|Yugoslav First League
|30||13||1||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||31||14
|-
|[[1988–89 Yugoslav First League|1988–89]]
|Yugoslav First League
|0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|[[1989–90 Yugoslav First League|1989–90]]
|Yugoslav First League
|26||9||2||1||2||0||colspan="2"|–||30||10
|-
|[[1990–91 Yugoslav First League|1990–91]]
|Yugoslav First League
|26||15||2||0||2||1||colspan="2"|–||30||16
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!112!!45!!5!!2!!4!!1!!0!!0!!121!!48
|-
|[[AS Bari|Bari]]
|[[1991–92 Serie A|1991–92]]
|[[Serie A]]
|17||2||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||17||2
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[AC Milan]]
|[[1992–93 Serie A|1992–93]]
|Serie A
|13||0||3||0||6||1||colspan="2"|–||22||1
|-
|[[1993–94 Serie A|1993–94]]
|Serie A
|20||4||2||0||8||0||1{{efn|name=si|Appearance in [[Supercoppa Italiana]]}}||0||31||4
|-
|[[1994–95 Serie A|1994–95]]
|Serie A
|21||1||3||0||11||2||2{{efn|One appearance in [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]; in [[Supercoppa Italiana]]}}||0||37||3
|-
|[[1995–96 Serie A|1995–96]]
|Serie A
|13||3||2||0||5||3||1{{efn|name=si}}||0||21||7
|-
|[[1996–97 Serie A|1996–97]]
|Serie A
|28||1||3||0||5||1||colspan="2"|–||36||2
|-
|[[1997–98 Serie A|1997–98]]
|Serie A
|23||2||6||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||29||3
|-
|[[1998–99 Serie A|1998–99]]
|Serie A
|27||2||4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||31||2
|-
|[[1999–2000 Serie A|1999–2000]]
|Serie A
|17||6||3||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||22||6
|-
|[[2000–01 Serie A|2000–01]]
|Serie A
|16||2||3||1||7||0||colspan="2"|–||26||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!178!!21!!29!!2!!44!!7!!4!!0!!255!!31
|-
|[[Celta de Vigo|Celta Vigo]]
|[[2001–02 La Liga|2001–02]]
|[[La Liga]]
|4||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!311!!68!!34!!4!!50!!8!!4!!0!!399!!81
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]]
|1988||2||0
|-
|1989||1||0
|-
|1990||2||0
|-
|1991||2||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!7!!1
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Croatia national football team|Croatia]]
|1992||1||0
|-
|1993||1||0
|-
|1994||5||0
|-
|1995||5||2
|-
|1996||9||2
|-
|1997||8||3
|-
|1998||13||5
|-
|1999||7||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!49!!12
|}


:''Scores and results list Yugoslavia's and Croatia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boban goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Zvonimir Boban
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
!colspan="8"|Yugoslavia goals
|-
|style="text-align:center"|1
|16 May 1991
|[[Red Star Stadium]], [[Belgrade]], Yugoslavia
|{{fb|FRO}}
|style="text-align:center"|5–0
|style="text-align:center"|7–0
|[[UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying Group 4|UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying]]
|-
!colspan="8"|Croatia goals
|-
|style="text-align:center"|1
|25 March 1995
|[[Stadion Maksimir]], [[Zagreb]], Croatia
|{{fb|UKR}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|[[UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying Group 4|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|2
|3 September 1995
|Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
|{{fb|EST}}
|style="text-align:center"|4–1
|style="text-align:center"|7–1
|UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying
|-
|style="text-align:center"|3
|2 June 1996
|[[Lansdowne Road]], [[Dublin]], Republic of Ireland
|{{fb|IRL}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–1
|style="text-align:center"|2–2
|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|4
|16 June 1996
|[[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]], [[Sheffield]], England
|{{fb|DEN}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|[[UEFA Euro 1996]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|5
|rowspan="2"|2 April 1997
|rowspan="2"|[[Stadion Poljud]], [[Split, Croatia|Split]], Croatia
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|SLO}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–3
|rowspan="2"|[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 1|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|6
|style="text-align:center"|3–1
|-
|style="text-align:center"|7
|6 September 1997
|Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
|{{fb|BIH|1992}}
|style="text-align:center"|3–2
|style="text-align:center"|3–2
|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
|style="text-align:center"|8
|22 April 1998
|[[Stadion Gradski vrt]], [[Osijek]], Croatia
|{{fb|POL}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|4–1
|Friendly
|-
|style="text-align:center"|9
|rowspan="2"|6 June 1998
|rowspan="2"|Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|AUS}}
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|7–0
|rowspan="2"|Friendly
|-
|style="text-align:center"|10
|style="text-align:center"|7–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|11
|rowspan="2"|14 October 1998
|rowspan="2"|Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|MKD|name=Macedonia}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–1
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–2
|rowspan="2"|[[UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying Group 8|UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying]]
|-
|style="text-align:center"|12
|style="text-align:center"|3–2
|}

==Honours==
'''AC Milan'''<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Zvonimir Boban"/>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1992–93 Serie A|1992–93]], [[1993–94 Serie A|1993–94]], [[1995–96 Serie A|1995–96]], [[1998–99 Serie A|1998–99]]
*[[Supercoppa Italiana]]: [[1992 Supercoppa Italiana|1992]], [[1993 Supercoppa Italiana|1993]], [[1994 Supercoppa Italiana|1994]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1993–94 UEFA Champions League|1993–94]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[1994 European Super Cup|1994]]

'''Yugoslavia'''
*[[FIFA World Youth Championship]]: [[1987 FIFA World Youth Championship|1987]]
*[[UEFA European Under-21 Championship]] runner-up: [[1990 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|1990]]

'''Croatia'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]] third place: [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]

'''Individual'''
*[[FIFA World Youth Championship#Awards|FIFA World Youth Championship Silver Ball]]: [[1987 FIFA World Youth Championship|1987]]
*[[Croatian Footballer of the Year]]: 1991, 1999
*[[Ballon d'Or]]: [[1994 Ballon d'Or|1994]] (24th place). Nominated: [[1995 Ballon d'Or|1995]], [[1996 Ballon d'Or|1996]], [[1998 Ballon d'Or|1998]]<ref>{{cite news|title=European Footballer of the Year |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html |work=[[RSSSF]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007212514/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html |archive-date=7 October 2013 }}</ref>
*[[Sportske novosti Yellow Shirt award|SN Yellow Shirt Award]]: 1991
*[[Franjo Bučar State Award for Sport]]: 1998, 2002
*[[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll|UEFA Jubilee Poll]] (2004): #92<ref>{{cite news|date=21 December 2006|title=UEFA Awards|work= Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/uefa-awards.html#100|access-date=12 March 2024}}</ref>
*[[Bleacher Report|AC Milan: The 20 Greatest Rossoneri of All-Time]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/912027-ac-milan-the-20-greatest-rossoneri-of-all-time|title=AC Milan: The 20 Greatest Rossoneri of All-Time|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date= 24 November 2011}}</ref>
*AC Milan Hall of Fame<ref name="AC Milan Hall of Fame: Zvonimir Boban"/>
*Fair Play Menarini Award 2017<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170709192429/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2017/m=7/news=boban-presented-with-fair-play-award-2900731.html FIFA.com]</ref>
*[[Globe Soccer Awards]] 2018: Special Career Award

'''Orders'''
*[[File:Order of DH Franjo Bučar.jpg|50px]] [[Order of Danica Hrvatska|Order of Danica Hrvatska with face of Franjo Bučar]]: 1995<ref>{{cite news | url = http://hrvatska.poslovniforum.hr/nn-arhiva/00025/0256f.asp|title = ODLUKU KOJOM SE ODLIKUJU REDOM DANICE HRVATSKE S LIKOM FRANJE BUČARA | language = hr | publisher= hrvatska.poslovniforum.hr}}</ref>
*[[File:Ribbon of an Order of the Croatian Trefoil.png|50px]] [[Order of the Croatian Trefoil]]: 1998<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hrt.hr/arhiv/98/07/12/h2_hrv.html |title=PREDSJEDNIK TUDJMAN ODLIKOVAO HRVATSKU NOGOMETNU REPREZENTACIJU |language=hr |publisher=hrt.hr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108054336/http://www.hrt.hr/arhiv/98/07/12/h2_hrv.html |archive-date=8 November 2016 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{CFF player}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{NFT player}}
* {{Reprezentacija|boban-zvonimir}}

{{Croatian Footballer of the Year award}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Zvonimir Boban international tournaments
|list1=
{{Croatia squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
{{Croatia squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boban, Zvonimir}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:AC Milan players]]
[[Category:SSC Bari players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:RC Celta de Vigo players]]
[[Category:Croatia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Croatian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Croatian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Dual internationalists (men's football)]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb alumni]]
[[Category:Franjo Bučar Award winners]]
[[Category:GNK Dinamo Zagreb players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Imotski]]
[[Category:Footballers from Split-Dalmatia County]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players]]
[[Category:Yugoslav First League players]]
[[Category:Yugoslav men's footballers]]
[[Category:Yugoslavia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]