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{{short description|Croatian footballer and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Samir Toplak
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|4|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Varaždin]], [[Croatia]]
| height = 1.86 m
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub = [[NK Kustošija|Kustošija]] (manager)
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1988–1998
| clubs1 = [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|NK Varaždin]]
| caps1 = 150
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 1998–2002
| clubs2 = [[VfL Bochum]]
| caps2 = 65
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2002–2003
| clubs3 = [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|NK Varaždin]]
| caps3 = 22
| goals3 = 0
| totalcaps = 237
| totalgoals = 5
| years4 = 2005–2006
| nationalyears1 = 1994
| nationalteam1 = [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]]
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2003–2005
| managerclubs1 = [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|Varteks]] (youth)
| manageryears2 = 2005–2007
| managerclubs2 = [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|Varteks]] (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2010–2011
| managerclubs3 = [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|Varaždin]]
| manageryears4 = 2011–2012
| managerclubs4 = [[HNK Cibalia|Cibalia]]
| manageryears5 = 2012–2013
| managerclubs5 = [[HNK Gorica|Gorica]]
| manageryears6 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs6 = [[NK Zelina|Zelina]]
| manageryears7 = 2014–2019
| managerclubs7 = [[NK Inter Zaprešić|Inter Zaprešić]]
| manageryears8 = 2020
| managerclubs8 = [[NK Varaždin (2012)|Varaždin]]
| manageryears9 = 2021
| managerclubs9 = [[NK Lokomotiva Zagreb|Lokomotiva Zagreb]]
| manageryears10 = 2022
| managerclubs10 = [[HNK Gorica|Gorica]]
| manageryears11 = 2023
| managerclubs11 = [[NK Kustošija|Kustošija]]
}}

'''Samir Toplak''' (born 23 April 1970) is a Croatian professional [[Association football|football]] [[Manager (association football)|manager]] and former [[Football player|player]] who is the current manager of [[Croatian First Football League]] club [[NK Kustošija|Kustošija]].

Born in [[Varaždin]], Toplak spent most of his playing and managerial career at his hometown club [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|Varteks]].

== Playing career ==
Toplak started his career with [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|Varteks]], in [[Varaždin]], and spent the first ten seasons of his career there. After proving himself to be one of the best defenders in the top level [[Croatian First Football League|Prva HNL]], Toplak transferred to German [[Bundesliga]] club [[VfL Bochum]].<ref name="Kicker">{{cite web|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/intwettbewerbe//2004-05/nk-granicar-tucenik-29149/22017/spieler_samir-toplak.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217072146/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/intwettbewerbe//2004-05/nk-granicar-tucenik-29149/22017/spieler_samir-toplak.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 December 2015 |title=Toplak, Samir |work=Kicker |access-date=28 September 2014 |language=de}}</ref> He spent four seasons in Germany, where the club floated between first and second division. Toplak returned to Varteks in the summer of 2002, for the last season of his top-level football career.<ref name="Kicker" />

He played two [[Exhibition game|friendly match]]es for [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] in 1994, against [[Slovakia national football team|Slovakia]] and [[Israel national football team|Israel]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=21193|title=Player Database|accessdate=2 January 2023|website=EU-football}}</ref>

== Managerial career ==
During his last two years as a player, Toplak had started working as a youth coach in the [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|Varteks]] system. Upon retirement, he became a club director and became an assistant manager (2005–2007) with the senior team. In 2010, Toplak was hired as manager of the senior team, the same year that it changed its name to NK Varaždin. He led the relatively young team, consisting mainly of Varaždin's home grown players, to a successful [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League]] campaign, beating [[FC Lusitanos]] and [[Iskra-Stal]] before they were stopped in the third qualifying round by Romanian powerhouse [[Dinamo București]] in a narrow two leg encounter. However, the success in UEFA play was soon overshadowed when the club went bankrupt and was demoted to the very bottom of the [[Croatian football league system]].

In August 2011 Toplak took over another Prva HNL club, [[HNK Cibalia]], from [[Vinkovci]].<ref>[https://www.vecernji.hr/sport/samir-toplak-novi-trener-cibalije-322524 Samir Toplak novi trener Cibalije] - Vecernji {{in lang|hr}}</ref> In the [[2011–12 Croatian First Football League|2011–12 Prva HNL]] season, Toplak led Cibalia to a top table position and the [[2011–12 Croatian Cup|semi-finals of the Croatian Cup]]. However, due to disagreements with the club's executive board, Toplak chose to leave Vinkovci in July 2012.

In December 2012, Toplak was appointed as manager of [[HNK Gorica]], a second-level [[Croatian Second Football League|Druga HNL]] side located in [[Velika Gorica]]. Gorica's first half of the [[2012–13 Croatian Second Football League|2012–13 Druga HNL season]] had been disastrous, and they finished the first half in the relegation zone. Toplak was hired to bring the club back to the top of the chart by the end of the season. After failing to move Gorica out of the relegation zone, Toplak resigned on 20 April 2013, six games before the end of the season (Gorica did avoid relegation when other teams dropped below them during those last six games).

After leaving Gorica, Toplak took over the managerial position for another Druga HNL side, [[NK Zelina]], succeeding [[Dražen Biškup]].<ref>[http://www.nk-zelina.hr/clanak/samir-toplak--novi-trener-zeline/hr-17-883-9.html Samir Toplak - novi trener Zeline] - NK Zelina {{in lang|hr}}</ref> After a disastrous [[2013–14 Croatian Second Football League|2013–14 season]], during which Zelina struggled on the bottom of the table, Toplak resigned in April 2014.

After, Toplak was hired by Druga HNL side [[NK Inter Zaprešić|Inter Zaprešić]]. Inter and Toplak's primary goal was to secure promotion to the Prva HNL, and this goal was accomplished by finishing as champion of the [[2014–15 Croatian Second Football League|2014–15 season]]. They played in the Prva HNL the following season, their only goal being to avoid relegation. However, they exceeded their target by finishing the season in the middle of the league chart. The club played in the Prva HNL through the next four seasons, but during the first half of the [[2019–20 Croatian First Football League|2019–20 season]], with the club in near the bottom (8th) of the league table, Toplak was [[2019–20 in Croatian football#Managerial changes|sacked on 4 January 2020]].<ref>[https://www.germanijak.hr/nogomet/vijesti/turbulentno-u-zapresicu-stize-novi-vlasnik-i-trener-toplaku-se-sprema-otkaz/69442 Turbulentno u Zaprešiću: Samir Toplak dobio otkaz, poznato ime njegovog nasljednika!] - Germanijak {{in lang|hr}}</ref>

On 10 February 2020, just a few weeks after leaving Inter Zaprešić, Toplak was hired to manage Prva HNL side [[NK Varaždin (2012)|NK Varaždin]] (no relation to the long defunct Varteks/Varaždin club he previously worked with), which was at the bottom (10th) of the league table. Toplak was able to guide the team to an 8th-place finish, while Inter Zaprešić fell to last place and was relegated to Druga HNL for the 2020–21 season. Toplak was dismissed by Varaždin in December 2020.<ref>[https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/nogomet/hnl/samir-toplak-vise-nije-trener-varazdina-evo-tko-ce-biti-na-klupi-protiv-hajduka-iza-mene-ostaje-ponos-15035369 SAMIR TOPLAK VIŠE NIJE TRENER VARAŽDINA, EVO TKO ĆE BITI NA KLUPI PROTIV HAJDUKA: ‘IZA MENE OSTAJE PONOS‘] - Sportske Jutarnji {{in lang|hr}}</ref>

On 14 March 2021, he succeeded [[Jerko Leko]] as manager of Prva HNL side [[NK Lokomotiva Zagreb|Lokomotiva Zagreb]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nklokomotiva.hr/vijest/samir-toplak-je-novi-trener-lokomotive-1445 |title=Samir Toplak je novi trener Lokomotive |publisher=NK Lokomotiva |access-date=16 March 2021 |language=hr}}</ref> After another six-months spell at [[HNK Gorica]] in 2022,<ref>[https://www.index.hr/sport/clanak/samir-toplak-vise-nije-trener-gorice/2390195.aspx Samir Toplak više nije trener Gorice] - Index {{in lang|hr}}</ref> he was appointed manager of [[NK Kustošija|Kustošija]] in March 2023.<ref>[https://varazdinski.net.hr/vijesti/sport/4331871/samir-toplak-preuzeo-kustosiju-pretposljednju-momcad-druge-lige/ Samir Toplak preuzeo Kustošiju, pretposljednju momčad druge lige] - Varaždinski.net {{in lang|hr}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His given name happens to be Bosnian which has sometimes caused confusion, as his family is actually from [[Kneginec]] near Varaždin.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://faktor.ba/sport/fudbal/hrvatski-trener-o-svom-imenu-mama-je-kiksala-mislili-su-da-sam-iz-bosne/201870 | language = hr | title = Hrvatski trener o svom imenu: Mama je kiksala, mislili su da sam iz Bosne | trans-title = Croatian coach about his name: Mom made a slip, they thought I was from Bosnia | website = Faktor.ba | publisher = Simurg Media | location = Sarajevo | date = 31 October 2024 | access-date = 18 November 2024 }}</ref>

In 1994 Toplak married his girlfriend of two years, Vesna. Two years later, they had their first daughter, Lana, and three years after that, while living in [[Bochum]], Germany, daughter Bianka was born. In 2004 Toplak settled down with his family in a small village outside of [[Varaždin]].

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/toplaksamir/2002/ |title=Samir Toplak |work=Fussball Daten |access-date=28 September 2014 |language=German }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/15734/Samir_Toplak.html |title=Samir Toplak |work=National Football Teams |access-date=28 September 2014 }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|NK Varteks]]
|[[1992–93 Prva HNL|1992–93]]
|rowspan="6"|[[Prva HNL]]
|27||0||||||||
|-
|[[1993–94 Prva HNL|1993–94]]
|28||1||||||||
|-
|[[1994–95 Prva HNL|1994–95]]
|29||0||||||||
|-
|[[1995–96 Prva HNL|1995–96]]
|24||0||||||||
|-
|[[1996–97 Prva HNL|1996–97]]
|14||0||||||||
|-
|[[1997–98 Prva HNL|1997–98]]
|28||1||||||||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!150!!2!!!!!!!!
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[VfL Bochum]]
|[[1998–99 Bundesliga|1998–99]]
|[[Bundesliga]]
|23||1||2||0||25||1
|-
|[[1999–2000 2. Bundesliga|1999–00]]
|[[2. Bundesliga]]
|15||1||1||0||16||1
|-
|[[2000–01 Bundesliga|2000–01]]
|Bundesliga||10||0||0||0||10||0
|-
|[[2001–02 2. Bundesliga|2001–02]]
|2. Bundesliga||17||1||1||0||18||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!65!!3!!4!!0!!69!!3
|-
|rowspan="2"|NK Varteks
|[[2002–03 Prva HNL|2002–03]]
|rowspan="1"|Prva HNL
|22||0||||||||
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!22!!0!!!!!!!!
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!237!!5!!!!!!!!
|}

== Managerial statistics ==
{{updated|26 August 2022}}

;Managerial record by team and tenure

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!G!!W!!D!!L!!Win %
|-
| [[NK Varaždin (1931–2015)|Varaždin]]
| 13 March 2010
| 12 August 2011
{{WDL|52|16|16|20}}
|-
| [[HNK Cibalia|Cibalia]]
| 23 August 2011
| 15 July 2012
{{WDL|24|11|5|8}}
|-
| [[HNK Gorica|Gorica]]
| 1 December 2012
| 4 March 2013
{{WDL|9|2|5|2}}
|-
| [[NK Zelina|Zelina]]
| 2 September 2013
| 17 March 2014
{{WDL|12|2|5|5}}
|-
| [[NK Inter Zaprešić|Inter Zaprešić]]
| 29 April 2014
| 10 January 2020
{{WDL|213|69|56|88}}
|-
| [[NK Varaždin (2012)|Varaždin]]
| 23 February 2020
| 7 December 2020
{{WDL|31|11|6|14}}
|-
| [[NK Lokomotiva Zagreb|Lokomotiva Zagreb]]
| 14 March 2021
| 28 May 2021
{{WDL|11|3|1|7}}
|-
| [[HNK Gorica|Gorica]]
| 04 March 2022
| "Present"
{{WDL|22|6|7|9}}
|-
!colspan="3"| Total
{{WDLtot|375|120|102|153}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{sports links}}
* {{soccerway|137747}}

{{Prva HNL managers}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Samir Toplak managerial positions
|list1=
{{NK Varaždin managers}}
{{HNK Cibalia managers}}
{{HNK Gorica managers}}
{{NK Lokomotiva managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Toplak, Samir}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Varaždin]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Croatian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Croatia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:NK Varaždin (1931–2015) players]]
[[Category:VfL Bochum players]]
[[Category:Croatian Football League players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Croatian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Croatian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Croatian football managers]]
[[Category:NK Varaždin (1931–2015) managers]]
[[Category:HNK Cibalia managers]]
[[Category:HNK Gorica managers]]
[[Category:NK Inter Zaprešić managers]]
[[Category:NK Lokomotiva Zagreb managers]]
[[Category:Croatian Football League managers]]

Samir Toplak - Revision history

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