Ivan Klasnić

2.1. FC St. Pauli

Klasnić began his professional career with his hometown club, FC St. Pauli, officially becoming a professional in January 1998. He quickly established himself as a prominent striker during his three-and-a-half seasons with the club in the 2. Bundesliga. Throughout his tenure, he made 95 appearances and scored 26 goals. His impactful performances were crucial in helping St. Pauli secure promotion to the Bundesliga in the 2000-01 season, during which he netted 10 goals in the second division.

2.2. Werder Bremen

In the summer of 2001, following St. Pauli's promotion, Klasnić made a significant move to Werder Bremen. His initial two seasons at the club were challenging, characterized by inconsistent form and two serious knee injuries, resulting in only 3 goals in 36 Bundesliga appearances. However, he overcame these early difficulties and emerged as a key figure in the 2003-04 season, playing a pivotal role in Werder Bremen's triumph in both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, securing a historic double. In that season, he scored 13 goals and provided 11 assists for his strike partner Ailton. Despite an expiring contract that generated interest from other clubs, Klasnić chose to extend his stay at Bremen.

He continued his impressive form in the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League, scoring five goals in the group stage, including a hat-trick in a 5-1 home victory against Belgian side RSC Anderlecht, which helped Werder Bremen advance to the knockout stage. In the 2005-06 Bundesliga season, he maintained his goal-scoring prowess, finishing with 15 goals and being recognized as the assist king of the league. He also contributed to Werder Bremen winning the DFB-Ligapokal in 2006.

However, the 2006-07 season saw a downturn in his club performance and marked the onset of severe health issues. After scoring his first league goal of the season in November 2006, Klasnić suffered kidney failure in early 2007, which sidelined him for over ten months. This health crisis led to a significant dispute with the club, as Klasnić later claimed that Werder Bremen's club physicians could have detected his illness as early as 2002. Citing this alleged negligence, he announced that he would not renew his contract with the club, leading to his departure on 14 May 2008. Overall, Klasnić made 151 appearances for Werder Bremen, scoring 49 league goals.

2.3. FC Nantes

On 8 July 2008, Klasnić moved to FC Nantes in France, initially on a loan deal before signing a four-year contract. His time with Nantes proved to be challenging. In his first season, he scored only 6 goals in 28 appearances, and the club was subsequently relegated to Ligue 2. In the following season, he managed to score 4 goals in just 5 games before his departure. During his tenure at Nantes, he made 33 appearances and scored 10 goals.

2.4. Bolton Wanderers

Klasnić joined English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers on the transfer deadline day of the 2009-10 season, initially on a year-long loan. He was the final signing by manager Gary Megson, who praised Klasnić's goal-scoring record and international pedigree. He made his debut for Bolton on 12 September 2009 in a 3-2 victory over Portsmouth, contributing to the winning goal. His first goal for the club came on 25 October in a 3-2 win against Everton, and he finished the season with 8 Premier League goals.

On 4 August 2010, Klasnić signed a permanent two-year contract with Bolton Wanderers after his successful loan spell. He scored the first goal of his permanent spell in a League Cup victory against Southampton on 24 August. His first Premier League goal as a permanent signing was the winning goal in a 2-1 home victory against Stoke City, though he was also sent off in that match. He continued to score crucial goals, including a late winner against Aston Villa in March 2011 and an equalizer against Sunderland in May 2011, though Sunderland ultimately won that match. Despite not starting a single Premier League game that season, he still managed 7 goals across all competitions.

Klasnić began the 2011-12 season strongly, starting and scoring in Bolton's 4-0 opening day victory against Queens Park Rangers. He followed this with goals against Manchester City and Liverpool, briefly becoming the Premier League's leading goalscorer. However, he was sent off in September 2011 for a headbutt against Marc Tierney in a match against Norwich. Upon his return, he scored two goals and assisted two others in a 5-0 win against Stoke City. He then scored a penalty against West Bromwich Albion and another goal against Aston Villa. After losing his starting place to David Ngog, he re-emerged as a late substitute in March 2012, scoring the winner against Queens Park Rangers. Following Bolton's relegation from the Premier League, Klasnić confirmed his departure from the club on 16 May. He made 77 appearances for Bolton Wanderers, scoring 20 goals.

2.5. 1. FSV Mainz 05

In September 2012, Klasnić returned to Germany, joining Mainz 05 as a free agent on a one-year contract. This marked his final professional club career period. He played in only 3 matches, scoring 1 goal, before departing the club at the end of the season.

3.1. Youth and early senior appearances

Despite being born and raised in Germany, Klasnić chose to represent Croatia at the international level. He famously turned down an invitation from then-German national team coach Rudi Völler to play for Germany. His decision stemmed from his Croatian heritage through his father and his prior involvement with Croatian youth teams. He had already earned three caps and scored one goal for the Croatian under-21 team in spring 2001, and had also played five times and scored one goal for the Croatian under-19 team between 1998 and 1999. By a twist of fate, his senior international debut for Croatia came against Germany in February 2004, a friendly match that Germany won 2-1.

3.2. Major tournaments (Euro 2004, 2006 World Cup)

Klasnić was selected to play for Croatia in UEFA Euro 2004. However, he remained an unused substitute throughout the tournament, which saw Croatia exit in the group stage. This lack of his inclusion was a point of discussion in media analyses of Croatia's performance.

In the 2004-05 season, his performances for the national team were relatively modest. He scored only one goal in eight qualifying matches for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, an early strike in Croatia's 3-0 win against Hungary in September 2004. He showed flashes of brilliance in friendly matches, scoring twice in a 3-3 draw against Israel in February 2005, and netting Croatia's first goal in a 3-2 victory over Argentina in March 2006.

In May 2006, he was named to Croatia's 23-man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. Leading up to the tournament, he displayed excellent form, scoring four goals in three Bundesliga matches for Werder Bremen and a brace for the national team in a 4-1 friendly win against Austria on 23 May. However, his scoring touch faded during the World Cup itself; he did not score in any of Croatia's three group matches, and the team exited the competition in the first round after two draws and one defeat.

3.3. UEFA Euro 2008

In the 2006-07 season, Klasnić initially lost his place in Croatia's starting eleven after modest performances in the first two qualifying matches, though he managed to score one goal in a dominant 7-0 victory over Andorra. He was an unused substitute in subsequent matches against England and Israel.

At UEFA Euro 2008, Klasnić was again an unused substitute in Croatia's first two Group B games. However, he was given a starting opportunity in the final group match on 16 June against Poland and scored in the 53rd minute, securing a 1-0 victory and sending Croatia into the next round with a perfect group stage record. His performance earned him the official Man of the Match award.

In the quarter-finals against Turkey, Klasnić came off the bench at the start of extra time, replacing Ivica Olić. In the 118th minute, with just two minutes of regular extra time remaining, Klasnić headed home a crucial goal from a pass by Luka Modrić, putting Croatia ahead. However, Semih Şentürk equalized for Turkey just two minutes later, leading to a penalty shoot-out which Turkey won.

Klasnić's participation and performance at Euro 2008 were particularly remarkable because he became the first player in history to compete in a major international football tournament after undergoing a kidney transplant. His two goals in the tournament, especially the one against Turkey, highlighted his extraordinary determination and successful return to elite-level football. He famously stated, "I want to show that if you have a strong will, you can do anything," a powerful testament to his journey.

4.1. Initial kidney failure and transplants

In January 2007, it was widely reported that Klasnić had suffered from kidney failure. This severe diagnosis immediately put his football career on hold. On 25 January 2007, he underwent his first kidney transplant, receiving an organ from his mother, Šima. Tragically, his body rejected the new organ shortly after the surgery, necessitating further intervention.

On 23 March 2007, Klasnić underwent a second transplant operation, this time receiving a kidney from his father. This transplant proved to be successful, and doctors informed him that he would be able to continue his football career. However, his recovery was not without challenges. In August 2007, doctors at Werder Bremen initially prohibited him from training, citing his body's inability to withstand heavy physical strain. By September, after approximately six months of absence from football, medical clearance was finally granted, allowing Klasnić to participate in full training sessions.

4.2. Recovery and return to play

Following his successful second kidney transplant and subsequent medical clearance, Ivan Klasnić embarked on a determined path to return to professional football. His comeback began with appearances for Werder Bremen's second team and participation in cup activities. On 30 October 2007, he made his competitive return, playing 67 minutes for Werder Bremen's reserve side in a DFB-Pokal match. Prior to this, he had already demonstrated his progress by scoring two goals in a practice match on 25 October.

His remarkable return to the Bundesliga first team occurred on 24 November 2007, when he was selected to start for Werder Bremen in a match against Energie Cottbus, playing 65 minutes. Klasnić completed his inspiring comeback on 15 December 2007, when he scored twice in Bremen's convincing 5-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, playing for 85 minutes. His strong performances earned him a recall to the Croatian national team in March 2008, just over a year after his initial kidney failure diagnosis. He cemented his place in history by becoming the first player ever to participate in a major international football tournament, UEFA Euro 2008, after undergoing a kidney transplant. During that tournament, he further defied expectations by scoring two crucial goals.

4.3. Recurrence and third transplant

Despite his successful return to football, Klasnić's battle with kidney disease was not over. In September 2016, his transplanted kidney failed again, leading to reports that he was critically ill and in urgent need of another transplant. In October 2017, he received his third kidney transplant surgery. This recurrence and subsequent operation highlighted the ongoing, severe health challenges he faced long after his initial diagnosis.

4.4. Legal battle with Werder Bremen doctors

A significant aspect of Klasnić's health ordeal was his prolonged legal dispute with Werder Bremen's medical staff. He filed a lawsuit against the club's doctors, alleging negligence in his initial treatment, specifically claiming they could have detected his kidney illness as early as 2002. He contended that their usage of painkillers had exacerbated his already weakening kidneys. After a ten-year legal battle, the court ruled in his favor in December 2020. Klasnić was awarded 3.60 M GBP in compensation, a verdict that acknowledged the medical negligence he had endured during his time at Werder Bremen. This legal victory underscored the profound impact his health issues had on his career and life, and represented a significant affirmation of his long-held claims.

5.1. Club honours

• FC St. Pauli
  • 2. Bundesliga Promotion: 2000-01
• Werder Bremen
  • Bundesliga: 2003-04
  • DFB-Pokal: 2003-04
  • DFL-Ligapokal: 2006

5.2. Individual achievements

• DFB-Pokal top scorer: 2003-04
• DFL-Ligapokal top scorer: 2006
• kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2005-06
• kicker Man of the Year: 2007
• Bundesliga Assist King: 2005-06
• UEFA Euro 2008 Man of the Match: Poland vs. Croatia group stage match

6.1. Club statistics

6.2. International statistics

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