Lovre Kalinić

1.1. Youth Career

Kalinić started his youth football career in 1998, joining NK Solin where he played until 2000. He then moved to HNK Hajduk Split's youth academy in 2000, continuing his development there until 2009. In total, Kalinić spent 17 years in junior and senior football with Hajduk Split, underlining his deep connection to the club.

1.2. Early Club Career and Loans

Kalinić made his professional debut for HNK Hajduk Split on 23 April 2011, at the age of 21 years and 20 days. This debut, under manager Ante Miše, was in a Prva HNL match against NK Slaven Belupo, which Hajduk Split won 2-1.

Before establishing himself as a regular at Hajduk Split, Kalinić gained professional experience through several loan spells. In 2009, he was loaned to NK Junak Sinj. The following year, in 2010, he played on loan for NK Novalja. His final loan spell before returning to Hajduk Split's first team was with NK Karlovac in 2012. After these loan periods, then-Hajduk manager Igor Tudor brought Kalinić back to be the number one goalkeeper for the 2013-14 season.

2.1. Hajduk Split (First Stint)

During his initial long period at HNK Hajduk Split, Kalinić became a pivotal player. In the 2015-16 season, he set a new record for the 1. HNL by not conceding a goal for the most consecutive minutes, achieving 775 minutes across eight games. This surpassed the previous record held by Zoran Slavica, who had gone 711 minutes without conceding.

Due to his involvement with the Croatia squad for UEFA Euro 2016, Kalinić was granted an extended holiday by Hajduk boss Marijan Pušnik, causing him to miss the first three rounds of Hajduk's 2016-17 season. He made his return on 28 July 2016, in a UEFA Europa League qualifying match against FC Oleksandriya, where Hajduk secured a 3-0 victory and Kalinić kept a clean sheet. In September 2016, his commitment to the club was solidified when he signed a new five-year contract, extending his stay with Hajduk until 2021. Across seven seasons in his first stint, Kalinić made a total of 134 official appearances for Hajduk Split.

2.2. Gent

On 27 December 2016, HNK Hajduk Split announced that Lovre Kalinić had played his final game for the club, as he was set to transfer to Belgian First Division A side K.A.A. Gent. The transfer fee was the highest ever paid for a goalkeeper in the history of the Prva HNL. The 3.10 M EUR fee also made Kalinić the most expensive player in Gent's history. Despite joining Gent in January, halfway through the 2016-17 season, he was named the Best Goalkeeper in the Belgian league for that season, highlighting his immediate impact.

2.3. Aston Villa

On 21 December 2018, English Championship club Aston Villa confirmed an agreement with Gent to sign Kalinić at the beginning of the January transfer window. Villa had previously attempted to sign him in 2016, but the move was denied due to work permit issues. Kalinić signed a contract that would keep him at the club until the end of the 2022-23 season.

He officially joined Aston Villa on 1 January 2019. Four days later, he made his debut in a 3-0 home defeat to Swansea City in an FA Cup tie. His league debut came a week after, in another 3-0 defeat, this time against Wigan Athletic. This was followed by a 2-2 draw with Hull City, which meant Kalinić had conceded 8 goals in his first three games for the club. He played his final game for Aston Villa on 16 February 2019, against West Bromwich Albion.

2.4. Loan Spells (Toulouse & Hajduk Split)

Kalinić undertook two significant loan spells after his initial period at Aston Villa.

On 20 January 2020, Kalinić joined Ligue 1 club Toulouse on loan until the end of the 2019-20 season. However, he made only four appearances for the club before the league season was prematurely ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After making no appearances for Aston Villa in the 2020-21 season up to that point, it was announced on 22 December 2020, that Kalinić would return to Hajduk Split on loan, the club where he began his career. This loan was set to commence on 18 January 2021, coinciding with the opening of the Croatian transfer window. On 22 January, he made his second debut for Hajduk in a 1-0 league victory against Šibenik.

On 11 July 2021, Aston Villa announced that Kalinić would rejoin Hajduk Split for another season on loan. Kalinić revealed that Aston Villa had intended to sell him to another club, but he was resolute in his desire to return to Hajduk Split, especially after being named club captain. Eventually, all parties agreed to a second consecutive loan season.

2.5. Permanent Return to Hajduk Split

On 1 July 2022, Lovre Kalinić officially signed for HNK Hajduk Split once more, this time on a permanent transfer. While the specific details of the transfer were not disclosed by either club, it was widely reported that he joined on a free transfer. This marked his full-time return to his boyhood club.

3.1. Youth National Team

Kalinić progressed through several Croatian youth national teams. He made one appearance for the U-15 team in 2005. From 2005 to 2006, he played 11 matches for the U-16 team. In 2006, he also had one cap for the U-17 team. Later in his development, he earned 7 appearances for the U-21 team between 2011 and 2013.

3.2. Senior National Team

After Stipe Pletikosa retired from international football in 2014, Kalinić became Croatia's second-choice goalkeeper, primarily behind Danijel Subašić. He made his debut for the senior national team in a November 2014 friendly match against Argentina. Following the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Subašić retired from international football, which led to Kalinić being appointed as Croatia's first-choice goalkeeper. However, a series of injuries and a subsequent dip in form caused him to lose his starting position to Dominik Livaković. Kalinić's last game for Croatia was a friendly in November 2019 against Georgia, where he conceded a goal from a weak shot by Giorgi Papunashvili; Croatia ultimately won the match 2-1. He was later placed on the standby list for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with Ivica Ivušić and Ivo Grbić being selected as reserve goalkeepers.

3.3. Major Tournaments

Kalinić was part of Croatia's squad for UEFA Euro 2016, although he was an unused substitute throughout the tournament.

In May 2018, he was named in Croatia's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. While Danijel Subašić was the primary goalkeeper, Kalinić played in the final group stage match against Iceland, making several crucial saves in a game Croatia won. Croatia ultimately had a historic run in the tournament, finishing as the runners-up after losing to France in the final.

He was also an unused substitute at the delayed UEFA Euro 2020, where Dominik Livaković played all four of Croatia's matches.

4.1. Club Honours

Hajduk Split

• Croatian Cup: 2012-13, 2021-22, 2022-23

Aston Villa

• EFL Championship play-offs: 2019

4.2. International Honours

Croatia

• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2018

4.3. Individual Awards

• Football Oscar Best Goalkeeper in Prva HNL: 2015, 2016
• Best AA Gent-Player of the Season: 2016-17
• Belgian Professional Goalkeeper of the Season: 2016-17
• Belgian Goalkeeper of the Year: 2017, 2018

4.4. Orders

• Order of Duke Branimir: 2018

5.1. Club

Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition. National cup includes Croatian Football Cup, Belgian Cup, and FA Cup. European appearances are primarily in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League.

5.2. International

Appearances and goals by national team and year.