Croatian football coach Branko “Tanac” Ivanković he concluded his coaching career after four decades of work on several continents. His professional path began in his native Varaždin, and later included leading clubs and national teams in Asia and Europe, including appearances at the World Cup.
– Enough is enough, these are no longer the years in which I need to ‘travel’ around the world. Now I will have more time for my family, friends, and myself – said Ivankovi, as reported by tportal.
Ivankovi’s football career began in Varteks, where he spent 12 years as a player, and in 1991 he also started coaching. A significant step in his career took place in 1998 when, as an assistant coach Miroslava Blaževićawas part of the coaching staff of the Croatian national team that won the bronze medal at the World Championship in France.
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A significant part of Ivankovi’s career spent in Iran. Having taken over the Iranian national team in 2002, he won a gold medal at the Asian Games with the U23 selection. With the senior team, he won third place at the 2004 Asian Cup and secured a place at the 2006 World Championship in Germany. Because of his approach to work, he was nicknamed “Professor” in Iran. Years later, he returned to Iranian club football and won three consecutive league titles with Persepolis (2017, 2018, 2019) and played in the final of the Asian Champions League with the club. He was also successful in China, where he won the championship with Shandong Luneng in 2010.
Ivanković has also worked in Croatian football. Led by Dinamo Zagreb, in the 2006/07 season. he won the championship and the cup without defeat in domestic competitions, and he also led Rijeka. He ended his career as coach of the national team of Oman, with whom he recorded a victory over Japan and China, which was his last challenge. During his coaching career, Branko Ivanković worked in several countries and won 13 club and national team trophies, achieving results in Croatia and Asia.