Stipe Pletikosa

Stipe Pletikosa, born on January eighth, nineteen seventy-nine, is a distinguished Croatian former professional footballer renowned for his role as a goalkeeper. His career began with Hajduk Split in Croatia, where he showcased his talent before making a significant move to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine. In two thousand seven, he joined Spartak Moscow, further solidifying his reputation in the sport.

In two thousand eleven, after a brief stint with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Pletikosa returned to Russia to play for Rostov. His journey continued in two thousand fifteen when he signed with Deportivo de La Coruña in La Liga, where he ultimately decided to retire from professional football.

Pletikosa's international career with the Croatian national team began in nineteen ninety-nine, and he proudly represented his country in five major tournaments. With one hundred fourteen caps, he stands as the fourth-most capped player in the history of Croatian football, following legends such as Luka Modrić, Darijo Srna, and Ivan Perišić. He concluded his international career after the two thousand fourteen FIFA World Cup.

As of July twenty-ninth, two thousand twenty-one, Pletikosa has taken on a new role as the technical director for the Croatian Football Federation, overseeing both the national senior and under-21 teams, thus continuing his contribution to Croatian football.