Vedran Ćorluka, born on February 5, 1986, is a distinguished Croatian football coach and former player, renowned for his versatility as a centre-back and right-back. Currently, he serves as an assistant coach to Zlatko Dalić for the Croatia national team, contributing his extensive experience to the development of the squad.
Ćorluka's football journey began at the Dinamo Zagreb Youth Academy, where he honed his skills before making his professional debut for the senior team in 2003. His talent quickly caught the attention of international clubs, leading to a significant transfer to Premier League side Manchester City in 2007 for a fee of eight million pounds. After a season in England, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, where he enjoyed a successful four-year stint before transitioning to Lokomotiv Moscow, where he ultimately retired in 2021.
On the international stage, Ćorluka has been a stalwart for the Croatian national team, earning an impressive one hundred and three caps. His international career began in August 2006 with a friendly match against Italy, and he represented Croatia in multiple prestigious tournaments, including the UEFA European Championships in 2008, 2012, and 2016, as well as the FIFA World Cups in 2014 and 2018. In August 2018, he announced his retirement from international football, leaving behind a legacy as one of Croatia's most capped players.