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🇭🇷 Croatia /Health & Science

Croatia’s new international Josip Mišić missed his children’s births before battling cancer

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Croatia coach Slaven Bilić included Dinamo Zagreb captain Josip Mišić in the national squad for the first time for the upcoming Nations League cycle.
  • Mišić was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2020, underwent surgery and spent six months away from football before returning to the field.
  • He missed the births of his son Jakov and daughter Mila because of club commitments, while he credits his family with supporting his recovery.

Josip Mišić’s latest football achievement comes after a career shaped by sacrifices that extended far beyond the pitch. The 32-year-old Dinamo Zagreb captain has been called into Croatia’s national team for the first time by coach Slaven Bilić for the next Nations League cycle.

Mišić reached a career high in 2020 while playing for PAOK in Greece, shortly after being named in the Thessaloniki club’s team of the decade. Then he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Surgery forced him to take a six-month break from football, but he returned to the field.

“I had surgery for a testicular tumor, but that is behind me now. It was a very difficult period, but I returned to the field, and that is the most important thing,” Mišić told Dinamo’s website.

I had surgery for a testicular tumor, but that is behind me now. It was a very difficult period, but I returned to the field, and that is the most important thing.

· Josip MišićHe described his cancer treatment and return to football.

His sacrifices had begun before the diagnosis. He could not be with his wife, Ana, when their son Jakov was born in Zagreb in 2018 because he was playing for Sporting Lisbon. He also missed the birth of their daughter Mila in Vinkovci less than two years later while he was in Greece.

“Last Friday, my wife Ana gave birth to a baby girl, Mila, in Vinkovci. Our one-and-a-half-year-old son Jakov has a sister. I am sorry I could not be with my wife during the birth because of my professional obligations at the club,” he said in an interview with Večernji list.

Mišić married Ana in 2017. The article presents his family as his main support during the fight for his health. His return to football and later rise to the captaincy at Dinamo, where he has won numerous trophies, are portrayed as achievements that go beyond sporting success.

Last Friday, my wife Ana gave birth to a baby girl, Mila, in Vinkovci. Our one-and-a-half-year-old son Jakov has a sister. I am sorry I could not be with my wife during the birth because of my professional obligations at the club.

· Josip MišićHe discussed missing his daughter’s birth because of club commitments.
About this summary

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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