From shy teen to world champion: Olmo's early days at Dinamo Zagreb

Dani Olmo, now a world champion with the Spanish national team and a star in Spanish football, began his journey to the top as a reserved teenager at Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb in 2014. His six years with the club were formative, shaping him from an uncertain young talent into the accomplished player he is today.

Sreten Ćuk, Olmo's first coach at Dinamo, and former teammate Marko Iharoš shared their memories of the young Catalan's arrival. Olmo joined Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 14, already carrying a reputation as a promising talent from Barcelona's academy. Ćuk recalled Olmo being part of a highly promising generation within Dinamo's youth system.

"Dani Olmo arrived at Dinamo with the reputation of a great talent from Barcelona," Ćuk stated. "He is a player born in 1998, a generation that was already extremely promising at Dinamo at the time. I took over that Dinamo II team in the Third League, and with Olmo in the squad, we went through it very convincingly."

This period at Dinamo Zagreb was crucial for Olmo's development, allowing him to transition from a shy adolescent to a confident, world-class athlete. His time in Croatia laid the groundwork for his subsequent success on the international stage, including his pivotal role in Spain's World Cup victory in 2026.

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Dani Olmo arrived at Dinamo with the reputation of a great talent from Barcelona. He is a player born in 1998, a generation that was already extremely promising at Dinamo at the time. I took over that Dinamo II team in the Third League, and with Olmo in the squad, we went through it very convincingly.