Kotarski to debut for Dinamo against former club as Rendulić and Klafurić recall his early days

Dominik Kotarski will make his Dinamo debut against Gorica, the club where the 26-year-old goalkeeper began a major step in his career. His former coaches, Krunoslav Rendulić and Siniša Klafurić, remember a player who needed time before he was ready to take the goal.

Gorica brought Kotarski to the club in the summer of 2021, after he had not played much for Ajax’s second team. Rendulić said he was not worried because Kotarski had already represented Croatia’s youth teams and possessed the necessary quality. What he lacked, the coach said, was continuity.

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I was not skeptical because I knew Kotarski had been a goalkeeper for Croatia’s youth national teams and had quality. The only thing he lacked was continuity.

With strong training alongside goalkeeper coach Klafurić, Kotarski eventually reached the level required to start. Rendulić said he immediately stood out for his ability with the ball at his feet. He also praised Kotarski’s modesty, saying he never acted like a star because he had come from Ajax. Kotarski fitted into the team, worked hard and ultimately met expectations.

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Kotarski never acted like a star because he had come from Ajax.

Klafurić recalled that Kotarski did not arrive at his best. During preparations in Rogla, he did not show a high level of quality and was dealing with uncertainty about his career. He was not yet ready to start and remained behind Ivan Banić, despite wanting to play.

Klafurić told him to be patient and keep working until the staff felt he was ready. Kotarski accepted the advice, and Klafurić said there were never problems with his approach to training. Rendulić said Kotarski had already improved significantly at Gorica and later developed at PAOK and Copenhagen. Although Livaković remains Croatia’s first-choice goalkeeper, Rendulić believes Kotarski, now backed by several seasons of regular football and greater confidence, could reach or even exceed his level.

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Be patient, work, and when we feel you are ready, you will go in goal.