Zvonimir Boban Reflects on Biggest Career Regret and Defends Past Defiance

Zvonimir Boban, the legendary former captain of the Croatian national football team, has spoken candidly about his career, highlighting a moment he still deeply regrets and defending a past act of defiance.

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I made the biggest mistake of my life. I'm the captain, we're playing the World Cup semifinal, and I lose the ball in the red zone, 20 meters from the goal. The French equalized. What can you do, that's life. After the match, I lost several kilograms, I couldn't sleep. I still can't forgive myself for it.

Boban, who led Croatia to a sensational third-place finish at the 1998 World Cup, identified a specific mistake during the semifinal match against France as his "biggest mistake in life." He recalled losing possession of the ball in the penalty area, which led to France equalizing. "What can you do, that's life. After the match, I lost several kilograms, I couldn't sleep. I still can't forgive myself for it," he said, referring to the match Croatia ultimately lost 2-1.

Beyond his playing career, Boban also addressed a significant incident from his past: striking a policeman at Maksimir Stadium. He described the act as a pivotal moment during the turbulent breakup of Yugoslavia. Boban stated he does not regret the action, viewing it as a fight for freedom against the regime. He clarified that it was not an attack against any specific ethnic group but a reaction after being repeatedly hit by the militia. "Is it right to hit someone? Never, but before that, the militia hit me several times. I swore the worst possible things," he explained.

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I don't regret it. Not at all. It was a fight for freedom and against the regime. It wasn't a blow against Serbs, it wasn't a blow against anyone. Is it right to hit someone? Never, but before that, the militia hit me several times. I swore the worst possible things.

Looking back at the political climate of the time, Boban admitted he was too young or naive to foresee the outbreak of war. "I thought Yugoslavia would develop into a soft confederation," he stated, reflecting on his misjudgment of the situation. Boban has since held roles at AC Milan as a sporting director and with FIFA and UEFA before parting ways with UEFA President Čeferin. He has also been linked with a return to his former club, Dinamo Zagreb.

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I was too young or stupid to see it. I thought Yugoslavia would develop into a soft confederation.