Gabriel Rukavina

Gabriel Rukavina
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-01-16) 16 January 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Zagreb, Croatia[1]
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Rijeka
Number 11
Youth career
–2021 Dinamo Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Dinamo Zagreb II 27 (4)
2022–2024 Dinamo Zagreb 8 (0)
2024 → Gorica (loan) 15 (2)
2024– Rijeka 15 (2)
International career‡
2020 Croatia U16 2 (0)
2020–2021 Croatia U17 6 (0)
2021–2022 Croatia U18 7 (2)
2021–2023 Croatia U19 18 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 August 2023

Gabriel Rukavina is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Prva HNL club Rijeka.[2]

Early and personal life

Rukavina was born in the Croatian capital Zagreb in January 2004. He is the son of former professional footballer and current manager Tomislav Rukavina.

Club career

Rukavina played for Dinamo Zagreb from a young age, and made his professional debut for the club's B team, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute, in a 1–1 draw against Osijek II,[3] in the Prva NL. Rukavina scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw away to Craoatia Zmijavci, after coming on at half-time for Ante Crnac.[4] Rukavina would go on to make 27 appearances in the league, registering 4 goals, including a brace against Dugopolje in a 3–1 win,[5]

Rukavina would be promoted to the first team the next season, and would make his first team debut in a 3–1 away win against NK Varaždin, coming on as a 89th minute sub for Luka Ivanušec.[6] He would go on to make 5 more substitute appearances that season, helping the side to the 2022–23 Prva HNL title.

On 9 February 2024, Rukavina joined Gorica on loan until the end of the season.[7]

Rukavina joined fellow Prva HNL club HNK Rijeka in July 2024, signing a four year contract with the club.[8]

International career

Rukavina has competed for Croatia's U16, U17, U18 and U19 teams, amassing over 20 appearances.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 December 2024[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dinamo Zagreb II 2021–22 Druga HNL 27 4 0 0 — — 27 4
Total 27 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 4
Dinamo Zagreb 2022–23 Prva HNL 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2023–24 2 0 1 0 2[a] 0 0 0 5 0
Total 8 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 11 0
Gorica (loan) 2023–24 Prva HNL 15 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 2
Rijeka 2024–25 15 2 2 0 3[b] 0 0 0 20 2
Career total 65 8 4 0 5 0 0 0 74 8
Notes
  1. ^ 2 appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  2. ^ 2 appearances in UEFA Europa League; 1 appearance in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Club

Dinamo Zagreb

References

  1. ^ a b Gabriel Rukavina at Soccerway
  2. ^ "Gabriel Rukavina novi igrač HNK Rijeka". HNK Rijeka.
  3. ^ "Osijek II 1-1 Dinamo Zagreb II". int.soccerway.com.
  4. ^ "Croatia Zmijavci 2-2 Dinamo Zagreb II". int.soccerway.com.
  5. ^ "Rukavina scores 2 in 3-1 win". oddspedia.com.
  6. ^ "Varazdin 1-3 Dinamo Zagreb". int.soccerway.com.
  7. ^ "Dogovoreno je: Gabriel Rukavina na posudbi u Gorici" [It has been agreed: Gabriel Rukavina on loan in Gorica] (in Croatian). HNK Gorica. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Rukavina signs for Rijeka" (in Croatian). nk-rijeka.hr. 16 July 2024.


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