July 21, 2024 – Croatia’s vice-captain, Domagoj Vida, has said goodbye to the national team.
The center back first informed the president of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić, and coach Zlatko Dalić, then said goodbye to the public and fans with a touching letter on Sunday, July 21st, as reported by HNS.
“When I made my debut for the Croatia national team on May 23, 2010, in front of my family, friends and fellow Slavonians, I thought I had realized my football dream.
A little more than 14 years later, I know that it was only the beginning of the most beautiful story in my football life. And no matter how hard it is to write or say these words because it’s hard to separate yourself from something that means so much to you, it’s easier when I know how much richer I am because of everything I’ve experienced.
It is also an honor to wear the most beautiful jersey in the world once in your career and represent your homeland.
And when you do it 105 times, play in seven major competitions and win three major medals with Croatia, then you can only be infinitely grateful for such a privilege.
Victories and successes are what remain in the books, but much more remains in my memories. And all difficult moments are equally valuable and important because they strengthen togetherness, character and mutual relations in the team. We have been used to magnificent successes in recent years, but we “seniors” have also experienced disappointments, changes in coaches, defeats and heavy criticism. We came out of it stronger, and the successes were all the sweeter.
I enjoyed fighting for Croatia on the field and I am honored to be a member of that unforgettable silver team from Russia. However, I spent the past few years when I didn’t play as much with the same enthusiasm, because I learned that everyone is important for success, from the first to the last. Give your best in training, support and lift up your teammates, shout, comfort, hug, make the team laugh, and lead the song – in many ways, you can contribute to the success of the national team and I am proud that in the role of vice-captain of Croatia, I was able to contribute in this way.
After 14 years spent in this family, how can you thank everyone and not forget someone?
Thanks to all my coaches, from Slaven who gave me my first chance, to Igor, Niko and Ante to Zlatko, with whom we achieved these unprecedented and incredible successes, as well as all the coaches on the staff.
It was an honor to share the dressing room with some of the best players Croatia has ever had, led by the greatest of the greatest. Thank you for always giving your all for Croatia and seeing the national team as sacred, which is why each of us always looks forward to the gathering, seeing each other, socializing, and then fighting for the same jersey.
Thank you to the entire supporting team, which also has great credit for every success, to all our physiatrists, doctors and economists, as well as people from the Federation, headed by “aunt” Iva. Thank you to the presidents, the late Vlatko, Davor and today Marijan, for the great support that the Federation always gave to the national team.
Thank you to our great fans, for whom we are particularly sorry that we did not do more in Germany this year, where we had the biggest support in history. However, your support means a lot to us even in moments like this, because it shows that you are always with us and that you recognize that we are doing our best. I will never forget the welcome of 2018 and 2022, the togetherness and love we felt then are the greatest reward for all the effort we put into the success of the national team.
I thank my father for introducing me to football, my family, friends, and all the coaches for their support and everything they taught me in my career.
Playing for the national team is happiness, pride, honor, privilege… But all that comes with one high price, which is paid by the family.
And therefore, the most important thanks go to my wife Ivana and son David, who are my greatest support and comfort, and who spent a lot of this “national team time” without me. I am happy that I could share the most beautiful moments with them and I am looking forward to the additional time we will spend together now.
I will miss everything – matches, victories, socializing, laughter, the massage room, cheering, celebrations, tension, and even failures because then you find out what you are made of – and Croatia is made of a strong character.
However, I know that it is time for younger forces, and I know that among the older ones, some can lead them to new successes. From the bottom of my heart, I wish them to continue in the footsteps of this generation that has achieved more than I had the right to dream of on May 23, 2010.
That’s why, no matter how difficult this is, I leave proud and happy, and after all, as they say – once a Vatreni, forever a Vatreni!”
