ZAGREB, September 3, 2020 — Holding both Serbian and Croatian citizenship, Damjan Daničić began his career as a footballer playing in Red Star Belgrade’s academy. He was proclaimed a ‘Child of the Red Star’ by numerous media outlets, both in Serbia and Croatia. Then he switched to Dinamo in Zagreb.
Born in Zagreb to Serbian parents, Daničić moved to Belgrade in hopes of cementing his name in Serbia’s established club. However, his father played for Dinamo Zagreb, a club parallel in significance to Red Star, in Croatia.
Daničić is eligible to play for either Croatia’s or Serbia’s national team. This being the case, he chose to play for Serbia when they picked him for their U19 team. He has made five appearances so far in the midfield.
“I played for the local club called Grocka. During a tournament, trainers of Red Star saw me and called me to play for them. I was only 10 years old,” Daničić recalled for Sportske Novosti, a Croatia media outlet. “I had a really good time there. However, when I had to make the step to senior football, it never arrived. After spending 6 months at Voždovac, Dinamo called me.”
Red Star and Dinamo Long Time Rivals Since Yugoslavia
Ever since the days of the Yugoslav football league, Croatia’s Dinamo and Serbia’s Red Star have been considered rivals. A 1990 riot during a match between the two teams resulted in over 60 wounded. Clashes between the ultras of both teams resulted in stabbings, tear gas and bullet wounds.
Nevertheless, after the switch to Dinamo, Daničić mentions that he experienced no bad blood from anyone in Serbia.
In Serbian media, Blic Sport reported his move to the Croatian capital as a ‘shock’. “Dinamo Zagreb takes Red Star’s Child! A Serb born in Croatia did not fight for minutes in Belgrade.” their headline read. Yet Daničić insists that the transition went smoothly.
“I don’t know much about these stories, which are part of history. I know that Robert Prosenički was a child of Dinamo. After that he played for Red Star where he also had great success. I know him because he coached the first team at Red Star when I trained at the academy,” added Daničić.
No Bad Blood from Serbia
“By the way I never heard anything bad about him. Dinamo is a big club and that’s how they view them in Serbia too. Everyone congratulated me for getting to continue my career (in Zagreb),” explained the footballer.
During the drawings this year for the UEFA Champions League play-offs, the two teams could have faced each other for a spot in Europe’s most esteemed footballing competition. Instead, Dinamo will face a team from Hungary, while Red Star will play against a Cypriot team.
“I sincerely hoped we would meet up! I watched the draw and secretly hoped we could play them. Maybe it is better that we don’t, because everything else might become more important than the football match itself,” said Daničić.
The promising young football star remains hopeful for his future. “I hope I will get minutes to play. However, I’m also aware that I have to work hard in training and prove myself during matches.”
As for his future on the international stage, Daničić emphasized that he must work on achieving minutes for the club right now. In meanwhile, he is also aware that someday the dilemma will arise once again. Then, he will have to choose whether to wear the colors of Croatia or Serbia on the pitch.
“Until then, the focus is only on the club.”
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