Mateo Kovačić was born in Linz, Austria, to Croatian parents, and began his professional career at Dinamo Zagreb before moving to Inter in 2013 at 18.
His next move, to Real Madrid in 2015, brought him three consecutive Champions League titles as a squad player. He then joined Chelsea, first on loan and then permanently, and won a fourth Champions League in 2021, this time as a regular. Few midfielders of his generation have collected that many European Cup winner’s medals.
Kovačić is known for his ability to escape pressure: a low centre of gravity, quick feet and a willingness to carry the ball through midfield rather than pass around trouble. He joined Manchester City in 2023, won the Premier League in his first season, and remains a key figure for Croatia.
Playing style
Kovačić is one of the best ball-carriers in world football. His dribbling in tight spaces is exceptional, and when opponents press him he can glide past two or three players to break the press. He keeps possession almost perfectly, with pass-completion rates regularly above 90 per cent. His weakness has always been end product: he scores and assists less than his talent suggests. But in teams built on control, such as Guardiola’s City, his ability to keep the ball and move it forward under pressure is invaluable.
International career
Kovačić made his Croatia debut in 2013 and has won more than 100 caps. He was part of the squad that reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third at the 2022 World Cup, as well as reaching the 2023 Nations League final. He forms part of Croatia’s famous midfield with Luka Modrić.
Career in numbers
Kovačić’s senior club career, which began in 2010/11, has so far brought 602 appearances and 35 goals for 5 clubs. His best scoring return came in 2014/15: 8 goals in 44 appearances for Inter Milan. His busiest campaign was 2018/19, with 51 appearances. So far in 2026/27 he has made 5 appearances for Manchester City. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.