Denis Kolinger
Croatian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Denis Kolinger (born 14 January 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Lokomotiva. Born in Germany, he has represented the Croatia national team.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 January 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Malsch,[1] Germany | ||
| Height | 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Lokomotiva | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2007 | NK Jaska | ||
| 2007–2012 | NK Zagreb | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | NK Zagreb | 102 | (2) |
| 2016–2021 | Lokomotiva | 128 | (5) |
| 2021–2024 | Vejle | 68 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | → CFR Cluj (loan) | 22 | (2) |
| 2024– | Lokomotiva | 28 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2010 | Croatia U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2011 | Croatia U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2011 | Croatia U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012 | Croatia U19 | 2 | (0) |
| 2015 | Croatia U21 | 6 | (0) |
| 2017 | Croatia | 1 | (0) |
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 June 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 March 2018 | |||
Club career
Kolinger was born in Malsch, Germany where his parents were working before they returned to Stankovo in Croatia when he was three months old.[2] He started out at NK Jaska in nearby Jastrebarsko, moving on to the NK Zagreb academy at the age of 13.[3] He went through all the ranks of the club, debuting for the senior side in the 2011/12 season, becoming a first-team regular in the following season. After NK Zagreb was relegated after the 2015/16 season, Kolinger moved to NK Lokomotiva, signing a four-year contract.[4]
On 15 January 2021, Kolinger moved to Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub on a three-year deal.[5] In August 2024, Kolinger's contract was terminated by mutual agreement.[6]
International career
A Croatian youth international in U16, U17, U18 and U19 categories, Kolinger refused a call-up to the Croatia U21 national football team under Nenad Gračan in August 2014 claiming that he wanted to play for Germany, that he feels he is a German rather than a Croat and is therefore willing to take the chance and seek out German nationality, which he could since it is the country of his birth.[7] However, in early 2015 he changed his mind, claiming that he realized it would be too hard for him to join the Germany U21 national football team and since March 2015 rejoined the Croatia U21 team.[8]
He made his senior debut for Croatia in a May 2017 friendly match against Mexico, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Fran Tudor.[9]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 21 December 2024[10]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| NK Zagreb | 2011-12 | 1. HNL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2012-13 | 1. HNL | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2013-14 | 2. HNL | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2014-15 | 1. HNL | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2015-16 | 1. HNL | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| Total | 102 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 106 | 2 | ||||
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2016-17 | 1. HNL | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | |
| 2017-18 | 1. HNL | 30 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 4 | |||
| 2018-19 | 1. HNL | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2019-20 | 1. HNL | 32 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2020-21 | 1 HNL | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 128 | 5 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 147 | 6 | |||
| Vejle | 2020-21 | Danish Superliga | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2021-22 | Danish Superliga | 29 | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 36 | 2 | |||
| 2023-24 | Danish Superliga | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| 2024-25 | Danish Superliga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 68 | 2 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 79 | 3 | ||||
| CFR Cluj (loan) | 2022-23 | Liga I | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 1 | 32 | 2 |
| Lokomotiva Zagreb | 2024-25 | HNL | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 332 | 10 | 36 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 379 | 13 | ||
- Includes Croatian Cup, Danish Cup, Cupa României
- One appearance in UEFA Champions League, One appearance in UEFA Europa League
- One appearance in UEFA Champions League, Seven appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
- Appearance(s) in Liga I European play-offs
International
Honours
NK Zagreb
Lokomotiva Zagreb
- Croatian Cup runner-up: 2019–20
CFR Cluj
- Supercupa României runner-up: 2022