Zlatko Papec
Encyclopedia
Zlatko Papec is a former Croatian
footballer.
He began his career playing as a left winger at Zagreb's Lokomotiva
, at the time when the club was a regular member of the Yugoslav First League
, and was part of the greatest attacking lineup in the history of the club, alongside Josip Odžak, Vladimir Čonč
, Vladimir Firm
and Drago Hmelina. Papec appeared in 57 league matches for Lokomotiva in the period from 1952 to 1955, when he was conscripted
and then served the compulsory military service in the Yugoslav Navy.
After leaving the navy he joined Hajduk Split
in 1956 and stayed with the club until 1964. In this period he appeared in a total of 366 matches and scored 167 goals (including 177 appearances and 55 goals in the First League). In 1964 he moved abroad and joined second level German side Freiburger FC
, where he established himself as a first team regular immediately upon arrival and appeared in 130 matches in his four seasons with club. In 1968 he returned to Yugoslavia and briefly joined NK Rijeka
. He had effectively retired in the late 1960s, although he later returned to the pitch and had a brief stint with second level side NK Junak Sinj
in the 1971–1972 season.
Papec was capped for Yugoslavia
six times between 1953 and 1956. He made his debut on 14 May 1953 in a friendly against Belgium played at Heysel Stadium
and his last international game was a friendly against Indonesia
held on 23 December 1956 in Jakarta. He was also a member of the Yugoslav squad which reached the quarter-finals at the 1954 World Cup
and was part of the Yugoslav team which won silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne.
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
footballer.
He began his career playing as a left winger at Zagreb's Lokomotiva
NK Lokomotiva
NK Lokomotiva is a Croatian football club based in Zagreb, currently competing in the Prva HNL, the country's top division. Founded originally as ŽŠK Victoria in 1914, the club's only period of success came in the late 1940s and early 1950s before spending most of the following five decades as...
, at the time when the club was a regular member of the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
, and was part of the greatest attacking lineup in the history of the club, alongside Josip Odžak, Vladimir Čonč
Vladimir Čonč
Vladimir Čonč is a former Croatian footballer. He played for several clubs from Zagreb, including Građanski, NK Poštar and Lokomotiva, but is best remembered for his eight-year spell with Dinamo Zagreb where he played from 1953 to 1961...
, Vladimir Firm
Vladimir Firm
Vladimir Firm was a former Croatian football player.-References:* at Serbian Federation website.* at Nogometni Leksikon....
and Drago Hmelina. Papec appeared in 57 league matches for Lokomotiva in the period from 1952 to 1955, when he was conscripted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
and then served the compulsory military service in the Yugoslav Navy.
After leaving the navy he joined Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
in 1956 and stayed with the club until 1964. In this period he appeared in a total of 366 matches and scored 167 goals (including 177 appearances and 55 goals in the First League). In 1964 he moved abroad and joined second level German side Freiburger FC
Freiburger FC
Freiburger FC is a German association football club based in Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg. Freiburger FC was a founding Clubs of the DFB in 1900.-History:...
, where he established himself as a first team regular immediately upon arrival and appeared in 130 matches in his four seasons with club. In 1968 he returned to Yugoslavia and briefly joined NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
. He had effectively retired in the late 1960s, although he later returned to the pitch and had a brief stint with second level side NK Junak Sinj
NK Junak Sinj
NK Junak Sinj, commonly referred to as Junak Sinj or just Junak is a Croatian football club based in the town of Sinj, in the southern Croatian region of Dalmatia. They currently compete in Druga HNL, Croatian second level. Junak play their home matches at the 3,096-capacity Gradski stadion Sinj...
in the 1971–1972 season.
Papec was capped for Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
six times between 1953 and 1956. He made his debut on 14 May 1953 in a friendly against Belgium played at Heysel Stadium
King Baudouin Stadium
The King Baudouin Stadium is a sports ground in north-west Brussels, Belgium. It was inaugurated on 23 August 1930 as the Stade du Jubilé or Jubelstadion in the presence of Prince Leopold. It was built to embellish the Heysel plateau in view of the Brussels International Exposition...
and his last international game was a friendly against Indonesia
Indonesia national football team
The Indonesia national football team represents Indonesia in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Indonesia . Prior to independence in 1945, the team competed as the Dutch East Indies national football team. Under this name, Indonesia was the first Asian team to...
held on 23 December 1956 in Jakarta. He was also a member of the Yugoslav squad which reached the quarter-finals at the 1954 World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
and was part of the Yugoslav team which won silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne.
External links
- Zlatko Papec at the Serbia national football teamSerbia national football teamThe Serbia national football team represents Serbia in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia, the governing body for football in Serbia. Serbia's home ground is Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and their last head coach was Vladimir Petrović...
website