In the fourth article on a handful of cult Eastern European players who captured the imagination of a generation, Andy Edgeworth looks at Robert Jarni.
There are moments in football which leave an indelible mark on fans. As Davor Šuker sublimely chipped Peter Schmeichel at Hillsborough the world had been introduced to the world’s newest footballing nation packed with stars.
But while Šuker, Boban & Prosinečki took the plaudits it was the marauding runs of Croatia’s left wing-back that captivated me and a teenager had a new hero.
Robert Jarni made full backs cool and was one of the first genuine reason they have become such an integral part of modern football.
At the time he was already firmly established across Europe, but coming to England brought him to a new audience in the days before mass coverage that would surely have seen him earmarked for stardom much earlier in his career.
Croatia lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Germany but they left fans wanting more from the men in the delightful red and white checkerboard strips.
And he would only go on to endear himself further to the footballing world two year later when Croatia avenged their defeat by beating Germany 3-0 at France ’98, Jarni scoring the winner with a trademark left foot pile driver from the edge of the area.
Jarni’s career began in the then Yugoslavia with Hadjuk Split before he got his chance in Italy with Bari, playing alongside England’s David Platt quickly becoming a favourite with the Curva Nord faithful.
After moving to Torino he quickly got his big break moving to cross-city rivals Juventus before being offered the chance to go to Spain with the ambitious Real Betis.
Managed by Lorenzo Ferrer, Betis were tipped to topple Barcelona and Real Madrid with an exciting squad including Alfonso, Finidi George and Denilson.
Despite Jarni’s best efforts, Betis struggled to live up to the hype and after three seasons he moved on to Real Madrid but by then he was already 30.
He stayed in Spain helping Las Palmas to return to the top flight before seeing out his career in Greece with Panathinaikos.
Jarni finished his career with too few trophies but the fans of every club he played at remember him fondly where his classy wing play and determined defending were always a welcome sight.
He played 81 times for Croatia and after retirement, he went on to play futsal for his national side before becoming a coach.
He was not the most famous name from the first generation of Croatian footballers but few who saw him would argue he wasn’t a class act who influenced many fullbacks that followed him.
