Apart from playing for the national team in his home country, Croatian-born professional footballer Domagoj Vida plies his trade at the club with Turkish side Beşiktaş. A versatile defender, Vida stands out for his ability to play in almost any defensive position. However, he is usually deployed as a centre-back or a right-back.
Vida came through the youth squads of the Croatian national football team had previously joined the senior club in 2010. He remained an unused substitute during Croatia’s short stint in the 2014 World Cup, but he got a regular place in the country’s qualifiers in 2018. The versatile defender was named in Croatia’s final squad for the 2018 World Cup, where he played a crucial role in the team’s progress to their first game in the World Cup final in Moscow.
Biography of Domagoj Vida
Domagoj Vida was born to Željka and Rudika Vidale on April 29, 1989 in Donji Mihojlac, a municipality in the Slavonia region of Croatia. He comes from a family of prolific footballers as his father, Rudika Vida, is a retired professional footballer, as well as his brother, Hrvoje Vida. He started playing football at a very young age with NK Jedinstvo Donji Miholjac, a club in his hometown.
After several years in the academy, Vidaa joined Turkish professional club NK Osijek where he spent the rest of his career. He eventually made his senior team debut with Osijek at the start of the 2006–07 season. During his 4 season stint with the club’s senior team, Domagoj Vida caught the eye of scouts from several top European sides.
On his 21st birthday, Vida signed a contract with German Bundesliga club Bayern Leverkusen. Apart from his 8 UEFA Europa League appearances, Vida’s first game as a substitute on 5 March 2011 was his only appearance in the Bundesliga. On June 14, 2011, Vida moved up to the ranks of Croatian league champions Dinamo Zagreb. However, his only season at the club was marred by numerous controversies off the pitch.
On January 2, 2013, Domagoj Vida signed a five-year contract with Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kyiv in a deal tying him to the club until 2018. The versatile defender had a relatively turbulent time with the giants Ukrainians and also played a crucial role in their winning the first Ukrainian Premier League title in 6 years. When his contract with Dynamo Kyiv expired, Domagoj Vida transferred to Turkish club Beşiktaş JK The Croatian-born football star signed a 4.5-year contract with the club in January 2018.
International career
On the international front, Domagoj Vida has played for the Croatian national team at U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels. After being called up by the senior team, Vida made his international debut on 28 May 2010. He took part in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying and also featured in the finals, in which Croatia were eliminated quickly.
Vida was also named in the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, however, he remained a reserve player and never made the starting line-up throughout their short spell in the tournament. The versatile defender had a more regular place in qualifying and the final of the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament, where they were knocked out in the knockout stage by eventual Portuguese champions.
He started all of Croatia’s qualifying matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In June 2018, the talented defender was on Croatia’s 23-man roster for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, where he played a major role in the team’s progress to their first final in tournament history. Vida scored a crucial goal in the 100th minute of his side’s July 7 first leg against hosts Russia, which Croatia eventually won on penalties.
Is Domagoj Vida married? spouse
Domagoj Vida is currently married to a former beauty queen and model, Ivana Gugić. The duo reportedly met in 2013 at a nightclub in the Croatian capital, Zagreb. On September 5, 2015, the couple welcomed their first child, a son named David. After four years of dating, Vida and Gugić ended up getting married on June 16, 2017. The ceremony took place in the parish church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Pilgrim in the 18th century, in the city coast of Umag, in Istria.
Born in Metković, Dubrovnik-Neretvade County Croatia, Ivana Gugić won the 2014 Queen of Croatia Beauty Pageant. In addition to her flourishing modeling career, she also studied at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management.
Height and other body measurements
Domagoj Vida stands at an impressive height of 184cm (6ft). As expected, the versatile Croatian-born defender maintains an athletic physique with a weight of 76 kg (167.5 lbs).