Nino Turkalj, a 34-year-old footballer and coach from Karlovac, is launching the first specialized school for young goalkeepers. The project officially kicks off in September, aiming to raise the level of football across Karlovac County.
Karlovac will soon become home to the region's first goalkeeping academy. The driving force behind this venture is 34-year-old Nino Turkalj, an experienced local footballer and goalkeeper coach, who has decided to address the chronic lack of specialized training for young shot-stoppers. The academy is set to officially open in September 2026, with training sessions to be held at the football pitch in the Mostanje neighborhood.
Turkalj emphasizes that the idea is not new-it was born during his own days between the posts. "The idea came to me while I was still a goalkeeper because I never had the chance to work with anyone who was a goalkeeper coach. I think that was crucial for us goalkeepers, and I missed that," Turkalj said. He cites the arrival of experienced player Mario Skočibušić at NK Karlovac 1919 as a turning point, as he was the first to provide him with specialized goalkeeping training.
The main motivation behind the academy is the alarming situation in county football. "I think we're in a major deficit here in the county because we don't have a single licensed goalkeeper coach. Kids are left to their own devices and have no one to train with. There are fewer and fewer goalkeepers, and that's a huge problem for clubs," Turkalj explains. It is precisely this lack of expert staff and systematic work with young goalkeepers that he aims to change with his academy, which will cater to participants from the youngest age groups all the way to seniors.
The project has already gained support from the local community. The Karlovac County Football Association has been informed of the plans, and Turkalj hopes for their assistance as well. "I've received great support from parents across the county. This is clearly something we lack. I think this is something new, and anything new with a good story will ultimately yield good results," the academy founder is convinced.
Turkalj's football journey is rich in experience. He began his career at NK Ilovac, continued at NK Karlovac 1919, and after an injury, played for NK Draganić, where over five years he also began his coaching path. He also played for NK Zrinski Ozalj and, as a coach, worked with younger categories at NK Croatia '78 Žakanje. With the older youth team of Croatia '78, he won the 2nd County League championship and led them to a higher division, where they eventually finished an excellent third, behind Ogulin and Ilovac.
In running the academy, he is assisted by Zvonimir Andrić and Marina Lenc, in whose club he has been training goalkeepers for the past three months. Turkalj can also boast valuable connections-he is currently attending lectures for his B license at the Croatian Football Federation's academy alongside legendary Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subašić, whom he greatly admires. Subašić's message encapsulates the essence of coaching: "We all have to roll in the mud!" Turkalj quotes him, adding that this is the path to the stars-full of training, obstacles, and sacrifice.
Turkalj's love for goalkeeping was born in childhood when, as a Hajduk fan, he watched a match against Ferencváros at Poljud. "It went to penalties, but when the whole stadium chants 'Stipe, Stipe, Stipe...', it stays etched in your memory. He was already my idol then, and I've carried that story with me all my life," Turkalj recalls his idol, former Croatian international Stipe Pletikosa.
All interested young goalkeepers and their parents can already find out more about the academy through its new Facebook page, where all necessary information about the program and applications is available.
