First Authorized Biography of Robert Prosinečki Published
The book 'The Big Yellow' is authored by sports journalist Dražen Krušelj and reveals previously unknown details from the life and career of one of Croatia's greatest footballers.
The book 'The Big Yellow' is authored by sports journalist Dražen Krušelj and reveals previously unknown details from the life and career of one of Croatia's greatest footballers.
Publisher Edicije Božičević has released the first authorized biography of Robert Prosinečki, titled "The Big Yellow." The book is written by Dražen Krušelj, a sports journalist at Jutarnji list, who found a relevant witness for every episode of the celebrated footballer's life. The review of the edition is signed by Dean Duda.
Krušelj was born in 1973 in Slavonski Brod and began his journalism career in 1994 at Sportske novosti. Since 1998, he has been permanently employed at Jutarnji list, where he chronicled the historic successes of the Croatian national team. Throughout his career, he has interviewed legends such as Johan Cruyff and Arsène Wenger, honing his craft under the mentorship of veteran journalist Tomislav Židak. This year, he was named Sports Journalist of the Year.
Prosinečki was born on January 12, 1969, in the German town of Villingen-Schwenningen. He is the only player to have scored goals for two national teams-Yugoslavia and Croatia-at senior World Cups. In 1987, he was named the best player of the FIFA World Youth Championship in Chile, and three years later, the best young player at the World Cup in Italy. He won the European Cup with Red Star in 1991 and a World Cup bronze with Croatia in France in 1998.
In his rich club career, he wore the jerseys of Dinamo, Red Star, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Real Oviedo, Sevilla, Hrvatski dragovoljac, Standard Liège, Portsmouth, Olimpija Ljubljana, NK Zagreb, and Savski Marof. Today, he manages the Kyrgyzstan national team.
It was with these words that Spain's MARCA announced the arrival of the then-best midfielder in the world to Real Madrid, as the most expensive signing in the club's history. Although his Madrid stint did not live up to all expectations, Prosinečki became a central figure in one of the greatest football stories from this region. He was also among the 25 football icons admired by Maradona.
The biography is rich with anecdotes, such as the one about the early days of his talent: "It all started when they noticed there was this little yellow kid who hit the ball differently from the others..." and a description of a move that left a defender on the ground: "For the first time in my life, I saw a defender fall on his back without Prosinečki touching the ball or pushing the opponent with his body; a sudden shoulder feint was enough-Robi and the ball continued on..."
Particularly emotional is the memory of his relationship with Ćiro: "Son, of all my players, you're the only one who hasn't forgotten me," Ćiro would often say, moved, sensing his departure was near..."
This is Krušelj's second solo book, following "We Have Dinamo."
