Darijo Srna (; born 1 May 1982) is a Croatian former professional footballer and current director of football of Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk. During most of his career he played as a right wing-back.
He began his career at Hajduk Split, before moving to Shakhtar in 2003. He has won numerous trophies during his time at Shakhtar, including a UEFA Cup title in 2009, seven Ukrainian Premier League titles, five Ukrainian Cup titles and five Ukrainian Super Cup titles. He left Shakhtar in 2018 and signed a one-year contract with Cagliari and then returned to Shakhtar to work as an assistant manager.
Srna made his international debut for Croatia in November 2002 and is the third most capped player in the history of the Croatia national team with 134 caps, having represented his country at the 2006 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, as well as at UEFA Euro 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. In 2009, then manager Slaven BiliÃÂ made him the captain of the national team, a position he would hold until his retirement from international football in 2016; the captaincy then passed to Luka ModriÃÂ.
He is the most capped player in Shakhtar's history, with 536 appearances. He was popularly dubbed the "Icon of Shakhtar". Srna's consistent quality and playing style earned comparisons to Cafu.
Srna's talent was seen by many scouts in Croatia while he was young. He was later signed by Hajduk Split as his talent became desirable for the Croatian giants. At Hajduk, he won the 1999âÂÂ2000 and 2002âÂÂ03 Croatian Cup, as well as the 2000âÂÂ01 Prva HNL. The club played in the first round of 1999âÂÂ2000 UEFA Cup, 2001âÂÂ02 UEFA Cup, 2002âÂÂ03 UEFA Cup, as well as the second round of the 2000âÂÂ01 UEFA Champions League and the third round of the 2001âÂÂ02 UEFA Champions League. He made 84 appearances for the club, including 64 in the league, and scored eight goals, four of which came in the league, before moving to Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.
In 2003, Srna was sold, along with Hajduk goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, to Shakhtar Donetsk. He is a common member and the captain in his club side, for whom he has made a large impact in the league. In his first season with the club, he made 29 appearances, including 19 in the league, scoring three goals, all in the Ukrainian Cup. He helped the club to win the Ukrainian Cup, his first honour with the club, and to a second-place finish in the Premier League.
In his second season, Shakhtar won the Super Cup and the Premier League. He made 42 appearances for the club, 22 of which came in the league, and netted two goals, once in the league and once in the cup. Srna made his debut in the main stage of the UEFA Champions League on 14 September 2004 against Milan. His third season saw Shakhtar retain the Premier League title. He made 21 league appearances, scoring twice. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Benfica were reported to be after the player's signature, but nothing materialized, with what many considered a fallen or rejected sale. Since then, he had been linked with a number of other clubs, including Lazio, but a move never materialized.
The following season, Shakhtar were beaten to the Premier League title by Dynamo Kyiv, as they failed to win any silverware. Darijo made 35 appearances for the club, 20 in the league, and scored four times, three of which came in the league. In the 2007âÂÂ08 season, Shakhtar picked up the Premier League trophy and were victorious in the Ukrainian Cup Final. He made 41 appearances, 28 of which came in the league.
The 2008âÂÂ09 season saw Shakhtar win the Super Cup and the UEFA Cup. On 15 July 2008, Shakhtar emerged victorious in the Super Cup Final against Dynamo Kyiv. At the end of extra time, the teams were level at 1âÂÂ1. In the ensuing penalty shoot-out, Shakhtar converted all five of its penalties to win 5âÂÂ3. Srna, who captained the side, scored one of the penalties. On 3 August, he scored the first goal in a 3âÂÂ0 victory over Illichivets Mariupol. On 13 August, he scored the first goal in a 2âÂÂ0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. On 18 October he scored a goal in Shakhtar's 4âÂÂ2 win against Kryvbas. On 2 March, he scored the winning goal in Shakhtar's 2âÂÂ1 league victory over Illichivets. On 22 March, he scored the only goal in a league win over Vorskla. In the semi-final of the UEFA Cup, Shakhtar faced Dynamo Kyiv in an all-Ukrainian tie. After a 1âÂÂ1 away draw in the first leg, Shakhtar won 2âÂÂ1 at the Donbas Arena for a 3âÂÂ2 aggregate win to progress to the final. Darijo played the full 90 minutes of both legs. On 20 May 2009, he captained Shakhtar in the 2âÂÂ1 victory over Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup Final. Srna provided the assist for Jádson's winning goal seven minutes into extra time. He also picked up a yellow card. This was the last UEFA Cup before it was rebranded as the UEFA Europa League. Shakhtar finished the Premier League season in second position, 15 points behind champions Dynamo Kyiv. Darijo made 46 appearances and scored five goals, with 25 appearances and 4 goals in the league.
In the 2009âÂÂ10 season, Shakhtar regained the Premier League title. On 28 August, he played in Shakhtar's 1âÂÂ0 extra time loss to Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Super Cup, picking up a yellow card on 65 minutes. He scored the third goal in a 4âÂÂ1 away victory over Club Brugge in the Europa League. He scored a goal and picked up a yellow card in a 2âÂÂ0 Ukrainian Cup victory over Dynamo Kyiv on 28 October. He netted his first league goal of the season in a 2âÂÂ1 victory against Zorya Luhansk on 20 March. On 3 April, he scored the only goal in a league victory over Obolon. Srna played 39 matches, 26 in the league, and scored four goals, two of which came in the league.
The 2010âÂÂ11 season was extremely successful for Shakhtar as they won the treble (Premier League, Ukrainian Cup and the Super Cup). He played in Shakhtar's 7âÂÂ1 Super Cup victory over Tavriya Simferopol on 4 July. On 15 September, he netted the only goal, and picked up a yellow card, in a 1âÂÂ0 Champions League win over Partizan. In the following match, against Tavriya, after going 1âÂÂ0 down, Srna scored the equaliser in a 4âÂÂ1 victory. On 30 October, he was sent off in added time against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk as Shakhtar won 1âÂÂ0. On 1 April, he scored the first goal in a 3âÂÂ1 victory over Illichivets Mariupol. On 7 May, against Metalurh Donetsk, he scored the second goal in a 2âÂÂ0 win. On 25 May, he played in the 2âÂÂ0 Ukrainian Cup Final victory over Dynamo Kyiv, picking up a yellow card. Srna was named in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Year according to player rater (statistics) in the 2010âÂÂ11 season, where Shakhtar lost in the quarter-final to Barcelona. Srna created five assists in five games. He made 39 appearances, 27 of which were in the league, scoring four goals, three of which came in the league.
Shakhtar won the Premier League and the Ukrainian Cup in the 2011âÂÂ12 season, Darijo's sixth league title with the club. He scored a goal in first half injury time in a 2âÂÂ0 away win over Metalurh Donetsk. On 2 December, he scored the first goal in a 5âÂÂ0 league victory over Arsenal Kyiv at the Donbas Arena. On 16 April, in the 27th gameweek of the season, Srna netted the final goal in a 5âÂÂ1 victory over Zorya Luhansk. On 6 May, he played in the Ukrainian Cup Final against Metalurh Donetsk in which Shakhtar emerged victorious after an extra time winner from Oleksandr Kucher made it 2âÂÂ1. This marked Srna's fourth Ukrainian Cup success with Shakhtar. He picked up a yellow card in the final match of the season, a 3âÂÂ0 victory over Oleksandriya. Shakhtar won the league by four points over Dynamo Kyiv; Srna scored 3 goals in 25 league matches and made a total of 34 appearances in the season.
Darijo began the 2012âÂÂ13 season with an assist for Luiz Adriano in the sixth-minute of Shakhtar's 2âÂÂ0 Super Cup victory over Metalurh Donetsk. He assisted Ilsinho for the second goal in a 3âÂÂ1 Premier League win against Hoverla Uzhhorod. He assisted Fernandinho for a 93rd-minute winner against Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih. and added another for Marko Deviàin a 4âÂÂ0 victory against Volyn Lutsk. On 19 August, Srna assisted Willian for the third goal in a 5âÂÂ1 win against Chornomorets Odesa In the next match, he provided Luiz Adriano with an assist in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Karpaty Lviv. On 2 September, he assisted Oleksandr Kucher's second goal in a 3âÂÂ1 victory against Dynamo Kyiv. On 23 September, Srna scored a free-kick in a 4âÂÂ1 victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the last 32 of the Ukrainian Cup. On 28 September, he scored the winning goal in a 2âÂÂ1 victory against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. He picked up the Man of the Match award for his contribution to win over Dnipro. On 19 October, he assisted Ilsinho for a goal in a 2âÂÂ1 victory against Illichivets.
On 13 February 2013, Srna netted with an expertly-struck free-kick in the 31st minute in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie with Borussia Dortmund, which ended in a 2âÂÂ2 draw. At the end of the 2012âÂÂ13 season in Ukraine, he finished with the most assists, with 12.
In mid-season, Srna helped Shakhtar win the 2014 United Supercup, a tournament between the top-two placed clubs from Russia and Ukraine, becoming the assists leader and joint top scorer of the tournament. By the end of the season, the club won the Ukraine Premier League and the 2014 Ukrainian Super Cup.
In the first game of the season, Srna set a new record of games played for Shakhtar in the Premier League.
In the 2015âÂÂ16 season, Srna played 41 games and scored six goals. Shakhtar announced that their captain had extended his contract for the 2016âÂÂ17 season, a day after the club celebrated their 80th anniversary.
He was suspended from 22 September 2017 until 22 August 2018 for a failed doping test for dehydroepiandrosterone.
On 22 June 2018, Srna signed a one-year deal with Italian side Cagliari Calcio with an option to extend it for another year. In June 2019, the contract ended and Srna left the club.
In July 2019, Srna returned to Shakhtar Shakhtar Donetsk as an assistant manager on a one-year contract until 2020. He then moved on to the Director of football role.
Srna made his full international debut for the Croatia national team in a friendly match against Romania in November 2002. He went on to score his first international goal on his competitive debut for Croatia in their UEFA Euro 2004 qualifier against Belgium in March 2003, netting the opening goal in Croatia's 4âÂÂ0 win. He made a total of six appearances in Croatia's qualifying campaign for Euro 2004, including both play-off matches against Slovenia.
At the Euro 2004 finals, he appeared as a substitute in Croatia's group matches against Switzerland and England, before they were knocked out in the first round.
After Euro 2004, Srna went on to become one of the key players in Croatia's 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring five goals in nine appearances and being the team's top goalscorer in the competition. During the 2006 World Cup qualifying, he scored both goals in Croatia's two 1âÂÂ0 wins over Sweden, including a long-range free kick in the away fixture in Gothenburg. He also netted both goals in Croatia's 2âÂÂ2 home draw against Bulgaria, as well as one goal in their 3âÂÂ1 away win at Iceland.
Srna then starred in all three of Croatia's games at the 2006 World Cup. He was highly praised and remembered for his spectacular 30-yard free kick, which put Croatia ahead against Australia in the infamous "Graham Poll three-yellow card" blunder, which ended 2âÂÂ2. However, in previous group match against Japan he missed a penalty in a 0âÂÂ0 draw and Croatia finished third in the group stage with only 2 points.
In September 2006, Srna was temporarily dropped from the Croatian squad for a Euro 2008 qualifying match with Russia because of a late night partying spree in a local disco, along with teammates Boà ¡ko Balaban and Ivica OliÃÂ.
Srna was considered the hero of the match when he came on as a substitute against Macedonia in a Euro 2008 qualifying match and scored shortly after from a free-kick, which was shot into the right corner of the goal. In the 88th minute, he provided a cross which found teammate Eduardo, and allowed him to score and snatch a late win for Croatia. He also scored Croatia's equalizer in their hard-fought away victory against Israel, which eventually ended 4âÂÂ3 in Croatia's favour. Srna went on to miss a penalty against Estonia; however, his overall contribution to the team's attack compensated for the mistake, and Croatia quickly capitalized on it to win 2âÂÂ0.
Since helping his country qualify for Euro 2008 with a strong qualifying campaign, Srna was unsurprisingly named in their 23-man squad for the current tournament. On 12 June, Srna scored the opening goal in the 24th minute of Croatia's 2âÂÂ1 victory over Germany in their second game of Group B. He was the only player to score for Croatia in their unsuccessful penalty shootout in the quarter-finals against Turkey. At the conclusion of the match, Srna was seen struggling to hold back tears after Croatia's strong efforts but eventual defeat.
After Euro 2008, Srna succeeded Niko KovaÃÂ as national team captain.
Srna started all three games in the 2012 tournament as captain, as Croatia finished third behind Spain and Italy and failed to qualify for the next stage. Italy and Spain went on to become the tournament's finalists.
On 6 February 2013, Srna won his 100th cap in a friendly match against South Korea at Craven Cottage, London, thereby equalling Dario à  imiàas Croatia's most capped player. In that match, Srna also scored his 20th international goal.
Croatia qualified for the 2014 World Cup, where Srna served as team captain for his second official international tournament, after Euro 2012. Croatia finished third in the group behind Brazil and Mexico and therefore failed to qualify for the next stage.
At Euro 2016 in France, Srna, once again serving as team captain, played in Croatia's first group-stage match against Turkey. Shortly after the match, however, he returned to Croatia upon the news of his father's death during the match. He returned to France to finish the tournament afterwards, to abide by his father's dying wish. Croatia reached the knock-out phase of the tournament, but lost 1âÂÂ0 to Portugal through an extra-time Ricardo Quaresma goal.
Srna amassed 134 caps and 22 goals for Croatia, which made him the country's most capped player at the time of his retirement. He held this record for over eight years, until it was overtaken by Luka ModriÃÂ in 2021.
Srna was born in Metkoviàon Adriatic coast of southern Dalmatia to Bosniak father Uzeir and Croat mother Milka. His father, a World War II orphan and a former footballer for FK Sarajevo, supported his fledgling football career despite discrimination during the Yugoslav Wars and widespread corruption among football coaches. Before leaving Croatia to join for Shakhtar Donetsk, he gave his parents a brand new Mercedes-Benz A-Class. He has a tattoo of a deer playing football on his leg, as "" in Croatian means "roe deer". Srna has also helped Bosnian club Borac à  amac, where his father played as goalkeeper and was also a coach.
Srna has a half-brother, Renato, a coach at Neretva, from their father's first marriage. His other brother, Igor, has Down syndrome. As a result, Srna dedicates all his goals to him, and even revealed a shirt under his jersey saying "Igor, svi smo uz tebe" ("Igor, we are all here for you") after scoring a goal against Macedonia in international play. He also has a tattoo reading "Igor" on his heart.
While at Shakhtar, Srna frequently bought match tickets for orphans and often financed their travel to the stadium at his own expense. In late 2014, he purchased 20 tonnes of from farms near Metkoviàand had them donated to over 23,000 primary school children in the Donbas region during the ongoing war there. Srna married long-time girlfriend Mirela ForiÃÂ, whom he met through mutual friend and footballer Boà ¡ko Balaban. Their daughter Kasja was born in July 2010 and their son Karlo was born in June 2015.
As of 24 October 2023
Hajduk Split
Shakhtar Donetsk
Individual
Orders