The story of Antonio Marin’s supposed “downfall” is most unfortunate. However, he is still only 20 years old, and all hope is not lost. Lets dive deeper into why his career fell off the rails and what he’s doing right to get it back on track…
Climbing up the ranks of the Dinamo Zagreb youth academies, Marin was always regarded as one of the most naturally talented youngsters Croatia has ever seen. At the age of 14, Antonio was a member of the Croatian U16 team, where he started to get the attention of many coaches and staff around Croatia. Fast forward to the 2017/18 season, where Marin gets his debut for Dinamo Zagreb at the age of just 17.
Antonio Marin caught the attention of many scouts and big clubs around Europe in the UEFA Youth League tournament where he was a member of Dinamo Zagreb’s U19 squad. He amassed 4G/A in 6 games while playing at the LW position, and showed off his amazing skills and footwork. Quite frankly, he was visibly an entire level above every other player in that tournament. In 2018/19 Marin was bounced back and forth from the Dinamo squad to the Dinamo II squad, putting up 5 goals in 6 games for Dinamo II and 3 assists in 7 games for Dinamo’s senior squad. Marin was also nominated in the Guardian’s top 60 youth talents around the world, being hailed as the “Croatian Neymar”. His coordination, confidence, dribbling, quick changes of direction and ambidexterity was superior to all his peers.
And then came the 2019/20 season. After great performances the season prior, Marin was given opportunities in Dinamo’s senior team. He played mostly out of position at LW or RW (when he prefers to be in the center of the pitch at AM), but was still very promising. He created quality chances and did very well as a ripe 18 year old in the HNL. However, his individual stats were just not up to par at just 1 goal and 1 assist in 13 matches (mostly coming off the bench). Marin had a bit of a hard time adjusting to professional level football after being so dominant against youth players. However, Zoran Mamic did not give him a chance to prove his worth and bounce back the next season. Instead, he was carelessly sent on loan to the Serie B at Monza. Monza was a squad who was making a huge push to the Serie A and relied on players like Kevin-Prince Boateng, Balotelli, etc. This was the worst possible move for a young star like Marin, who desperately needed some consistent play time, because he just did not fit in their team. As a result, he got 85 minutes of football in a full calendar year. Suddenly, Croatia’s biggest attacking prospect fell off everyone’s radar. Now regarded as just another bust, his confidence was shattered. After guys like Halilović, Balić and Čorić, Vatreni fans couldn’t stand the thought of yet another talent wasted. Marin was thus instantly disregarded and ‘on to the next’ was the general mentality amongst Croatia and Dinamo fans.
Thankfully, the next season, his loan at Monza was terminated and Marin returned to Croatia. Not having scored a single goal or even an assist in a whole year really affected him, and this was visible in the way he played. He no longer tried to dribble confidently and attempt beautiful shots. At Lokomotiva, he played it safe, took no risks, and was ultimately a passenger for 15 games. Not a single G/A.
Marin broke his 1 year+ scoring drought with 2 banging goals against Turkey U20 in a friendly. Finally, the Antonio Marin we all knew was back. Dinamo Zagreb loaned him out to Šibenik, the perfect HNL club for now 20 year old Antonio. Marin has since scored 4 goals and recorded 1 assist in 11 starts for Šibenik and has featured in the HNL team of the week twice, which are excellent numbers. He’s had his best performances playing in the middle of the pitch as an attacking midfielder, which allows him to drift wide or stay central, distributing the ball to his wingers and up top to the striker. He’s a creative player, and can’t be constricted to a certain side of the pitch. Playing him in the middle of the field has allowed him to open up his play and ultimately perform better.
Marin’s improvement in his confidence levels have been on display this season, as he’s averaging 2.8 shots per game. He’s also contributing well defensively as he averages almost 2 tackles per game. Additionally, he wins more than half of his duels and has won an average of 7.8/game, which is much more than his mere 2.8 last season for Lokomotiva.
Below are his heatmaps for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons. Take note of how more mobile he is and how much more space he creates as an attacking midfielder.
He’s obviously much more involved in the play, which is a good indicator of him being more hungry and confident. He backtracks more and is also more mobile in attacking areas. Amazing improvement over the course of just one summer.
Marin has also been a crucial part of the U21 squad alongside Luka Sučić and Roko Šimić. Although he hasn’t scored or assisted, Marin got taken down for a penalty shot and has been one of the best players on the pitch in all four games.
I believe that if Marin can continue to perform throughout the season, we can very well see him getting a second chance with Dinamo next season. He would slot in perfectly at AM as a Lovro Majer replacement, allowing Luka Ivanušec to move back to the RW. He’s been scoring, assisting, working hard, and building his confidence back. Could this be the return of, arguably, Croatia’s most talented youngster of this generation?
“The Croatian magician waved his magic wand and hit Vinicius with a delightful assist that left Shakhtar’s defense dumbfounded. Modric’s ball-carrying and movement were crucial to aiding Rodrygo and Vini in finding pockets of space centrally in this tactical gameplan.”
The legend continues..
No report on the champions league? Looks like Modric steps up again with a beautiful assist. No Rebic or Vrsaljko. Brozovic and Perisic controlled the midfield and Dzeko is literally keeping Inter alive in the serie a race and CL. Pongracic and Josko barley any minutes. PSG will win CL tbh. It’s either them, city, Bayern, Chelsea.
I saw gvardiol conceded a penalty right at the end of the psg match
He came on around the 70th min
Anyone know how else he did besides the foul
It was a bs penatlty he ran and caught up with his man he has good pace he was good when he came on. Vida was terrible for besiktas also made a foul for penalty. Reading hummels is on verge of losing his spot to pongracic per german reports.
Luka was great. Broz perisic routine game.
I’m just as excited about Roko Simic getting a chance to play in the first team as the next guy, I just think we need to put things into perspective.
Roko is very young and he’s been finding ways to score…which is fantastic. It doesn’t matter if he scores off his ass or blasts one from 30 yards out into the top corner…a goal is a goal.
I read that the current striker on the first team tore a muscle and Roko was called up for that reason. I really hope he doesn’t feel too much pressure to perform and I also hope he gets into the game with the attitude that he isn’t playing in a Champions League game…the less pressure, the better for him! Hopefully he takes the approach he’s been taking and not over think things. He’s got many years ahead of him and this won’t be the only chance he gets to prove himself!
I think it’s safe to say that if Roko doesn’t score tomorrow, he’s a bust
No doubt. Furthermore, that if he does score, that Šimic needs to start against Russia.
Lol
I agree! If he proves he can be relevant at the highest level, why not?!
If Šimić scores 1 goal in one game, it’s great that he is developing, and that he is showing some relevance jn that realm. When he starts scoring at higher levels consistantly, that is when he should become a starter for the NT. I am in favour of giving him some time now and then, but integrate him and develop him gradually I think is whats best.
Yea, I think people are being a bit harsh on Kramaric.
Does everyone honestly believe that a current 18 year old striker in Roko Simic is already a better option up top than Krama?
I am the biggest advocate for integrating youth into the senior squad, but even I have my limits.
I think that Krama (and Rebic as backup) is good for now, but Roko would definitely be worth a callup if he has a great scoring season with Liefering (and is promoted to RB Salzburg by season’s end).
Right. We see Kramarić miss a few shots, and the response is why doesn’t he score on those? Well… He’s running his ass off receiving the ball all over the field and leading defenders astray to open up space for his teammates, and assisting on the goal that got recalled, put two in the back of the net this month and was perfectly positioned to clean up any garbage from Modrić’s goal against Slovakia… He had a shot deflected by a defender that nearly went in anyway in that game, won a penalty against Cyprus, had countless shots saved in both games, and won a bunch of corner kicks against Slovakia… The guy is taking criticism because he misplayed two balls that were skipping and spinning all over the place on the wet field at Osijek and ricocheted off his shin instead of his foot. The position he plays is hard, and he does it pretty well overall. There’s a reason Livaja was off the bench those games (not as complete a player) and a reason Čolak and Petković aren’t even called up (too slow to be in position to finish in the first place). This Roko Simić sounds like a great player, and I want to see him play, but unseating Kramarić is going to be difficult for anyone. Only Budimir seems to have a chance at that, and more likely they would play together just because they are such different players.
Gotta move on from lovren vida pair gotta build till 2028 euro new team new fresh direction imo. Cc Pongracic Gvardiol modern cbs with smarts and build attacks and sosa should always play lb for us when fit healthy juranovic is the rb with stansic. Vrsaljko if he wants to play football again is also still valuable but only in form vrsaljko not the post 2018 sime.
Goalkeeper also livi isnt the number one going foward to me really just stuck in hnl i know ivusic is also in hnl but he has been better keeper and grbic is playing in france and is doing ok nothong spectacular but does the job.
I hope we qualify imo winter 2022 we can have a total different team who knows what players will catch fire and deserve call ups. Its all on the coach and players to qualify first then when in anyway is possible just luck and alttile bit of znanje haha.
Watched the zenit hi lites and dejan hasnt changed.
Guy goes around him like he’s stuck in mud in the 90th minute to score the winner and lovren immediately points at his fellow defenders to re-direct the Blame.He has done this countless times playing for the repka as well.
He’s a douche and the sooner he’s gone the better!
He’d make a good Halloween costume
Ya limited experience with him but he did catch the eye with u21 action I saw
Let’s hope he turns it around
Majer moro and Marin always confused me a couple years ago when we talked about them
I hope it’s not too much pressure on young roko
Thank God his dad can help him to navigate some of these pressures If need be
This can be a great advantage to this kid
There’s so much hype around Roko Šimić now that it’s ridiculous.
Expectations are suddenly sky high lol.
We need to lower expectations. And let the kid take it one step at a time. I hate it when they blow up these kids, and then there’s all this pressure.
Very difficult for any player to live up to Croatian fans’ expectations.
Particularly after placing 2nd in the World cup- we expect progress from that outcome.
It’s not Croatian fans.
British media has latched onto him now.
Not sure what British Media are saying? However, I read that Arsenal and Tottenham are interested in šimić (also in addition to Milan and Real Madrid).
Some Croatian fans appear to expect Šimić to be called up and start against Malta (the hope is that he is magical); furthermore, now he certainly should play and possibly become a hero against Russia.
Šimić is replacing Šeško who has interest from Man City, Liverpool, Milan, and Real Madrid.
By comparison:
Šeško scored 21 goals in 29 appearances last season for Liefering (13 goals in last 7)
Šimić scored 7 goals in 10 games for Liefering so far this season.
When Šimić steps up, he now has 3 goals in 11 games for Salzburg, and 1 goal in 7 games for the Sovenian NT.
Expecting Simic to outperform our current NT players at the moment is unrealistic, and too much pressure. Certainly he has great potential, but he needs time.
Previoys post should say when Šeško steps up instead of Šimić.
I’m not sure what to believe? Markus, you wrote this so I’m asking you…what experience in life and in particular the world of soccer do you have to give this kid such high marks? Don’t misunderstand my question because I hope you’re right. If this kid has been “out of form”, “lost his way”, “dropped his confidence” level…what gives you the impression that these recent clubs where he’s failed at didn’t have the best intentions for him?
Making an investment in a player isn’t just a walk in the park. There’s money, time, legalities and tons of other details involved. I can’t imagine any club taking the steps to secure and invest in this kid and then play him out of position or not afford him the time he needs to adjust!
I’m hoping you’re right or that maybe there’s another variable we don’t know about…at the end of the day, he’s a kid we should all hope succeeds. I just don’t know enough about him to know if he had what it takes and based on your comments, it seems like he was overlooked purposely…I don’t necessarily buy that buddy!
I mean, you do remember the whole Mamic thing right?
Well, Marin was at the club during that time and it very well could have had an affect on him and his play time. I wouldn’t exactly say that the Mamic brothers cared about the club or its players so sometimes inexplicable things happen.
I wouldn’t make a post just to go off on a tangent about how I think a certain player has been unfairly treated unless he genuinely has been and it was shown on the pitch. He didn’t play a single game at AM for Dinamo. Not one. He doesn’t have the pace to be a winger and can’t be constricted to the side of the pitch so he struggled do to this. I’m not saying he’s completely without blame for his performances but Dinamo wasn’t exactly setting him up for success.
Regardless, I wish him the best and hope he continues to improve.
Also, you should watch some of his youth clips. I’m not kidding when I say he was utterly dominant at youth level. Many of his trainers/coaches have said he’s one of the most naturally talented players they’ve ever worked with.
Markus, I always respect and appreciate your articles and comments bro so I’m glad you didn’t respond with something childish…you make sense.
I honestly don’t remember him while Mamic was the coach but I do remember that period was a bit turbulent…they needed good performances and any coach would feel the pressure.
The Roko rises. The call from a nation in agony has been answered. Say his name Roko
Simic!
Roko Simic officially pulled to RB Salzburg’s first team today ahead of their Champion League game this upcoming Wednesday? (bc of the injury to Sesko). Would make Wednesday game must see TV for Croat fans if he got in the game.
https://www-index-hr.translate.goog/sport/clanak/roko-simic-bi-mogao-debitirati-u-ligi-prvaka-ove-srijede/2311697.aspx?_x_tr_sl=hr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=nui,sc
I agree, no question that the guy is talented. Calling somebody a “flop” at 20 years old is completely stupid.
Biggest flag was Dinamo trying to get rid of him.
Dinamo is rarely wrong about these things.
Hopefully his bounceback is real, and he continues on the path that he was originally on.
It was more of a Zoran Mamić trying to get rid of him type of thing rather than Dinamo strategically doing it because they know he doesn’t have what it takes. Very strange.
Maybe they wanted to cash out quickly before taking off Međugorje.
😂 likely