Drago Vabec

Drago Vabec
Personal information
Full name Dragutin Vabec
Date of birth (1950-10-26) 26 October 1950 (age 73)
Place of birth Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Left winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1968–1977 Dinamo Zagreb 230 (45)
1977 Toronto Metros-Croatia 15 (11)
1977–1979 Dinamo Zagreb 28 (10)
1979–1983 Brest 118 (60)
1983–1984 Dinamo Zagreb 7 (1)
Total 398 (127)
International career
1973–1976 Yugoslavia 7 (1)
Managerial career
2006–2007 Čakovec
2012–2013 Sloga Čakovec
2013– Strahoninec
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dragutin Vabec, most commonly known as Drago Vabec (born 26 October 1950), is a Croatian former professional footballer who played for Dinamo Zagreb, Stade Brestois and Toronto Metros-Croatia. He is considered one of the best players in Dinamo Zagreb history and the best player in Stade Brestois history. He left Brest in 1983.[1] At international level, he represented the SFR Yugoslavia national team.

His family originates from Čakovec, Međimurje County, and he spent most of his time there.

Playing career[edit]

Vabec was born in Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia.

He made his debut for Yugoslavia in a September 1973 friendly match against Hungary and earned a total of seven caps, scoring one goal. His final international was an April 1976 European Championship qualification match against Wales.[2] While playing for Yugoslavia during a match against Sweden on 10 October 1975 he scored a fantastic goal, which was for years screened at the beginning of the sports program.[3]

Style of play[edit]

Although Vabec played mostly as a left winger, he was an excellent right winger too and could also play at a high level as a midfielder or a defender. The football experts deem him the most versatile player in Dinamo's history. Vabec was described as a highly intelligent player, with superb technique and passing skills, and equally adept with both feet.[3]

Managerial career[edit]

In October 2006, he was appointed head coach at relegation-threatened Croatian second division side NK Čakovec. He remained at the position until the end of the season, but failed to save the club from relegation.

References[edit]

  1. ^ 1982–83 SEASON (DIVISION 1) - Stade Brestois 29 (in French)
  2. ^ "Player Database". EU-football. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Briljirao u Maksimiru, u francuskom klubu najbolji ikad: Najsvestraniji igrač Dinama u povijesti!". Sportske novosti (in Croatian). 26 May 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Drago_Vabec&oldid=1198142617"