Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 24 April 1987 | ||
Place of birth | Požega, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2005–2006 | Slavonija Požega | ||
2005–2007 | Kamen Ingrad | 47 | (1) |
2007–2009 | Široki Brijeg | 11 | (0) |
2009–2011 | Suhopolje | ||
2011–2014 | Imotski | 41 | (4) |
2011–2012 | → Rudeš (loan) | 9 | (0) |
2013–2014 | Zmaj Blato | ||
2014–2015 | Oriolik | ||
2015 | Pajde Möhlin | ||
2016–2018 | SG HWWE Niederroßbach | ||
2018–2019 | Hamilton City | ||
2019–2021 | TuS Montabaur | 2 | (0) |
2021 | Posavina Frankfurt | 13 | (3) |
International career | |||
2006 | Croatia U19 | 4 | (0) |
2006 | Croatia U20 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Marko Zelenika (born April 24, 1987) is a Croatian former footballer who played as a midfielder.
Zelenika began playing in the Croatian Second Football League with Slavonija Požega for the 2005-06 season.[1] He played in the Croatian First Football League during the 2005/06 season with Kamen Ingrad.[2][3] During his time with Kamen Ingrad, he had an unsuccessful trial session with Swedish-side Umeå FC in the summer of 2007.[4]
In 2007, he played abroad in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Široki Brijeg.[5][6][7] During his tenure with Široki Brijeg he featured in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup against Koper, and Hapoel Tel Aviv[8][9] He made his second continental appearance in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup against Partizani Tirana, and Beşiktaş J.K.[10][11]
In 2009, he returned to the Croatian circuit to play with HNK Suhopolje.[12][13] In 2011, he returned to the Croatian second division with Imotski, and had a loan spell with NK Rudeš.[14][15] He later played in the Treća HNL with BŠK Zmaj, and NK Oriolik.[16]
In 2015, he had another run abroad this time in the regional Switzerland circuit with NK Pajde Möhlin.[17] Zelenika would feature in the 2015 Basel Cup final against FC Pratteln, where he contributed a goal.[18] He also participated in the 2015 Croatian World Club Championship, where he was named best player in the tournament.[19] Pajde Möhlin would end up defeating Vojvodina Croats in the tournament finals.[20][21]
Following his stint in Switzerland, he transferred over to SG HWW Niederroßbach in the German Bezirksliga in 2016.[22] He would re-sign with Niederroßbach for the 2017 season.[23] The 2018 season would mark his third and final with Niederroßbach.[24]
In the summer of 2019, he played in the Canadian Soccer League with Hamilton City SC.[25] Throughout the 2019 campaign, he helped the club in securing a playoff berth by finishing sixth in the league's first division.[26] Hamilton would be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Ukraine United in a penalty shootout.[27]
After the conclusion of the Canadian season, he played the remainder of the season by returning to the German regional circuit to sign with TuS Montabaur.[28] He re-signed with Montabaur for the following season.[29] After two seasons with Montabaur, he departed in 2021 to play with Posavina Frankfurt.[30]
Zelenika made his debut for the Croatia national under-19 football team on February 13, 2006 in a friendly match against Hungary.[31] He represented Croatia in the 2006 Elite Round U-19 Championship against Macedonia, and Israel.[32][33] He also played with the Croatia national under-20 football team making his debut on September 26, 2006 in a friendly match against Slovenia.[34]