Punjab FC has made a significant move in its preparations for the upcoming 2024-25 season by signing Croatian midfielder Filip Mrzlijak. This marks the club’s first foreign acquisition ahead of the new campaign. Mrzlijak joins Punjab FC from HNK Gorcia, a top-flight club in Croatia, and brings a wealth of experience to the Indian Super League side.
The 31-year-old midfielder, born in Zagreb, boasts a strong pedigree having graduated from the prestigious Dinamo Zagreb Academy. This academy has produced some of the world’s best footballers, including Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Vedran Corluka, Josko Gvardiol, Dejan Lovren, and Niko Kranjcar. After signing his first professional contract with Dinamo Zagreb, Mrzlijak was loaned out to Radnik Sesvete in Zagreb. He then spent three seasons playing for Lokomotiva, another top-flight Croatian club.
Mrzlijak’s career took him to Romania, where he spent five years playing for three prominent clubs: Pandurii Targu Jiu, Astra Giurgiu, and Dinamo Bucuresti. He later moved to Russia, featuring for FC Ufa for two seasons before signing for HNK Gorcia.
Beyond his club career, Mrzlijak has represented Croatia at various youth levels, from Under-14 to Under-21. He was part of the Croatian teams that participated in the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup and the 2012 UEFA U19 Championships.
Speaking about the signing, Nikolaos Topoliatis, Technical Director of Punjab FC, expressed his excitement about having Mrzlijak join the club. He highlighted Mrzlijak’s experience playing at the highest level of youth football in Europe and believes he will add steel to the midfield and be a leader both on and off the field.
The arrival of Filip Mrzlijak signals Punjab FC’s ambition to strengthen its squad for the upcoming season. His experience and leadership qualities are expected to be valuable assets to the team as they aim for success in the Indian Super League.
