Ivan Hlevnjak, Croatian Yugoslav footballer, Died at 71

  Sports

Ivan Hlevnjak was born on April 28, 1944, and died on November 28, 2015.

He was a Croatian midfielder who played for Yugoslavia.

Born during the Second World War in El Shatt refugee camp in the Sinai peninsula in Egypt, after the war, he returned to his father’s lands home country, Yugoslavia, and begin playing football in the youth teams of Hajduk Split.

Ivan debuted for the Hajduk senior team in the season 1962 to 1963 and played in the club until 1973 making a total of 665 appearances and scoring 237 goals with Hajduk.

After leaving Hajduk, Ivan moved to France and played with Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg (1973 to 1975) and Ligue 2 side SAS Épinal (1975 to 1979).

Later he played indoor soccer in the United States with Philadelphia Fever in the season 1980 to 1981.

Besides 3 appearances for the Yugoslav U-21 team, he made 3 appearances for the Yugoslav main team.

Ivan Hlevnjak passed away at age 71 in November 2015.