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An attacking midfielder with excellent vision and a finely honed technique, Niko Kranj\u010dar was handed his first national team cap by his father Zlatko in August 2004. Current coach Slaven Bili\u0107 has also taken a shine to the young schemer, selecting him for all 12 UEFA EURO 2008 qualifiers.

Scored on his Croatian league debut for NK Dinamo Zagreb aged 16.

Widely lauded as the 'new Zvonimir Boban' in his teenage years as he helped Dinamo to 2002 and 2004 Croatian Cups and the 2003 championship.

Controversially transferred to arch-rivals HNK Hajduk Split midway through the 2004\/05 season; won second Croatian title.

Ten league goals in 2005\/06 season but Hajduk finished calamitous fifth; decided to move abroad, joining Portsmouth FC in August 2006 after FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Took time to settle in England, but excelled in his second season at Portsmouth as they won the FA Cup.

Scored his first goal in Croatia's historic 3-2 win over England at Wembley that gave his country top spot in their UEFA EURO 2008 qualification group.

Did you know?<\/STRONG>
Kranj\u010dar's first Premier League goal for Portsmouth came against Fulham FC, a team he had previously faced with Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Cup. <\/P>","92D102DDE1327A88":"Niko Kranjcar","6438FCEB8DF4FD6202A461D3835934E5":"New York Cosmos,Queens Park Rangers[on loan],Dynamo Kyiv,Tottenham Hotspur,Hajduk Split,Dinamo Zagreb,Portsmouth","70356B8F0C59F6B5":"377","31E4B7E841B17C66":"Niko Kranjcar","3DD52A7123843A0599BD59EBE6AB4E97":"New York Cosmos","DF03820F537F8E7C95F8F8605BCB052C":"Croatia","26A41B77C025E2F442D11C4E5D31FCE8":"1","B628C0FB460378A51A233D645651DF2F":"","F9622CC2808B37CB":"80kg","FD1933E1882D5E7A216F21827D2B22B4":"","95081CC600C137A3ECD07E1A2BAC6047":"19","e_index":7};