Gvardiol: From Zagreb benchwarmer to Man City stalwart

Joško Gvardiol extended his contract with Manchester City to 2031 this summer, cementing his place at the club where he has become one of Europe's most complete defenders since joining in 2023.

The 24-year-old Croatian was far from a guaranteed star in his youth. Despite moving into Dinamo Zagreb's famed academy — which produced Luka Modric and Mateo Kovačić — Gvardiol frequently found himself on the bench during his early teenage years and did not break through to Dinamo's first team until he was 17.

"At some points at Dinamo Zagreb, I didn't play but I knew that every season there are some changes," Gvardiol said. "I was 15 or 16 and struggling to play then at 17 I started playing, they changed my position, I made it to the second team and then within six months I was in the first team. Less than a year later, I signed for Leipzig."

Former Dinamo coach Zeljko Kopic recalled the speed of his transformation. "Seeing him at 17, it was unbelievable how good he was, both mentally and physically," Kopic told Goal in 2021. "If he stays healthy, I am sure we will see him become one of the best central defenders in Europe."

RB Leipzig signed Gvardiol after 12 first-team appearances in 2019/20, initially loaning him back to Dinamo for the 2020/21 season. He made 40 appearances as Dinamo won the Croatian league and reached the Europa League quarter-finals before joining Leipzig permanently in the summer of 2021.

His international debut came at Euro 2020, starting against England at Wembley at the age of 19. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Croatia reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Argentina, and coach Zlatko Dalic declared: "Gvardiol is the best central defender in the world. He's so mature. The way he plays, with the grace he controls the ball. It's amazing."

Chelsea came close to signing him before City moved in. "After my first season at Leipzig, Chelsea wanted to sign me and I was that close to signing," Gvardiol said. "I was ready to go to the airport but it didn't work out. I signed a new contract with Leipzig and then next season City came in."

Gvardiol joined City in the summer of 2023 and played 42 times in his first season, operating primarily at left-back alongside Nathan Ake as City won the Premier League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. He scored five goals that term and six in his second, when he was voted Etihad Player of the Season.

Now into his fourth season at City under Enzo Maresca, Gvardiol has taken on an informal leadership role despite his age. "There is no moment where you decide and it's normal that at some point, even though I'm young, I need to take responsibility," he said. "I need to accept it and be aware there are new guys, younger ones and I need to make sure they are going the right way."