Ivan Rakitić

Ivan Rakitić (Croatian pronunciation: [ǐʋan râːkitɕ]; born 10 March 1988) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Spanish club Sevilla and the Croatia national team.

Rakitić began his career at Basel, where he won the Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup double in 2007. He then moved to Schalke 04, where he won the DFB-Pokal in 2011. In 2012, he joined Sevilla, where he won the UEFA Europa League in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, he joined Barcelona, where he won the La Liga title four times, the Copa del Rey four times, the UEFA Champions League once, and the UEFA Super Cup once. In 2020, he returned to Sevilla.

Rakitić has made over 100 appearances for the Croatia national team, and has represented them at the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018, and the UEFA European Championship in 2012, 2016 and 2020. He was a key member of the team that reached the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Rakitić is known for his passing ability, dribbling skills, and goalscoring prowess. He has been praised for his work rate and his ability to control the tempo of a game. He has been compared to former Barcelona midfielder Xavi.

Here are some additional details about Ivan Rakitić:

• He was born in Rheinfelden, Switzerland, to Croatian parents.
• He holds dual Croatian and Swiss citizenship.
• He began his career as a youth player for FC Basel.
• He made his professional debut for Basel in 2005.
• He moved to Schalke 04 in 2007.
• He joined Sevilla in 2012.
• He joined Barcelona in 2015.
• He returned to Sevilla in 2020.
• He has made over 100 appearances for the Croatia national team.
• He has represented Croatia at the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018, and the UEFA European Championship in 2012, 2016 and 2020.
• He was a key member of the team that reached the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
• He has won numerous individual awards, including the Croatian Footballer of the Year award in 2015 and 2016.
• He is married to Raquel Mauri, with whom he has two daughters.