Last Updated on 13 hours ago by Vijay Kumar
Mladen Bartolović, the former Bosnia and Herzegovina international footballer and one of the most recognizable names in Croatian club football, passed away on 19 January 2026 after a long battle with illness. He was 49 years old. His death was confirmed by his former club HNK Cibalia Vinkovci.
Born on 10 April 1977 in Zavidovići, then part of Yugoslavia, Bartolović built a respected professional career as a winger known for his work rate, technique, and loyalty to his teams. He made his biggest mark at Cibalia Vinkovci, where he became the club’s all-time top scorer and one of its most-capped players.
Over the years, he also played for several notable clubs including Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split, NK Zagreb, Segesta, German side 1. FC Saarbrücken, and Iranian club Foolad Ahvaz. At the international level, Bartolović represented Bosnia and Herzegovina, earning 17 caps and contributing during the early years of the national team’s development. After retiring from professional football, he remained connected to the sport, particularly through his association with Cibalia.
Mladen Bartolović is survived by his family, to whom clubs and football associations have expressed their condolences, asking that his legacy as both a footballer and a person be remembered with respect and gratitude.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
