The Croatian striker’s mentor Senijad Ibricic believes the world is his oyster as top five league future is mapped out
Darren Cooney
10:19, 15 Jan 2026Updated 19:43, 15 Jan 2026
Celtic transfer target Franko Kovacevic is good enough to play in one of Europe’s top five leagues, according to his mentor.
Martin O’Neill is edging closer to making signings for the champions, who face a huge fight to retain their title from Hearts and Rangers.
And they have been strongly linked with a move for Croatian goalscoring sensation Kovacevic, who has netted an incredible 23 goals in 24 games for his Slovenian club NK Celje in domestic football and in Europe so far this season.
The former Hajduk Split hitman had spells in Germany, USA and Cyprus before he moved to Slovenia with NK Domzale three years ago.
He was signed for the club by their then-manager – former Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder Senijad Ibricic – before he moved on to have another spell in Germany and South Korea before returning to Slovenia with his current club Cejle.
His explosive form earned him a shock call-up to the Croatia squad in October, although he never made it past the preliminary list.
And Ibricic has no doubts Kovacevic is destined for the top.
He said: “I’m certain he will eventually go to one of the top five leagues in Europe.
“In fact, when he reaches his prime, he will get to choose which club he wants to go to.
“He reminds me of Viktor Gyokeres.
“Look, I am not saying he will go directly from Celje to Arsenal now, but I expect him to go to a club that’s just below the top five leagues and then move on.
“He is a very fast player and that’s probably because in the early stages of his career, he played as a winger.
“His best position is as a striker. He’s very good at one-on-ones and knows the game.
“He also has an abnormal physique.”
And Kovacevic, in an interview earlier this season, revealed why his journeyman career is only now just getting started.
He said: “My role model is Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“He was clinical in front of goal and, like me, had a lot of clubs too.
“It was hard for me to accept the failures I have had at some of my clubs. But I am only 26, so there is plenty of time. There are so many talented players in football who get lost and never get to shine.
“Sometimes, a player gets a little lost and loses faith. The biggest thing is self-confidence. Perhaps a player is good at one club, but not at another. It’s a question of self-confidence.
“The Croatian national team is something special to me. All the players are heroes in my eyes.
“The most important thing I have to do is be humble and believe. With faith and positivity, anything is possible one day.
“Zlatko Dalic is one of the three best managers in the world. It would be a huge honour if I could play for Croatia one day soon.”