Underrated bomber Andrej Kramaric

A Dinamo Zagreb product and former Leicester City player who has mostly linked his career with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim. In a blue jersey, he is just five goals short of his landmark 100th goal, all in 184 games in which he also added 36 assists. That’s Andrej Kramaric.

He made his first foray into adult football with Dinamo Zagreb, for whom he made over 50 starts and scored 11 goals. During his time in his native Croatia, however, he changed two more clubs there, namely NK Lokomotiva Zagreb and HNK Rijeka.

His most prolific involvement was, however, with Rijeka, where he scored 55 goals in 64 games. Great performances made the then still young Croatian ask for a big transfer, so in January 2015 he was bought by Leicester City.

Unfortunately, his stay in the Islands was short-lived, as the very next year he was sent on loan to German side Hoffenheim, where he later moved permanently. Andrej Kramaric started 20 competitive matches for the Foxes, scoring 4 goals.

In his first full season at Hoffenheim, Kramaric scored 18 goals and helped his team to a perfect fourth place in the Bundesliga. The next season saw 13 goals, 9 assists and third place in the table guaranteeing the Champions League, a historic achievement for Hoffenheim.

Andrej Kramaric burrowed deeper and deeper into the hearts of Hoffenheim fans, becoming the main personality of this provincial club. The following season, however, was a turning point for the Croatian bombardier.

He scored 22 goals in all competitions and also broke into the national team. To date, he has made almost 60 starts and scored 14 goals in a Croatian jersey.

The 30-year-old is currently enjoying life in Germany and although his contract expires next summer, Hoffenheim officials have reportedly already started talks with Andrej Kramaric’s representatives about an extension. This contract should keep him at the club for another 4 years.

Kramaric is certainly not one of the most famous European strikers, but he has earned a reputation as a high quality player in the Bundesliga and is one of the club’s leading figures at Hoffenheim. He has also become the all-time top scorer in the club’s history. He surpassed the likes of Firmino, Volland, and Ibisevic, who all donned the Hoffenheim jersey.

Source: Transfermarkt