According to “Varzesh3,” Zvonimir Boban, the football legend of Croatia and former captain of Dinamo Zagreb, has returned home after nearly 40 years and has been appointed as the chairman of the club’s board. This news, initially published by the Croatian sports newspaper “Sport Novosti,” was later confirmed by Dinamo’s official statement on social media.

Boban, who shone at Dinamo before moving to AC Milan and became one of the best midfielders of his generation, is now ready to bring his experience and love to serve Croatia’s most prestigious club.

Boban’s appointment was finalized after a meeting with Dinamo’s senior executives and the formal invitation of Velimir Zajec, the club’s current president. Zajec emotionally stated, “Love for the only club knows no borders, love for the only club has no obstacles, love for the club unites all its lovers. Today, I invited our legend to return to Croatian football and our Dinamo. Zvone, welcome home.” This message, signed by Zajec, sparked a wave of excitement among Dinamo fans.

According to Croatian media reports, Zvonimir Mamic, the former chairman of the board, immediately resigned to make way for Boban. Although Dinamo’s official statement did not specify Boban’s exact role, sources confirm that he will serve as the first person on the board. The 56-year-old Boban, born in Imotski and recently working as an analyst for Sky Sports, had expressed his high motivation to return during his meeting with Zajec. This decision brings him back to an emotional and pivotal point in his career.

Boban’s return to Dinamo, the club where he grew up and became a national symbol of Croatia, comes at a critical juncture. Dinamo, the champion of the last seven Croatian league seasons, has faced challenges this season and is looking to rebuild after the dismissal of Fabio Cannavaro in April. Boban, with his experience and charisma from managing AC Milan and UEFA, can bring Dinamo back to its glory days.

This appointment is not only historic for Dinamo but also for Croatian football. Fans, who still cherish the memory of Boban’s brave move in 1990 against the police during the controversial match with Red Star Belgrade, are thrilled about their hero’s return home. Boban now faces the challenge of leading Dinamo on a new path, but his endless love for his only club promises a new chapter for the Blues of Zagreb.

The match that sparked the war! On May 13, 1990, Zvonimir Boban, the 21-year-old captain of Dinamo Zagreb, became a symbol of Croatian resistance when he kicked a police officer during the controversial match against Red Star Belgrade at Maksimir Stadium. The match, which was tense due to political and ethnic tensions in Yugoslavia, was stopped after 10 minutes due to severe clashes between fans and police intervention. Boban, witnessing the beating of a Dinamo fan, jumped and kicked the police officer, showing his anger at the injustices, an act that cost him a place in the 1990 World Cup but made him a national hero in Croatia.

This clash, accompanied by riots in the stadium, stone-throwing, and tear gas, is seen as a turning point in the path to the Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001), which left over 100,000 dead. Although Boban later emphasized that the match was only a reflection of Yugoslavia’s social realities and not a direct trigger for the war, images of him kicking the police officer, later revealed to be Bosnian, became a symbol of the Croatian struggle for independence.

This moment, along with the presence of stars like Davor Suker in Dinamo and future talents of Red Star, doubled the historical significance of the match. Boban, who later won four Serie A titles and one Champions League with AC Milan, never expressed regret for his actions, calling it a fight for freedom.

This incident, which brought 65 fans to court and injured hundreds, including 79 police officers, is still alive in Croatia, with many fans preserving images of it. Although some believe the match’s role in the war is exaggerated, according to Stevan Stojanovic, Red Star’s goalkeeper, that day was a sign of Yugoslavia’s impending collapse, a reality that immortalized Boban in Croatian history.