19. April 2025
Nikola Pokrivač (foto: Uradni Twitter profil kluba/zveze)
Former Bosnia international Admir Vladavić posts emotional farewell to Nikola Pokrivač after the Croatian’s tragic death at age 39.
The football world is mourning the sudden and heartbreaking loss of Nikola Pokrivač, the former Croatia international who died at age 39 following a tragic car accident in Karlovac. Pokrivač, a fighter who had previously overcome a serious illness three times, leaves behind a legacy of resilience and friendship.
Among the many tributes pouring in from across Europe, one message from Bosnia and Herzegovina has struck a particularly emotional chord.
Admir Vladavić, a former Bosnia international and Pokrivač’s teammate at RB Salzburg, shared a deeply touching farewell on Instagram.
“So long, my brother. Save me a place in your team…”
“I can’t remember a moment in my life that shocked and froze me like when I read the heartbreaking news that my friend and brother Nikola had died,” wrote Vladavić.
“I was in shock, unable to say a word. We respected each other. We loved each other… My dear Nikola, you were brave, passionate, and always full of joy. A giant of a man. Pure positivity. You will be missed.”
In closing, Vladavić left a message that moved countless fans:
“Goodbye, my brother. Save me a place in your team, wherever you are. Love from your ‘brate Boske’, as you used to call me. My deepest condolences to the Pokrivač family.”
Clubs and former teammates pay tribute
RB Salzburg, where Pokrivač played alongside Vladavić and won the Austrian Bundesliga, also issued a statement expressing condolences to his family and former teammates. Other clubs from his long career — including Dinamo Zagreb, AS Monaco, Hajduk Split, and NK Zagreb — have done the same.