Dinamo Maksimir: Goalkeeper Crisis Revolution and Defensive Disaster!
Dinamo has undergone a massive player overhaul this summer. Fifteen players left Maksimir, while ten new signings arrived, plus several players returned from loans. However, despite refreshing all lines, the goalkeeper position remains a nightmare.
Goalkeeper Drama Without End
Dinamo has four goalkeepers with serious experience: Ivan Nevistić, Nikola Čavlina, Ivan Filipović, and Danijel Zagorac. Theoretically, competition is fierce, but in practice, the situation is catastrophic. Zagorac, a backup goalkeeper for nine years, earns around 1 million euros annually — madness for someone mostly on the bench and aged 39. The club desperately wants to get rid of him, but who will offer such a contract?
Filipović arrived last summer but was loaned to Šibenik and is now again on loan or transfer. Čavlina is too good for the bench but had an unsuccessful loan at Osijek last season. Nevistić is the clear first-choice goalkeeper but suffers from chronic back problems and missed about 20 matches in the last two seasons.
Defense: A Bottomless Hole
Last season, Dinamo earned only 65 points — the lowest since the league adopted this format. Although they were the most efficient team with 69 goals scored, they conceded 41 goals, 20 more than champions Rijeka! By this measure, they were only the fourth-best defense in the league. Problems with defensive transitions, poor marking of return passes, and an unstable defense line were obvious.
Goalkeepers were near the bottom of the league in most parameters — a disaster for a club with Dinamo’s ambitions. Being a Dinamo goalkeeper is a unique and stressful role, where you are expected to be perfect in just a few interventions per match. Nevistić was bought in winter 2021 for 3 million euros as a replacement for Livaković but had a debacle in Prague where Dinamo conceded four goals and was eliminated from the Europa League.
What Next?
Dinamo has few options. They must quickly decide who will be the first and second goalkeeper and give them full trust. All goalkeepers have experience, but the question is whether they can handle the pressure that comes with the Dinamo jersey. If the form continues, the goalkeeper issue will become the number one priority at Maksimir.
Conclusion
Dinamo has made huge changes in the squad, but the goalkeeper position and defense remain the biggest headache. With catastrophic results and injury problems, the question is whether this season will bring better days or Maksimir will once again look back with sorrow.
Got your own take on this goalkeeper drama or know someone who could solve this puzzle? Drop a comment and join the fun — maybe you’re the missing piece in Dinamo’s goalkeeping nightmare!
