Mateo Erceg, just 29 years old, is already on the brink of a major European career! The youngest elite referee of the Croatian Football Federation is set to make his debut tonight as the main referee in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Yes, you read that right – 29 years old and already officiating matches on the European stage!
So far, Mateo has served as the fourth official in Champions League and Europa League qualifying matches, and now he finally gets the chance to lead the match between Armenian Ararat and Belarusian Neman. Alongside him will be three other Croatian referees – Hrvoje Radić, Ante Čarolina, and Bojan Zobenica, proving that Croatia has a serious referee school.
Mateo has officiated 44 matches in the First and 45 matches in the Second Croatian League, and made his First Croatian Football League debut on March 15 this year in the match between Istra and Dinamo. He has twice officiated the Dinamo vs Hajduk derby, and after one of those matches, he received praise from Bruno Marić, who called him “absolutely the best individual on the pitch.”
Interestingly, before becoming a referee, Mateo worked as a driving school instructor, a job he left when he enrolled in the HNS talent program. His story is proof that persistence and hard work can lead to great things, even in the world of football referees who often remain in the shadows of players.
This is a moment to celebrate Croatian football and its referees! Mateo Erceg is not just a referee; he is a symbol of a new generation that will carry Croatian football onto the European stage. If you think referees are boring and unimportant, think again – Mateo proves that they can be stars too!
So, dear readers, what do you think? Will Mateo become UEFA’s new favorite? Or will the pressure break him? Drop a comment, spark a debate, and show how much you know about football and refereeing! Because hey, who says referees can’t be stars? Mateo’s debut tonight is just the beginning – follow him and don’t miss the chance to be part of this refereeing revolution!
