Adrian Segečić granted Croatian football citizenship

The Croatian Football Federation successfully completed the procedure before FIFA’s Player Status Chamber, which approved Segečić’s change of football nationality from Australian to Croatian. Segečić previously represented Australia at the U-23, U-20 and U-17 levels.

Segečić began his senior career with Sydney FC, and since 2025 he has been a member of Portsmouth F.C.. This season he has made 30 appearances in the Championship, the second tier of English football, recording five goals and two assists. He plays in attacking midfield roles, including both wing positions.

Segečić will join the Croatia U-21 national team at the upcoming March gathering, where they will face Turkey in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.

“We received FIFA’s decision with great satisfaction and look forward to welcoming Adrian to the environment of our young national team. I would also like to thank our technical director Stipe Pletikosa and the Federation’s administration, who once again did an excellent job in communication with the player and FIFA.

I am pleased that Adrian and his family chose to play for Croatia, which speaks volumes about the patriotism present in our diaspora, but also about the image the Croatian national team has in the world - not only because of its quality and results, but also the unity and atmosphere that attract young players,” said the president of the Croatian Football Federation, Marijan Kustić.

“It wasn’t easy to make this decision because I grew up in Australia, which I represented at youth levels, so I would like to express my gratitude to the coaches and teammates with whom I shared the dressing room.

However, my family is from Croatia and I feel a connection to the Croatian people. I felt the desire to represent Croatia as my homeland. I thank the Croatian Football Federation for their dedication during this process - I clearly felt the desire from people in the Federation for me to become part of the Croatian football family.

I am looking forward to joining the squad of head coach Ivica Olić with the U-21 national team, whose staff also includes Niko Kranjčar, who left a big mark at ‘my’ Portsmouth. I will continue to work hard to fulfil my football dream of playing for the senior Croatian national team,” said Segečić.

“First of all, I would like to thank Adrian and his family for the pleasant communication we had during this period. Without their clear desire, there would be no point in entering such a process in which we invested significant effort, because we firmly believe Adrian’s talent has a clear perspective in the senior national team.

Of course, it is up to Adrian to continue working as he has done so far, which I do not doubt considering everything he has shown in his career. It will be great to see him in the Croatian jersey very soon with the U-21 national team, where I am convinced he will be a major reinforcement.

I would also like to thank president Kustić for the support he provides in our work, as well as the legal team that presented this case to FIFA in a high-quality manner. Now we can look forward to what Adrian will bring to Croatian football,” concluded the technical director of the senior and U-21 national teams, Stipe Pletikosa.

In the photo: Marko Bagarić, Steve Segečić, Adrian Segečić (Memorial of Croatian Defenders, 2018)

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