Position: Midfielder
Born: 15.10.71
Club: Hertha Berlin

The elder brother of team-mate Robert, Niko Kovac made his name for the national team as a 'minder' for playmaker Robert Prosinecki.

He has enjoyed a long Bundesliga career with four major clubs, collecting Champions League experience and silverware along the way.

Like his brother, Niko was born in Berlin and qualifies for Croatia through his parents.

The Kovac siblings played together at Bayer Leverkusen before Niko left to join Hamburg in 1999, playing a key role as the club exceeded expectations in qualifying for the Champions League.

He left Hamburg for then European champions Bayern Munich in the summer of 2001 but was unable to play more than a bit-part role for Ottmar Hitzfeld's team.

He was even reunited with Robert for his second season in Bavaria but still failed to settle and returned to Hertha Berlin - the club he started his career with - in the summer of 2003.

An elder statesman in this squad, captain Kovac brings a presence and experience which will be much-needed if Croatia are to progress.