Five years since the passing of our Slaven Zambata, popular 'blue number nine'

He was strongly attached to Dinamo until the last moment, emotionally following every match and the moves of his successors, fervently commenting on the performances of each player. That was our Zamba, the popular "blue number nine", one of the greatest Dinamo players of all time, a stylish forward, the captain of the celebrated generation that won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1967, a competition that eventually evolved into the UEFA Cup, today's Europa League. He was one of those who built and created the history of our club... This Wednesday, October 29, marks five years since our Slaven Zambata, the celebrated forward and captain, but above all a friend, left us forever.

A photograph with a smile as a symbol of positive spirit, with a ball and a trophy, but also with a tie as an illustration of sporting success and gentlemanly demeanor. Such a, in many ways characteristic and symbolic shot, adorns his final resting place in the Alley of Giants at Mirogoj cemetery. On this occasion, Dinamo's delegation, led by honorary president Velimir Zajec, laid a wreath and lit candles there, remembering the giants of the golden history of the Maksimir club.

He was born on September 24, 1940 in Sinj, and his love for the blue color was ignited by his first coach in his hometown, Branko Dragaš, a former big fan of Građanski, who knew the greats of the Zagreb club like Franjo Wölfl, Milan Antolković, Ivan Jazbinšek... Fate wanted Jazbinšek to be Zambata's first coach at Dinamo, and that Antolković himself later affirmed him in the starting lineup.

When in the summer of 1964 Dražan Jerković and Željko Matuš went to the army, Zambata, at just under 24 years old, became the youngest captain in the club's history up to that point.

After spending 10 years at Dinamo, he played three years in Belgium: two in Waregem, along with Marijan Brnčić, a teammate from the days at Maksimir, and one in Crossing. He then briefly returned to Dinamo, but after several injuries and two surgeries, he went to Villach in Austria where he ended his career in 1974.

With Dinamo, he played in the final of the KVG in 1963, four years later he won the cup, and also won four Cup winner titles: 1960, 1963, 1965, and 1969. According to his own records, he played 393 matches and scored 264 goals for the Maksimir club.