Lovro Zvonarek is considered a great midfield talent, but only plays in the fourth-rate reserve at FC Bayern Munich. Ivica Olic, assistant coach of the Croatian national team, therefore recommends a change to his 18-year-old compatriot.
“He has to move to a higher level, play in a better league if he wants to develop further,” says Olic, who was also once active for Bayern Munich SPOX and GOALS. Zvonarek is still under contract in Munich until 2025, a loan deal would be conceivable.
Gabriel Vidovic also suggested that Olic leave Munich. After an unfortunate loan to Vitesse Arnheim and two break-ups as consultants, the 19-year-old Croatian U21 national player should no longer have any prospects in Munich.
At just 16, Zvonarek became the youngest captain of a European first division club at his youth club Slaven Belupo. Last summer, the Croatian U19 national player switched to FC Bayern for 1.8 million euros. “He’s a super talent. I really liked him when he played in the Croatian league,” says Olic. “Personally, I think he would have been better off staying in the Croatian league for a year or two. Then he would be even better.”
FC Bayern Munich: Lovro Zvonarek scores in the comeback
In the first half of last season, Zvonarek oscillated between the starting XI and the bench for the Munich reserves, mostly as a right winger. He has four goals and two assists in 17 appearances. “He integrated very quickly and already speaks good German,” praised the then coach Martin Demichelis in an interview with SPOX and GOAL.
In winter, Zvonarek was allowed to fly to the training camp in Qatar with the pros, and coach Julian Nagelsmann even brought him on in the friendly against RB Salzburg in mid-January (4-4). However, due to ankle problems, he then missed the entire second half of the season.
At the start of the Regionalliga Bayern season on Friday, Zvonarek celebrated his competitive comeback. In coach Holger Seitz’s 4-2-3-1 system, he started on ten against Wacker Burghausen and scored to make it 1-0 in the fourth minute. The game ended 3:3.
