‘Cool frog’ Vlasic never wanted to be called Blanka’s little brother: ‘And it worked out’
NOS Football–
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Arthur Huizinga
editor of NOS Sports
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Arthur Huizinga
editor of NOS Sports
If it comes down to penalty kicks tonight in the Nations League semifinal between the Netherlands and Croatia, there is a good chance Nikola Vlasic will be the first to run to the spot.
Indeed, the midfielder did the same at the World Cup in Qatar against Japan and Brazil. Both times he shot flawlessly. “He’s a real cool frog. But here on the bench they die a little bit every time.”
Speaking is Ruben Van Gucht, who you may know as the tall, blond sports presenter from Belgium’s Sporza. The Belgian knows exactly how things go in the Vlasic family during important matches, as he is the brother-in-law of the Croatian soccer player.
Last year Van Gucht married Blanka Vlasic, multiple world champion and the best high jumper of her generation. And the 14-year older sister of Nikola Vlasic.
Van Gucht travels the world as a sports reporter and presenter. He reported on the World Cup in Qatar and the Olympic Games in Tokyo. And he makes documentaries. This is how he met his great love.
The couple married in Split in May 2022. “At our wedding I met Nikola for the first time, I think. Of course, as a soccer player, he hardly ever has any time off, and I’m also on the road a lot for work. But at the really important moments he is there.”
Blanka is the oldest of the four children in the Vlasic family. Nikola, the youngest, is now 25 years old and already has some nice clubs behind his name: Hajduk Split, Everton, CSKA Moscow, West Ham United.
With the latter, he reached the semifinals of the Europa League last year. This year he could have played the final of the Conference League, were it not for the fact that he had been let out to Torino in the summer.
“Nikola had about ten days of vacation last summer. He had rented a boat to sail with the family from island to island. But he wanted so badly to be top fit for the league start that he went off the boat every day for three, four hours to go train with his dad,” Van Gucht says.
Father Josko was himself a deserving decathlete and mother Vlasic also competed in top sports. They passed on not only their genes, but also the work ethic. “Josko trained Blanka from an early age,” he said.
Torn by emotion
Nikola was also trained by father Josko, who prepared him for top soccer. This week in the Netherlands he can play his 50th international for Croatia and that for his 25th.
In 2021, he scored the opening goal at Hampden Park against Scotland, helping his team to the eighth finals of the European Championship. And at the last World Cup in Qatar, he almost made it to the final.
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Instagram | @blankavlasic_official
An Instagram post by Blanka Vlasic on her youngest brother Nikola’s 18th birthday. -
Instagram | @blankavlasic_official
Blanka Vlasic with father (and trainer) Josko in 2014. -
Instagram | @blankavlasic_official
Blanka Vlasic and her brother Marin as fanatical supporters of brother Nikola before the European Championship game with Spain in Copenhagen.
Yet it was only a hair’s breadth away from Croatia’s elimination in the group stage. Indeed, in the final group game, the Croatians faced the Red Devils, who had started the World Cup disastrously.
Van Gucht was torn by emotions that night. With a win, the Belgians would still advance and put Vlasic on the run to Split. But deep in his heart, that was where Van Gucht most wanted to be.
“Twelve days before the World Cup in Qatar, our son Mondo was born. I really wanted to go home, but I couldn’t as long as the Belgians were in the tournament.”
It ended 0-0, allowing the Croats to advance to the eighth finals. Vlasic did not appear in action against his brother-in-law’s country. A telling hug followed afterwards. “It was fortunate for me, because I was able to go back to my son,” he said.
Watch the clip from that evening’s Belgian World Cup broadcast, played on Ruben van Gucht’s own laptop (in Split):
Joy, disappointment, relief: hug full of meaning between Van Gucht and Vlasic
When Croatia faced Japan in the eighth finals, Van Gucht sat on the bench in Split with Blanka and baby Mondo. And the same was true in the quarterfinals against Brazil.
In both games, penalty kicks had to bring the decision. Both times Nikola Vlasic (number 13 on the back) stepped forward first. “Then you also see how family can die of nerves. We watch it as supporters. But they look with the eyes of a mom or a sister.”
“When he hit that penalty kick against Brazil, I remember Blanka saying with relief, ‘I don’t care anymore if they are eliminated.’ Nikola scored, he can’t be blamed for anything”.
Steel nerves: Vlasic does not hesitate at first penalty kick in quarterfinal against Brazil
“Nikola is super stress-resistant. Apparently he had that before. He was the youngest ever captain of Hajduk Split, at eighteen. Then, too, he blithely fired in a decisive penalty kick for Champions League qualification.”
“Maybe that also has to do with the fact that he went all the way through Blanka’s career growing up,” Van Gucht suggested. “He got used to the top sport and also the stress that comes with it.”
In the background, Blanka interferes in the conversation again. “From an early age, his goal was never to be called Blanka’s little brother. He succeeded. I am now Nikola’s sister.”
