Manchester City scout Milan Holub has lifted the lid on the early stages of discovering Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol, revealing that the talented centre-back had been on his radar since his teenage years — long before he be
came one of Europe’s most sought-after defenders.
Gvardiol, who has become a vital figure in Pep Guardiola’s system at Manchester City, made the high-profile switch from RB Leipzig to the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £77 million. His versatility, allowing him to play both as a central defender and a left-back, has made him one of the club’s most consistent performers since his arrival.
Speaking to SportKlub in a recent interview, Holub detailed how he first came across the Croatian international during his youth career at Dinamo Zagreb — a time when Gvardiol was already generating buzz among European scouts for his technical quality and defensive maturity.
“Everyone has known about Joško since he was 15 or 16 years old,” said Holub, as translated and shared by CroatianFooty. “I first saw him when he played for Dinamo Zagreb, and definitely when he represented Croatia’s Under-17 national team in Denmark against England. But what I saw, others saw too — all the top clubs have similar scouting systems.”
Gvardiol’s story began in Zagreb, where he joined Dinamo’s academy at just eight years old. Over the next decade, he climbed the ranks before making his professional debut and eventually securing a move to RB Leipzig in 2020. During his time in Germany, he made 87 appearances and won the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in consecutive seasons, earning a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young defenders.
At just 19 years, 4 months, and 21 days old, Gvardiol became the youngest player ever to represent Croatia at a major tournament — breaking the record previously held by now-City teammate Mateo Kovacic during the 2020 European Championships. His performances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar further elevated his profile, as Croatia finished third and Gvardiol narrowly missed out on the FIFA Young Player Award to Enzo Fernandez.
His exceptional composure, positional awareness, and technical ability on the ball caught the attention of several top European clubs, but it was Manchester City — fresh off their historic Treble-winning campaign — who secured his signature in 2023. Since then, Gvardiol has been regarded as one of the world’s premier defenders and a key part of Guardiola’s evolving tactical setup.
FAQ
Q: When did Josko Gvardiol first come to Manchester City’s attention?
A: According to scout Milan Holub, Gvardiol was first noticed around the age of 15 or 16 while playing for Dinamo Zagreb and Croatia’s U17 national team.
Q: How much did Manchester City pay for Josko Gvardiol?
A: Manchester City paid approximately £77 million to sign Gvardiol from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2023.
Q: What major tournaments has Gvardiol played in for Croatia?
A: Gvardiol represented Croatia at the 2020 UEFA European Championship and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where his team finished third.
Q: What makes Gvardiol special as a defender?
A: His composure, ability to play out from the back, and versatility to operate both centrally and on the left make him one of the most complete defenders in modern football.
Conclusion
Josko Gvardiol’s journey from Dinamo Zagreb’s academy to Manchester City’s elite defensive line is a testament to exceptional talent, early recognition, and top-tier development. With scouts like Milan Holub spotting his potential early, Gvardiol’s career has followed a remarkable upward trajectory. As one of the youngest and most composed defenders in world football, his presence continues to strengthen City’s backline — and his story remains a reminder of how foresight in scouting can shape the future of football’s biggest clubs.