Marko Rog

Marko Rog ( born 19 July 1995) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Dinamo Zagreb on loan from the Italian club Cagliari, and the Croatia national team.

Early career
Rog started his senior football in 2013 with NK Varaždin, which was coming off being suspended in the 2011–12 season due to financial difficulties. The club, previously in the Prva HNL, were allowed back in at the 3. HNL, where Rog was Varaždin's top goalscorer, scoring 17 times in 30 league matches, as his side finished 7th.

He moved to Croatian First Football League side RNK Split in the summer 2014 for an undisclosed fee, though it did not help Varaždin, which folded in 2015 (no relation to the NK Varaždin (2012) club). On 28 July 2014, Rog made his professional debut for RNK Split playing against Istra 1961. His first and only season with Split was highly successful, scoring nine goals in 44 appearances.

Dinamo Zagreb
In June 2015, Rog joined Dinamo Zagreb. He signed a five-year contract with the club for a reported fee of €5 million; a record transfer for the Croatian league. On 12 July 2015, aged 19, he made an official league debut for Dinamo Zagreb, coming on as a substitute for Ante Ćorić in a first league game of the season against Hajduk Split on the home stadium and also received a yellow card in the game.

Napoli
On 29 August 2016, Rog joined Serie A side Napoli on a five-year contract. He scored his first goal for the club in 3–1 win over Atalanta on 27 August 2017. All 28 of his games in the 2017–18 season which he played in Serie A were played from the substitutes' bench, as were all of his other matches, except from one match in the UEFA Europa League and two matches in the Coppa Italia. He was versatile in this season, playing in the right and centre of midfield, and at centre forward, at various stages in the campaign. He scored one goal (against Atalanta) and made one assist (against Red Bull Leipzig). He received 4 yellow cards and played 251 minutes of football.

Rog made 1.2 tackles and 1.1 fouls per match in Serie A in the 2016–17 season as well as partaking in 1.2 dribbles per match in 373 minutes of game time, and in 2017–18 made 0.4 tackles and 0.4 fouls per game and made 0.4 dribbles per game in 251 minutes of game time, and in 2018–19 made 1.3 tackles and 1.3 fouls per match as well as 0.6 interceptions (his highest of any season), and 0.9 dribbles per match. He scored once for Napoli in the 2018–19 Serie A. He made his most starts for Napoli in the league in 2018–19. His passing success rate was always high in the league, ranging from 87.5 to 91.6% over the three seasons in the league. He has featured little in Europe for the Neapolitans.

Sevilla (loan)
On 29 January 2019, Rog joined on loan to Spanish La Liga side Sevilla until 30 June 2019. Rog started his first two matches for Sevilla in La Liga in defeats against Barcelona and Huesca. He also started in a 3–0 loss to Leganés and a 2–0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. He made six further appearances in the league from the bench. He featured in three matches in the UEFA Europa League. At Sevilla, his passing success rate was 86.4% and he was given two yellow cards.

Cagliari
On 17 July 2019, Cagliari bought the footballer from Napoli. Rog joined Cagliari on loan with an obligation set at €18 million including bonuses.

Return to Dinamo Zagreb
On 12 February 2024, Rog returned to Dinamo Zagreb on loan until the end of 2024.

International career
On 12 November 2014, Rog made his international debut for the Croatia national team against Argentina coming as an 84th-minute substitute for Duje Čop. He was part of the Croatian squad at the UEFA Euro 2016 in France. He was in the starting lineup for the team's final group match, a 2–1 win against Spain, which was his only appearance at the tournament.

A regular member of the Croatian squad during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Rog made five appearances as a substitute. In May 2018 he was named in Croatia's preliminary 32-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia but did not make the final 23.

Style of play
Rog is regarded as highly talented prospect. He is most played in the attacking midfield and winger roles. Regular starting in the central attacking midfield position to build up play with his creative and sharp passing, he has been compared to the likes of Ivan Rakitić. However, Rog's explosive strength and pace make a him a very different player altogether. Rog is aggressive and has extreme balance making him very difficult to knock off the ball, but also allowing him to pressure and win balls either deep or higher up the pitch. Napoli utilizes Rog in this way.

Rog has the freedom and ability to drop deeper into a central defensive midfield slot where he can tackle and win balls with his aggression. Thereafter, he is given the freedom to either drift wide and open up space for his side to counter-attack in to or run directly at the opposition defense towards goal.

Honours
Dinamo Zagreb
 * Prva HNL: 2015–16
 * Croatian Cup: 2015–16