User:Hrvatska23/sandbox

Mark Rubelj (Marko Rubelj, ; born 31 August 2005) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder who plays for Werrington Croatia FC and the Croatia national team, though he has occasionally been utilised as a striker and creditable for his winger abilities in situations necessary.

Club career
Rubelj was born in Zagreb, Croatia to Croatian parents. He started his career with local side Mt Druitt Town Rangers from a young age, where he was spotted by several scouts from higher prominent clubs including Sydney United 58 and Marconi Stallions. Unfortunately he was met with constant severe injuries from a young age of 13 and he was forced to cease seeking for a professional career from coaches and medical professionals, who doubted his future.

After coaching junior years and over-35's teams at his father's former team Werrington Croatia FC, he was able to recover and build his physical strength and passion for football and was motivated to play professionally again, indicating his return to those around he knew.

In January 2023, he signed for Werrington Croatia FC as a developmental player in the first grade squad due to his unexpected return, stating it is the best to slowly build his experience, he cited to give the club the best opportunity possible for it's success and stating to win their local league and the first win in the annual Australian-Croatian Soccer Tournament for the club. He also mentioned the possibility of the squad entering the Australia Cup and a promotion/entrance to NSW League Two, with very promising signs being shown from pre-season games.

International career
Rubelj had dual citizenship with Croatia (by birth) and Australia (by descent from father), and was eligible to play for both however opted to play for Croatia, with his reasoning due to the injustice against Croatian clubs by Football Australia, hence he declined any call up to the Australian national team.

Rubelj had an unexpected call up to the Croatia national football team during Zlatko Dalić's tour of Sydney and Melbourne in January 2023 after being highly praised and talked about within the Croatian community in Sydney for his skill and determination, Dalic stated that he noticed Rubelj's skill and felt he was ready to compete on a national level and would be featured in the national team, with Rubelj expected to start in international friendlies scheduled in Australia and to feature in the UEFA Nations League finals games.

Personal life
Rubelj hails from a prominent family. His father Marko Rubelj is from the Zadar County region of Croatia in Dalmatia, he stated his family moved to Rijeka when he was young, he is one of 5 brothers. Like most men during his time, he was conscripted to the Yugoslav People's Army however was able to evade the country and regime as Croatia was under the communist led dictatorship of Yugoslavia as the intense atrocities and war crimes against Croatians by Yugoslavia and serb rebels and Chetniks were growing and a house owned by his father (Mark's grandfather) in the family's home village in Zadar county was burnt down to the ground by Serbian rebels and organisations. Hence his displacement like many ethnic Croats during that time to avoid the impending bloodshed of the Croatian War of Independence, he became a chief steward on the merchant navy and had several tours around the world, before settling with 2 of his brothers in Sydney, Australia during the 1980's. Marko visited Croatia occasionally after the country's independence. Mark's mother Vesna was born in Zagreb and was an accountant before migrating to Australia shortly after the birth of Mark.

Rubelj was born only 5 years after the bloodshed of the destructive and grim war, he is considered to be born in and as the 'golden generation' as a source of hope for those recovering after the tragic circumstances of the war. Football was used as an escape for those affected by the war and brought unity during a tough time for all families. Rubelj states that the war still impacts him and his family greatly and always will in his life and that it was a tough time for his family but it has definitely shaped who he is as a person and his enormous pride and passion for the sport and his country. His and all of his teammate's aggression towards football is credited to the impacts of the war.

Rubelj grew up in Sydney, Australia and he states he faced racism and discrimination due to his ethnicity as he was living in a white Anglo dominant suburb through growing up in school, however he stated he didn't let it impact his pride and passion of his country. Growing up, he stated he trained often with Giga Kalac, the father of famous Croatian Australian Socceroo goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac. Giga often encouraged Rubelj to keep playing for his country, he often thanks Giga for believing in him and always encouraging him during challenging times.

He is a devout Roman Catholic. He speaks Croatian and English fluently. He has mentioned Luka Modrić, Josip Šimunić and Zeljko Kalac as his idols growing up.