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Ivan Rakitić Facts & Worksheets

Ivan Rakitić is a Croatian-Swiss football player who plays as a midfielder for the La Liga club Sevilla

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Ivan Rakitić is a Croatian-Swiss football player who plays as a midfielder for the La Liga club Sevilla. He is considered as one of the greatest Croatian footballers in history.

See the fact file below for more information on Ivan Rakitić or alternatively, you can download our 26-page Ivan Rakitić worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE

  • Ivan Rakitić was born on March 10, 1988, in Rheinfelden,  Aargau, Switzerland. 
  • Ivan’s parents are Croat. His father Luka is from Sikirevci in Croatia. His mother Kata Papić is a Bosnian Croat. 
  • Rakitić was raised in Möhlin, Switzerland. His parents moved to Switzerland because of the tension in Yugoslavia.
  • He has a brother named Dejan who is a football manager. He also has a sister named Nikol.

CLUB CAREER

  • Though Ivan’s talent was noticed by foreign football teams, his family decided it would be best for him to stay in Switzerland. He spent his youth career with Möhlin-Riburg and FC Basel.
  • Ivan debuted for FC Basel’s first team in 2005 at a UEFA Cup match. In 2006, he debuted in the Swiss Super League. 
  • During the 2006-07 season, Rakitić was a reliable goal scorer for the team. 
  • He was declared the Swiss Super League Young Player of the Year and was awarded with Goal of the Season. FC Basel also won the Swiss Cup.
  • Ivan gained the attention of several European clubs. He transferred to the German team Schalke 04 in 2007. He soon proved to be a reliable midfielder and goal scorer. 
  • Ivan helped his club qualify for the Champions League as his team finished third in the Bundesliga.
  • Rakitić transferred to the Spanish Club Sevilla in 2011. He immediately debuted in the starting XI. He became a regular goal scorer for the team.
  • During the 2011–12 season, Ivan was utilized as a defensive midfielder. Sevilla finished ninth in the league.
  • The following season, Rakitić had the sixth-most assists in the league.
  • In the 2013–14 season, Sevilla won the UEFA Europa League and finished fifth in La Liga. Ivan had the eighth-most assists in the league. He also became the captain of the team.
  • Ivan was the January 2014 player of the month in La Liga. He was also named in the UEFA Europa League and La Liga Teams of the Season.
  • Ivan transferred to FC Barcelona in July 2014. He debuted for the club against the French team Nice.
  • Rakitić quickly contributed assists for the team. He scored his first goal in September 2014.
  • His first season with Barcelona was successful as the club won the La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League. Rakitić was included in the La Liga and Champions League Teams of the Season.
  • FC Barcelona defeated Sevilla and won the 2015 UEFA Super Cup. They won the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup over River Plate. The team also won the La Liga and Copa del Rey.
  • FC Barcelona defended their Copa del Rey in the 2016–17 season. They also won the Supercopa de España. The following season, they won both the La Liga and Copa del Rey.
  • The 2018–19 season was also successful as Barcelona won the La Liga and Supercopa de España. 
  • Rakitić’s playing time was lessened in the 2019–20 season following the arrival of Frenkie de Jong. In September 2020, Rakitić returned to Sevilla.

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

  • Rakitić’s represented Switzerland in the under-17, under-19, and under-21 levels. He transferred to Croatia and debuted for their senior team in 2007. 
  • Ivan participated in the Euro 2008 tournament. He was known for being part of a trio of Croatian attacking midfielders alongside teammates Luka Modrić and Niko Kranjčar.
  • Ivan was the 2015 Croatian Footballer of the Year and 2015 Croatian Sportsman of the Year.
  • Rakitić participated in the Euro 2012, 2014 World Cup, and Euro 2016. Ivan was included in Croatia’s squad for the 2018 World Cup. They finished second after a 4-2 loss to France.
  • On September 21, 2020, the Croatian Football Federation announced Rakitić’s retirement from international duty.

OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL

  • Rakitić married Raquel Mauri, a Seville local, in April 2013. They met in a bar but initially struggled due to their language barrier. 
  • In July 2013, their daughter Althea was born. Their second daughter, Adara, was born in May 2016.
  • Ivan speaks Croatian, German, Spanish, English, French, and Italian.
  • Rakitić possesses both Croatian and Swiss citizenship.

Ivan Rakitić Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Ivan Rakitić across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Ivan Rakitić who is a Croatian-Swiss football player who plays as a midfielder for the La Liga club Sevilla.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Ivan Rakitić Facts
  • Meeting Ivan
  • Team Rakitić
  • Knowing the Legend
  • Where’s the Lie?
  • Perfect Team
  • Mix and Match
  • Head to Head
  • Coloring Clubs
  • According to Ivan…
  • Exclusive!

Frequently Asked Questions

 Where was Ivan Rakitić born?

Rakitić was born in Rheinfelden, Switzerland to Croat parents. His father Luka Rakitić is from Sikirevci in Croatia, while his mother Kata is from Ponijevo near Žepče. He grew up in Möhlin, canton of Aargau, and has a brother named Dejan and a sister named Nikol.

Did Rakitić retire?

Ivan Rakitić is retired from international football. The 32-year-old former Barcelona player was a key member of the Croatian side that made it to the 2018 World Cup final in Russia before losing 4-2 to France. In a statement released on social media, Rakitić said: “It has been an honor and privilege to represent my country – I have done so with pride.”

How many trophies has Rakitić won?

Rakitić won 13 titles while playing at Barça. This includes four La Liga, four Copas del Rey, and a Champions League.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.