A relative newcomer to senior international football with Croatia, Ivo Iličević has spent his entire career to date in Germany, the country in which he was born. A versatile midfielder with an eye for goal, he has played for three Bundesliga clubs – VfL Bochum 1848, 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Hamburger SV.

• Born in Germany to Bosnian-Croat parents, he left local club Viktoria Aschaffenburg for then Regionalliga Süd team SV Darmstadt 98 in January 2005.

• After eight goals in 44 league games for Darmstadt he was signed by Bochum and made his Bundesliga debut against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on 12 August 2006, his first goal coming the following month in a 2-1 win at home to DSC Arminia Bielefeld.

• Moved on loan to second-tier SpVgg Greuther Fürth in January 2008 and remained there for 18 months, establishing himself as a Croatian Under-21 international and even earning a first call-up to the senior team in September 2008.

• Spent the 2009/10 season on loan at Kaiserslautern, where he proved a hit, helping the club win the 2. Bundesliga and return to the top flight; his reward was a permanent contract and a heightened profile that earned him a first senior cap for Croatia in October 2010 against Norway; his first goal for Slaven Bilić's side came on 9 February 2011, his third appearance, in a 4-2 friendly triumph over the Czech Republic.

• Joined Hamburg on transfer deadline day in August 2011 but managed only 11 starts and two goals in his first season with the club.