Vlado Kasalo


Vladimir 'Vlado' Kasalo is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

After representing NK Osijek and Dinamo Zagreb in his country, Kasalo was sold by the latter to Germany's 1. FC Nürnberg, for 1 million Deutsche Mark. In his second season, he infamously scored two consecutive own goals in as many matches: on 16 March 1991, at VfB Stuttgart and on 23 March, against Karlsruher SC. He was suspected to have done that on purpose to pay off his gambling debts, although it was never proven.
Kasalo retired in the same country at only 31, with 2. Bundesliga's Mainz 05.

International career

Kasalo's only cap for Yugoslavia came in a friendly against the Soviet Union, on 29 August 1987. He added two for newly formed Croatia, in the 1990 friendly games against the United States, the nation's first, and Romania. Both unofficial, since Croatia was still part of Yugoslavia at the time.