The sadness over the surprising and far too early death of Zlatko “Zizo” Kranjčar is still great. In March, the SK Rapid had received the news of the sudden death of the most accurate legionnaire in the club's green and white history, who had scored 132 competitive goals in 269 competition games.
In honor of the great Rapidler, the Hütteldorfer started a fundraising campaign to set an example for him and his family and to do good at the same time, as Rapid President Martin Bruckner emphasizes: “We are more than an association, SK Rapid is one Community. Zizo Kranjčar was one of the greatest players ever to play for SK Rapid. I still remember my youth when I admired Zizo as a great player and legionnaire with the most goals. He has a place in our hearts and the fundraiser is a signal to him and his family that we will never forget him “.
Head coach Didi Kühbauer's team therefore appeared in special warm-up sweaters on March 7th at the away derby, which were printed with a message to Zizo Kranjčar. “Thank you for everything, Zizo” could be read in German, Serbo-Croatian and Slovenian. The sweaters were then auctioned at the SK Rapid online auction, where numerous Rapid people took part. Now the final result is clear: after rounding up by SK Rapid, a total of 10,500 euros was raised! These go to Zizo's homeland, Croatia, which was hit by a devastating earthquake at the beginning of the year and where help is urgently needed. At the special request of Zizo's family, who are touched and grateful at the great sympathy, the amount goes to the Vrbina Sisak children's home. Niko Kranjčar, who was also a player at SK Rapid as a child, has agreed to hand over the donation personally, as a bonus we will also send him some donations in kind to Zagreb.
“Many, many thanks to the many Rapid fans! 10,500 euros were raised in the course of the auction, we have also rounded up the amount a little as SK Rapid. We are in close contact with Zizo's son Niko and are now complying with the family's wishes to support a children's home in Croatia with the donation. Once again, the fundraising campaign is impressive proof that the Rapid community has a big green and white heart and that Zizo was a real Rapidler, whom we will always treasure. We are proud of what he has achieved “, says SK Rapid Business Manager Christoph Peschek.
