Ivan Meštrović, born 21 January 1979 in Osijek, is the NK Osijek co-owner and president, as well as the first Croatian owner of a professional Italian football club, Santarcangelo, where he also holds the presidency.
Leaving his hometown to study in Zagreb in 1997, Meštrović proceeded to Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2008 to run his business ventures in eight Central European and Middle East countries.
His main business focus has then shifted from logistics and financial management towards football: first through privatization of NK Osijek in 2016, and later through 100-percent acquisition of Italian side Santarcangelo. Santarcangelo was founded in 1926 and is currently competing in Serie C.
In Croatia, Meštrović has become one of the leading figures in football infrastructure invenstments, including the Pampas, the NK Osijek youth academy - the biggest modern infrastructure project regarding youth academies in Croatia, encompassing a roofed stadium with 1500 capacity and nine pitches covering 37 acres.
He is also the manager of the NK Osijek's new stadium construction (10,000 capacity), set to be completed in 2020.
Speaking three world langauges, and supported by business contacts in various countries, Meštrović is pioneering the idea of Croatia's national stadium. From January 2018, he is actively trying to accomplish this mission as a special advisor to HNS president Davor Šuker.
