Obituary – Croatian Volleyball Federation President Ante Baković
News
It is with deep sadness that the European Volleyball family has learned of the death of Mr Ante Baković, President of the Croatian Volleyball Federation, who passed away on Friday night in Zagreb after battling with a serious illness. Baković, who was born in Tomislavgrad, what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina, was responsible for reviving Croatia’s Volleyball after taking over the reins of the Croatian Volleyball Federation in 2017. At that time, the Federation was dealing with major financial difficulties and heavily indebted.
Mr Baković was a respected businessman, a multiple recipient of awards he received in connection with his role in the Homeland War (1991-1995), a tireless sports worker and a true lover of Volleyball. He was born on May 14, 1967, in Tomislavgrad, where he completed primary and secondary school, and in 1991 graduated from the Faculty of Traffic Sciences in Zagreb. He participated in the Homeland War from 1991-1995 and was awarded with the Memorial of the Homeland War, the Memorial of Homeland Gratitude, and the Order of the Croatian Wicker. By decree of former President Franjo Tuđman, he was awarded the rank of Major of the Croatian army.
He started his great sports career in 1993 as the President of HAOK Mladost, and he stayed in Volleyball until his last days. Volleyball was, along with his family, which he loved immensely, his life. In 2002, he became a member of the Assembly of the Zagreb Sports Association and for the second time the President of HAOK Mladost. In that period, the club achieved numerous great successes on the domestic and international scene and did help grow some of Croatia’s greatest volleyball players. As President of the Croatian Volleyball Federation, he had to deal with a very difficult task - the hosting of the women’s European Championship in 2005 in Zagreb and Pula, at a time when the Federation was overloaded with the debts left from his predecessors.
The excellent organisation of the event was not enough to save the Federation from an inevitable bankruptcy, so in 2006 his term as President ended, but he remained a member of the Board of Directors through all phases - from the liquidation to the establishment of a new Federation.
A brand-new Federation started with him at the head in 2017. Back then, when he was re-elected as President of the Croatian Volleyball Federation, the organisation was again on the verge of bankruptcy, the national team was in bad shape and the domestic league was heavily disrupted. With a firm hand and a clear mind, unbiased or uncompromising decisions and serious financial restructuring, during his first mandate he brought a turnaround in Croatian Volleyball and raised the Croatian Volleyball Federation to the very top of Croatian sport.
After completing the financial stabilisation and the settlement of all outstanding debts, he succeeded in introducing a policy of invitation-only financial operations and for the first time in the history of Croatian Volleyball, the provided serious financial assistance to clubs and all stakeholders of the sport. Under his tenure, the Federation has introduced numerous innovations into domestic competitions, becoming an indispensable partner of both FIVB and CEV, and bringing numerous international competitions to Croatia. He introduced a new way of working with national teams of younger age groups, and at the head of the senior national team he brought top international experts under whose leadership the Croatian teams have achieved significant success and made progress on the international stage.
By the decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, he was appointed a member of the National Council for Sports; moreover, in October 2020, at the Assembly of the Croatian Olympic Committee, he was elected as a member of the NOC Council. He received an award for his successful work from the FIVB, and in the summer of 2020, he was again elected as President of the Croatian Volleyball Federation.
During his latest mandate, the Federation found a new home after the old premises were destroyed in an earthquake in March of 2020, and the women's Volleyball team qualified for the FIVB Volleyball Nations League, which was one of his greatest wishes and ambitions. He was with the national team in Zadar and celebrated that huge triumph with the players and staff.
The European Volleyball family extends the most heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, as well as to all members of the Croatian Volleyball community. May he rest in peace.