The Croatian Football Association confirmed that Nicolas Boukervak had died in a car accident in his country of origin.
The 39 -year -old midfielder played with Dinamo Zagreb, such as Monaco and RB Salzburg during his career and won 15 international matches from 2008 to 2010.
Pokrivac was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015, forcing him to retire from professional football.
But he returned to amateur football in 2021 and joined the NK Vojnic team in the lower league last summer.
Local media said he was in a car with three of his teammates from NK Vojnic when they were involved in the collision of four vehicles in Carlovak in central Croatia on Friday evening.
A 42 -year -old was reported in another car, while the occupations of the Bukhravek car were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
“Nicolas was a great soccer player, he lived football until his last recent moments in this world, which showed great courage in life by overcoming a terrible disease,” said Marjan Kostch, president of the Croatian Football Association.
“This is a great loss for our soccer community, especially a painful family.”
Pokrivac played in Euro 2008, where Croatia reached the quarter -finals, and England has twice in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
“It is impossible to find comfort words at this shocking and sad moment that cannot be imagined when we lost a little life,” Kostic added.
“I can only express my deepest condolences to the Nicolas family and their loved ones for this irreparable loss, and HNS [the national football association] The Croatian football family will be with them in these most difficult moments. “
