1 - TOO SHY TO STAND ON GOAL
Ivo began practicing football even before school days. He was under seven when joined Dalmatinac, and in the age of nine moved to Hajduk.
"I wanted to be a goalkeeper from the very first day. Actually, from second day, because first day we all played in a field, and I was to shy to ask can I stand on goal. Later, my father said to coach Duško Vulikić 'kid wants to be a goalie'. My first coach was Igor Vukman, and eventually I bonded the most with Vladimir Balić.
I passed all age categories in Hajduk. I am satisfied with my status. I'm goal keeping in Hajduk 2, and was prepared to grab this chance, after Lovre Kalinić's injury. It won't be too hard to go back to Hajduk 2. Kalinić is ahead of me as the best Hajduk's goalie, but I believe in me, and I know my days will come," says Ivo.
2 - KAHN'S JERSEY AND PLETIKOSA'S PARADES
Ivo's boyhood idol was Oliver Kahn, a legend of Bayern Munich and Germany team. He got Kahn's jersey once on a family trip to Munich, and still keeps it as a souvenir. He reveals that he played in that shirt as long as he could put it on.
"When as a child I went to Hajduk's matches I admired Stipe Pletikosa. Of all Hajduk's goalies, he is my all-time favourite," says Grbić.
Today, he has several goalkeepers he really respect. Number one is Hugo Lloris of France, followed by Belgian Thibaut Courtois, and close to them are Kaylor Navas and Jan Oblak.
3 - DEDICATION TO A FAMILY
Family is Ivo's the biggest support. His father Josip underwent a difficult heart surgery right on a day of Ivo's debut vs. Rijeka on Poljud.
"Surgery went well, and father watched match from Koprivnica online. He said that half of his life passed through his head during the game, and he was delighted when it finished."
4 - LUCKY NUMBER 13
Ivo says that he had chosen number 13 only because there were no other goalkeepers' numbers available.
"One of the reasons I took it was that I heard a tale of number 13's symbolism when visited Virgin Mary pilgrimage in Lourdes. I was really moved with that story.
I am not the only goalkeeper with number 13 on a jersey. Oblak, Courtois and Navas also have it. I like that number, I would like to have it for the rest of my career," says Grbić.
5 - A MAN WHO SAVED REAL'S PENALTY KICK
Ivo doesn't consider himself a penalty kicks specialist, although he did saved quite a few of them when played in younger categories.
Once on a tournament in Donetsk, Ukraine he saved a penalty kicked by Real Madrid's player. Back then he was a goalie for Hajduk's young team, coached by Igor Tudor. On its way to the finals, Hajduk had beaten Zenit, Manchester City, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
"We lost finals to Shachtar, and in semi-finals I saved a penalty kick to Real's player," says Grbić.
He reveals his secret recipe:
"I watch player into his eyes, and make s step to the right. He usually thinks I will go to that side, but I change sides and go to the left. But that was the case so far. In the future, players will need to think carefully if I decided to change my tactics," says young Hajduk's goalie Ivo Grbić cheerfully.
