Ivan Bašić hails from the coastal town of Split in Croatia. From the Varoš area, he’s a 31-year-old defensive midfielder who's known for his calm and intelligent presence on the field. Bašić has played in many countries around the world and is now playing in the USA for Manhattan Football Club. He excels at breaking up play through his smart positioning and aggressive interceptions. He’s modeled his game on players like Claude Makelele and Gennaro Gattuso. Off the field, Bašić is a big fan of MMA. Living in Manhattan, Ivan has access to some of the best MMA gyms in the world, including Renzo Gracie Academy in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Midtown. He often spends his weekends exploring the city's vibrant MMA scene and attending events at Madison Square Garden or Barclays Center. He also likes basketball and particularly enjoys watching the NBA. His favourite Croatian NBA player is Bojan Bogdanović.