Josko Gvardiol’s Military-Style Training Ahead of the World Cup

In summer 2025, Josko Gvardiol joined a four-man team led by advisor Stipo Dubravac for a simulated commando operation with 27 former special-forces troops. The drill required infiltrating a mock communications tower, planting a dummy bomb and neutralising a simulated terrorist, using night-vision goggles, a fast boat through a 200-metre canyon, wall-scaling, replica firearms and supervised live-fire exercises, with a medical team on standby. Dubravac calls it “adrenaline-based” training to improve football performance.

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Gvardiol, a 24-year-old centre-back, joined Manchester City from RB Leipzig in August 2023 and became a defensive mainstay under Pep Guardiola. A leg fracture in early January 2026 sidelined him until May; he returned on crutches, smiling and focused on recovery. His form has attracted Bayern Munich interest, and he is weighing a new City contract while staying in Manchester.

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Key participants include Gvardiol, his advisor Stipo Dubravac (ex-Croatian security officer), the Croatian marines who supplied the Commando Squad 9 experience, teammate Abdukodir Khusanov, and Croatia internationals Dominik Livakovic, Josip Sutalo, Martin Baturina and Marco Pasalic, who follow similar routines. Red Bull recently named Gvardiol an athlete.

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The drill involved 27 former special-forces personnel, each with combat experience in two wars. A four-man team navigated a 200-metre canyon. Gvardiol’s post-injury treadmill session lasted 45 minutes to offset a chocolate doughnut’s calories.

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Dubravac says controlled adrenaline exposure lets Gvardiol recognise his physiological reactions under pressure, providing a structured challenge similar to elite football. He stresses the aim is self-control, not reckless excitement, and that his broader role is to create a calm, distraction-free environment for precise tactical preparation. The Red Bull partnership highlights Gvardiol’s willingness to undertake high-risk activities as part of his performance plan.

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• “For Josko, adrenaline-based activities are not an escape from football; they are a tool for better football,” — Stipo Dubravac

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• “When he is exposed to adrenaline in a controlled environment, he learns how his body and mind react under pressure, and that helps him understand himself better.” — Stipo Dubravac

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• “The point is learning to control yourself when the body naturally wants to react with panic.” — Stipo Dubravac

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The drills aim to sharpen Gvardiol’s situational awareness, decision-making speed and emotional regulation—key attributes for a defender on the edge of risk. By extending the same disciplined habits to teammates such as Livakovic and Sutalo, the Croatian squad builds collective focus that could improve cohesion in high-stakes matches.

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Gvardiol will start Croatia’s World Cup opener against England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. After the tournament, Sutalo and Baturina plan to join him in similar military-style drills, suggesting the program will continue beyond the World Cup.

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