Norwich City fans will always remember Daniel Farke's first signing - He was a free-kick wizard & promotion hero | OneFootball

Mario Vrancic signed for Norwich City in June 2017 and was the first signing under Daniel Farke at the Canaries

Mario Vrancic became the first signing of Daniel Farke during the German's tenure as boss at Norwich City, and became a memorable figure in the Canaries midfield across his four years in Norfolk - particularly for his dead-ball ability.

Having come through the youth system at German club Mainz 05, it took Vrancic a while to really kickstart his career in professional football.

The six-cap Bosnia & Herzegovina international played a large portion of his early career with Mainz's second side, and would only make nine appearances for their first team before joining Borussia Dortmund's second team in January 2011.

Vrancic would score 16 goals in 47 appearances for Dortmund's second team in his one-and-a-half years at the club, before joining Paderborn in the summer of 2012.

He'd spend three years as a regular for Paderborn between the second and first tier, before two years at Darmstadt in the Bundesliga caught the interest of Championship side Norwich City and their new German coach, Daniel Farke.

Mario Vrancic signed for Norwich City as an unknown quantity in English football - and left as a firm fan favourite

Vrancic joined the Canaries in the summer of 2017 for an undisclosed fee, and subsequently became the first signing under Farke at the club.

The Bosnian's start to life in Norfolk began slowly, as although he played the full 90 minutes on his debut in Norwich's 1-1 away draw to Fulham, he was dropped for the next match at home to Sunderland, which ended in a 3-1 defeat.

Vrancic was brought back into the starting fold for the Canaries' third game of the season, which ended in a 2-0 home victory over Queens Park Rangers, assisting Portuguese forward Nelson Oliveira for the opening goal.

The Canaries would ultimately finish 14th in the Championship in Vrancic's first season at the club, with the midfielder scoring once and assisting just twice in 35 league games in his debut campaign, but he was about to shoot into life.

The following season, Vrancic was a man reborn. Although he would miss the opening six games due to an injury and not start a game until matchday 16, the former Bosnian international would prove to be an integral component in the heart of Norwich's midfield and produced some clutch and memorable moments.

Teeing up Teemu Pukki for a 97th minute winner at home to Millwall in a 4-3 victory, two strikes away to Leeds United in a 3-1 win, and a 96th minute free-kick against Sheffield Wednesday to make the game 2-2, which effectively sealed promotion for the Canaries, are just a few of the moments of magic the Bosnian produced that season.

Vrancic would end the 2018/19 season in a flurry, scoring three and assisting two in the final four games of the league season as Norwich clinched the Championship title ahead of Sheffield United by five points, with the midfielder pivotal in those efforts.

He would end the season with ten goals and seven assists in 36 Championship appearances. Impressively, he only started 14 games all campaign, having struggled with a calf injury and torn ankle ligaments; his minutes were limited.

If he had been fit and firing all season, Norwich could have won the league at an absolute canter.

Vrancic would appear sparingly in the Premier League for Norwich, making just 20 appearances and clocking just over 600 league minutes, but following their relegation, he would help them to promotion once more, scoring three times and grabbing five assists in 32 Championship appearances.

Upon his second league title in four years, Vrancic would leave Norwich in the summer of 2021 and join Stoke City, where he would spend a solitary season in the Championship, though it is with the Canaries where he is most fondly remembered.

After winding down his career in Croatia with Rijeka and his native Bosnia and Herzegovina with Sarajevo, the 36-year-old is currently with Eintracht Frankfurt's second team as an overaged player, mentoring the younger players.

Vrancic still keeps an eye on Norwich to this day, telling the Pink Un in October 2024, "I follow them every weekend and in every game.

"I was there for years and it was the best time in my career. I love the club and team, and I'm still in touch with some of the players, so I follow them a lot.

"I just think about the Norwich fans, games and times. In the beginning, my performances weren't great, but afterwards, they gave me so much love. When you get that, it's easier to pay it back. That's what I did."

The Bosnian was never a foregone starter at Carrow Road in any of his four years at the club, but his moments of magic will always live long in the memories of Canaries supporters, with his exploits crucial in their two Championship-winning campaigns.