After retiring as a professional player, Pranjic managed Croatian lower league clubs Dubrava and Trnje, Bosnian sides Sloboda Tuzla and GOSK Gabela, as well as Cypriot club Achyronas-Onisilos.
Now 43 years old, he finds himself living with his family in Romania, where he is playing for and assisting lower-league club Adunatii Copaceni.
Pranjic spoke exclusively with Flashscore's Cristian Frisk about what it was like playing in some of Europe's best leagues and at some of the biggest clubs in the world, as well as about what has made the Croatian national team so strong in recent years and what makes Luka Modric so special.
Now in Romania, what are your plans with Adunatii Copaceni? Do you also dream of transferring, in the future, to a bigger, more visible club?
"Dreams? (laughs) Well, it's difficult to say that this is the dream or something. I came here to help them this season and after... I will not say I don't see myself here, but let's say that in my mind, it will probably be somewhere else.
"It's difficult to answer because my family is here, but of course, I was already a coach in First Division in Bosnia, I was a coach in Second Division in Cyprus, so I'm searching for something higher, let's say."
What can you tell us about the Romanian national team? They started qualification for the World Cup with two defeats. Do they still have a chance of qualifying?
"Well, for me it was a big surprise that in the first two games they didn't have success because I expected a little bit more, and it's never nice to start with two defeats. In football, you always have a chance, of course... but they will need to start from the next game, they need to start to win and to collect the points, otherwise it will be very difficult even now..."
What about Mircea Lucescu (Romania's coach), who at 80 years old continues to prove his remarkable vitality on the bench?
"Well, to speak about Lucescu is... For me, it's always difficult to speak about a coach when I don't know how he works, when I don't see what's happening inside the dressing room. But when you see his CV and his career over these 80 years, it's impressive, of course.
"But I would say this: football is changing a lot. Today, I'm always pro-younger coaches. So he has had a big career, a legend of Romanian football. But if you ask me, I would prefer to see somebody who is younger on the bench."
You played under many coaches. Which one would you choose as the best one, and which one was your favourite coach?
"Yes, I had many coaches in my career, and for sure the best one was Louis van Gaal at Bayern, and he taught me many things. He was the coach.
"Let's say it was always very, very difficult to work with him in the long run. So the first season is always good, and then the problems started because he was very tough and he was a perfectionist, he didn't accept mistakes.
"And for players like (Franck) Ribery, (Arjen) Robben, let's say big stars, it was always difficult to find balance and good language with them."
Do you want to give any details or clarify anything about your less glamorous period at Sporting CP?
"Well, Sporting, I have to say, amazing club, very big club. But my problem was that I came from Bayern, and this is the biggest club for me, one of the biggest in the world, especially with the organisation. And this was the big difference between Bayern and Sporting at that moment.
"Yes, I had a lot of problems there. I cannot speak about the things that happened because I signed the contract and I said that I would not speak about them. So you can understand that Sporting wanted to protect themselves also for the things they did.
"Let's say like this - I can go every day in Portugal and I can meet the people who were there in the club, the directors, the president, and I can look them all in the eyes. But I don't know if from the other side it would be the same. So on this, I will stop."
You spent six months at Celta Vigo, and the team will be back in the Europa League next season, after eight years. What do you think of the team this season? Did you enjoy their offensive style?
"Celta Vigo, yes, I went on loan from Sporting, and I was there for six months. Good memories. Good memories, nice life, nice city, nice stadium, nice people there, nice food. I really enjoyed those six months, really.
"The only problem was that the coach who wanted me got fired after only one game when I came there, and a new coach came. He didn't see me in his ideas and his vision, so I was there just six months, and I came back to Sporting, and then I went to Panathinaikos.
"Yes, when I see that they will play European football, of course, I'm happy for them because, as you know, in my CV it states that I played for Celta. And I didn't have any problems there. Really, I enjoyed it, so I'm happy to see them back in Europe."
How was the time you played for Panathinaikos? There are a lot of rumours about Greek football regarding the fans and the referees...
"Panathinaikos was a good period in my career. After Sporting, where I had a lot of problems, I decided to go to Panathinaikos, and it was a very good decision for me. Even when I came, Panathinaikos had a lot of financial problems.
"They changed almost the complete squad at that moment, so expectations for the season were not the best, but my period in Panathinaikos was amazing, really. I spent some nice time there, and I played good football again, and I enjoyed it.
"I can say about the Greek supporters, they are amazing, they are passionate, and they always give 100% when they support the team. The things that are maybe special there are that away supporters are not allowed. So if we play with Olympiacos at home, supporters of Olympiacos cannot come to the game because of the problems they have had in the past.
"So, they are really passionate when they support the teams, and this is the reason why away supporters are not allowed in the stadiums.
"For referees, well, I will say like this: the referees make mistakes, they are humans, and everywhere in every league you can see that referees sometimes make mistakes. They try to be better, and you see that also federations now they try to help them with the VAR with the videos and with many things, so I hope in the future we will not speak about referees because we need to have them on the pitch."
During what period of your career do you think you played your best football?
"I think I played my best football in Heerenveen, and that's why I won a transfer to Bayern Munich in this period. You know, when you have a feeling, when you go on the pitch, you can do whatever you want. And in my fourth season there, I had this kind of feeling. And really, I enjoyed every second on the pitch.
"And even now, when I go back, you can feel the energy between me and the people there and the club. So if I need to choose, I will choose this period of my career."
Read about Danijel Pranjic's experience in the Netherlands here!
What did you like more, playing for the club or the national team?
"You cannot compare, you cannot compare the two. Every second for the national team, for us Croatians, is something special, really. And I, of course, respect every club I played for, I support every club I played for, but playing for the national team was my dream.
"And that dream came true, and really I'm proud of every second I gave my heart in every game for the Croatian national team, for our people, and really this is an amazing feeling, a special feeling when you represent your family, your parents, your country."
With the Croatian national team, you went to the World Cup and the Euros. What memories do you have from these great competitions?
"Yes, I played the World Cup in Brazil, and this is always, you know, something special because for all of us, Brazilians play football a little bit differently than us, and it's a country of football, with a lot of amazing players in history, and it was a really special feeling to play there.
"I was unlucky that I got injured before the first game. It was the opening game against Brazil and I could not compete, I could not play this game and this was maybe one thing that if I could change I would change, but okay I was there the second and third game and I played also at the Euros and those were let's say the highlights in my career because this is what you go for when you start to play football as a child.
"Of course, you want to compete in the World Cup, in the European Championship, and my dream came true. I was there and I played with many, many good players against many good teams - really nice memories."
You played as a winger or midfielder most of your career, but in the Croatian national team, you played almost exclusively as a left-back. Was it a problem for you? Did you like playing there, or were you irritated because you always played out of your natural position?
"I was never irritated when I was on the pitch because I love football and I always wanted to be on the pitch. It doesn't matter which position. And I was a kind of player that, let's say, I was an all-round player. I could play many positions, and if I can analyse my style of football now, I would say that my natural position was left back.
"And if I played only this position all my career, I think I would be one of the best in this position because I had everything. I could run a lot. I was a very creative player. I had a very good technique, very good crossing. I could read the game very well.
"Today, if you see football, the coaches make tactical things with full-backs. If you have very good full-backs, you can build a game. Then your team has more advantages on the pitch, let's say. And maybe if I played today, I think a player like me would be very expensive."
The Croatian national team has literally exploded, reaching the World Cup podium twice in a row, in 2018 and 2022. Where does this special strength come from?
"This is difficult to explain, very difficult to explain because I think that we built this step by step, you know, from ‘98 when we were third in the world with the national team. After that came a new generation, and it was always difficult to live under these names. Boban, Suker, Boksic, Jarni. We all wanted to be like them, and it was always very difficult to achieve what they achieved.
"So we had many good games, but we always missed some things. And I think we learned during this period, we learned from our mistakes, and we learn how to win when you lose. Let's say in the European Championship in Austria, when we lost on penalties against Turkey, I think this game changed everything.
"It helped us a lot because if we would have won after we scored in the 119th minute for 1-0 in extra time - and then in the last second Turkey scored for 1-1 and then they won on penalties - if we would have won this game we would reach the semi-final and in the semi-final it was Germany there and we already played against Germany in the group stage and won, so the door was open to reach the final, but destiny was like this. We lost on penalties against Turkey, and it was really a big punch for the Croatian national team. Also for me and all my teammates.
"These memories, let's say bad memories in the dressing room, I will never forget, and these are the things that make you stronger. I think this game changed a lot in the careers of all players, especially Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, the players like them who played in Russia when we were second.
"And if you remember in this tournament, we won a lot of games on penalties. And that's why I think that this game against Turkey gave us a lot. So they knew, they knew how to react. They already lived through this kind of stress. And you know, when you, I follow this tournament on television, and you know when you have a feeling we cannot lose when it's penalties.
"So, yeah, we built this step by step, and now we have an amazing national team, and everybody who plays against us cannot say 100% that they will win, even the teams like France, Portugal, Spain. So this is an amazing achievement from all players of the Croatian national team."
What do you think about Modric, who, even at 39, is not thinking about retiring yet?
"Luka Modric, what to say about him? I can say just that I was happy to share the dressing room with him in the national team, and also to play some games against him when I was at Celta and he was in Madrid. Everything I say now is not enough. He is the best player in the history of Croatia. The things that he did with Real Madrid were incredible. It was not normal. Nobody expected that he would do this, but he did it.
"So, one small guy from one small, let's say, village in Croatia, he made something huge, and I can just say that we are still happy that we can see him on the pitch, even in this latter stage of his career. But the way he plays and how he takes care of his body is incredible, really. I think he can be an example for every player who wants to be a professional football player, especially for the young guys.
"Really, to say something more, it's nonsense. He is the best, and I'm happy that I will still see him at least one more season in AC Milan now, and to enjoy his skill in his view of football because it's totally different from all the others. He looks at football with different eyes. He sees some things that nobody sees. Really, I'm very proud that I shared the moments with such a big player and a big person."
As a child, you and your family went through periods of war. Do you have any memories from that time that you can share with us?
"At that moment, when the war started, we lived in Bosnia, and yeah, it's not nice memories, of course. My father went to prison, and for one month, we didn't know anything about him, so this was a difficult moment for our family, and we are just happy that he's alive and he's still healthy. And that's it. Not nice periods in my life.
"Because when I also see today what happened in the world, I don't understand the brains of people, of humans who decide that war is something good or that with war we can decide what is important, what is not important. I think that communication is much stronger than every weapon, and I think that people need to talk to each other to find solutions. War is not a solution for anything, so I hope that all these wars happening today will end soon."
Football has developed a lot lately and has become a mega industry. Do you think there is still room for growth in world football, in terms of marketing and sports?
"Yes, football changed a lot. And you see now, the players, they don't have time to rest. There are so many games, and it's really a huge business. A lot of money is involved. I don't know if this is good or not. I just know that football is a way of life, you know.
"...I think football is going a little bit in the wrong direction because now we create tournaments, we create new leagues, we create so many games just to satisfy the business, the money. And players want more money than the clubs and the people in the clubs. They need to find a way to bring the money into the team to pay the players. And then, of course, they need to create new tournaments, new games and everything that brings the money in.
"So, yeah, in my time, you know, it was a period when you had a break, when you could go with your family to the beach, at the sea, to rest, because your body is not a machine. You also need to rest. And now when you see you have the Club World Cup, I don't even follow this tournament because, also for me as a spectator, I need to rest a little bit from football. So imagine how it is for football players to not have a rest, to continue with the season and now, when that tournament is over, a new season starts. So it's very difficult.
"I think we need to find a solution for this and to change a little bit the way we are going now. But yeah, I don't think this will happen. I think that the people who are in charge will try to find more and more ideas, more and more tournaments, more and more games, and everything is about the money.
"That's it. It will change a lot, I think, also in the next 10 years. It will not be football as we know it. That's my opinion."