Josip Biškić

NSL Career: Melbourne Croatia/Knights 281 (34) / 1984 - 1996/97

The architect of Melbourne Croatia's successful sides in the mid 1980s and early 1990s. Looking back, it's incredible to think that during Biškić's time in Australia the national team selectors didn't pick such a talented foreign player at his peak. Biškić mainly operated on the right hand side of the pitch during his career in Australia, owing to his accurate crossing ability, but was just as inspirational in the middle of the park. The talented midfielder pulled the strings for his team - reading the play better than anyone else and exercising patience on the ball before finding a team mate in space.

 Biškić started his junior career with Babina Greda in Croatia before joining Osijek.  Biškić progressed through the ranks of Osijek before making his first team debut at the age of 18 in the Yugoslav First League. Biškić then spent the next three seasons at lower division clubs Slavonski Brod and Borovo before receiving an offer to join Australian club Melbourne Croatia in 1982.

Playing for Melbourne Croatia in the Victorian State League, Biškić made an instant impact - helping the club finish runners-up in the 1982 and 1983 seasons. In 1984, Melbourne Croatia joined the NSL and Biškić carried over his VSL form by winning the club champion award as Croatia reached the Southern Conference Preliminary Final. 

Biškić was a consistent performer for Croatia during the late 1980s despite the club missing out on the finals series in three consecutives seasons between 1986 and 1988. Moving in to his thirties, Biškić improved with age and helped Croatia reach their first preliminary final since 1984 despite an injury-interrupted 1989/90 season.

The experienced midfielder's best football came in the early 1990s as he helped Croatia reach their first grand final in the 1990/91 season, pulling the strings from right midfield and won the Joe Marston Medal despite his team losing the match on penalties. The following season Biškić won the Johnny Warren Medal, outclassing opponents with his skill and football intelligence, but played in consecutive losing grand finals as Croatia signed their third coach in as many seasons.

The coaching changes continued at Croatia as the side dropped to tenth place in the 1992/93 season before the club changed their name to Melbourne Knights and brought in former Dinamo Zagreb coach Mirko Bazić to lead the team. Biškić benefited from his countryman's football philosophy and helped the club finish minor premiers before playing in his third NSL Grand Final, losing one-nil to Adelaide City.

Knights continued to improve under Bazić and won the 1994/95 NSL Cup in which Biškić scored in the final. Following the cup victory, Biškić decided to accept an offer to play for Selangor in Malaysia's Liga Perdana - missing out on Knights' first NSL Championship after the side beat Adelaide City two-nil in the grand final.

After two seasons in Malaysia, Biškić returned for a short stint at Knights before returning to the Victorian Premier League to join Heidelberg for the 1997 season. Following a season with Heidelberg, Biškić joined Fawkner where he spent four seasons as a player while splitting his time as Knights assistant coach and head coach during the 1998/99 and 1999/00 seasons. Biškić hang up the boots at the age of 42 and remained at Fawkner as coach before having stints at Knights, Doncaster Rovers and Preston. For his contribution to Knights as a player, Biškić was named vice-captain in their Team of the Century.

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