Zdravko Lujić

NSL Career: Footscray 241 (43) / 1978 - 1988

Football heroes don't always play for winning teams. Some of them represent a team's culture with undeniable pride and passion. Zdravko Lujić was Footscray JUST's games and goals record holder in the NSL, playing for the club in all but two of their seasons in the NSL and was arguably their greatest player in the competition.

Coming to Australia as a professional player - Lujić possessed lightning speed, impeccable crossing ability and scored many goals. Lujić's style of play would have also suited the modern game, in a 4-3-3 formation, as he was one of the NSL's greatest wingers and goal providers.

Lujić, like most Yugoslavian children at the time, began playing street football before joining the youth ranks of Yugoslav First League side Sloboda Tuzla. Lujić later joined Vojvodina Novi Sad before becoming a regular at Jedinstvo Brčko. Footscray coach and former player Čedo Ćirković noticed Lujić while in Yugoslavia when the winger was playing in the Yugoslav Second League for Jedinstvo and signed him for the 1978 NSL season. Lujić made an immediate impact playing alongside talented footballers such as Zoran Ilioski, Drago Vasić and Joe Picioane.

The left-footed winger terrorised defenders with his pace and skill, even when playing out from the back, but the cash-strapped Footscray struggled to get results and remained in the bottom half of the table. Lujić decided to return to Jedinstvo Brčko in 1981 but was coaxed by the Footscray management to return and help the club avoid relegation halfway through the season.

Lujić helped the side keep their spot in the competition, but infighting put a strain on the team and they finished near the bottom once again in 1982, with the club changing coaches four times during the season. The club's small budget continued to effect the team's performances against the bigger NSL clubs, with their highest finish being eighth between 1983 and 1985.

Lujić however was having his best seasons in front of goals, scoring 19 goals in 75 league games, as well as contributing a number of assists and became captain of the club. In 1986, Yugoslavian football icon Dragoslav Šekularac came to Australia to coach Footscray and acquired the services of talented young Red Star Belgrade player Vlada Stošić for the season. 

Šekularac completely turned things around, with the club finishing second in the Southern Conference (their first top-four finish in the league). With the support in midfield from quality players such as Stošić, Vlado Bozinovski and the league's U-21 Player of the Year Ernie Tapai - Lujić led the team to the Southern Conference Final after scoring a late winner against Brunswick in the preliminary final. 

Footscray lost to Adelaide City before failing to build on their successful 1986 season the following year. Lujić remained at Footscray until midway through the 1988 season when he moved to Victorian State League side Bulleen. Lujić spent two seasons at the club before having stints at Fawkner and finally Oakleigh - hanging up his boots at the age of 37.