Željko Adžić

NSL Career: Melbourne Croatia 38 (24) / 1989 - 1989/90

Socceroos Career: 1 (0) B International

Croatia Career: 1 (1) A International

Rarely did the NSL get to see foreign players who would go on to bigger and better in their post-NSL career. Croatian Željko Adžić came to Australia at the age of 23, with his best football still in front of him. Possessing excellent ball skills and a high football IQ, Adžić always seemed to have time on the ball and was a deadly finisher.

Although the exceptionally talented forward was relatively unknown before arriving in Australia - the NSL was fortunate to have Adžić for two whole seasons - leaving with the best goals-per-game ratio in NSL history (record was broken only by Mark Viduka). Adžić was the first footballer to represent both Australia and another country at senior level.

Adžić started his professional career with Yugoslav First League club Dinamo Zagreb as an 18 year old after progressing through their youth ranks. Adžić made a solitary first team appearance for the club at the age of 20 before moving to Canada, where he joined semi-professional side Hamilton Croatia in the Hamilton & District Premier Soccer League.

Following his stint at Hamilton Croatia, Adžić joined amateur league club Hamilton Steelers, who had played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League in the past. A new professional league was formed in 1987, the Canadian Soccer League, in which the Steelers became a foundation member. Adžić became one of the stars of the league as he helped Steelers reached the play-off final.

Adžić remained with the club for another season, scoring 14 goals in 26 league game as the Steelers reached consecutive play-off finals. In 1989, Adžić received an offer from Australia to join NSL club Melbourne Croatia, who were coached by Ivan Ražnjević who had previously coached in North America.

After missing the first eight games of the 1989 NSL season, Adžić burst out of the blocks, scoring 11 goals in 16 games during the regular season before scoring in Croatia's elimination final and minor semi-final matches. During the 1989/90 regular season, Adžić's ability to score and his intelligent passing game saw him score 11 goals and create numerous chances as he became the first recipient of the Johnny Warren Medal (replaced the NSL Player of the Year award).

Following the final round of the 1989/90 NSL regular season, Croatia accepted a huge $50,000 offer for the attacking midfielder from his former club Dinamo Zagreb - effectively leaving a massive hole in the Croatia midfield for the finals series. During the season, Adžić earned a Socceroos cap, playing in a B international against Russian club Torpedo.

Adžić returned to Dinamo and became a key player as they competed in the Yugoslav First League for the last time. As Yugoslavia began to split in to independent states, Dinamo changed their name to HAŠK Građanski and left the First League (before the start of it's final season) to join the newly formed Croatian First Football League where Adžić scored the competition's first ever goal.

Following his second season at the club, who changed their name to Croatia Zagreb, Adžić made his full international debut for Croatia, scoring in a three-one victory over Ukraine. Adžić won a league championship and Croatian Cup with Zagreb before moving to Spain to play for Segunda División side Hércules. After a season in Spain, Adžić returned to Croatia where he had stints at Hrvatski Dragovoljac and Inter Zaprešić before finishing his career in Israel's Liga Leumit with Hapoel Beit She'an - hanging up his boots at the of 33.