David Zdrilic

NSL Career: Sydney United 114 (39) / 1993/94 - 1996/97

Socceroos Career: 30 (20) A Internationals

One of the best football talents ever produced in the NSL, David Zdrilic was a skilful forward with brilliant positional sense and was an excellent finisher who terrorised defences along with his strike partner Ante Milicic before making his way to Europe.

Zdrilic played for a number of junior clubs, including Sydney Croatia's junior affiliate King Tom before joining St George where he made his first team debut in the NSW Super League at the age of 19. Zdrilic's obvious talent was noticed by NSL club Sydney United who signed the promising young attacker for the 1993/94 season where he became a versatile regular - playing as a full-back, wide midfielder and forward.

In his debut season at the club, Zdrilic helped the side qualify for the finals series for the first time since 1988, losing two-one on aggregate to Adelaide City in the elimination semi-final before playing in United's losing NSL Cup Final against Parramatta Eagles. Former NSL player Branko Culina took over as United coach for the 1994/95 season and instituted an attractive style of play with a squad that included former club juniors such as Zeljko Kalac, Tony Popovic and Ante Milicic.

Zdrilic thrived in the team and became one of their regular goalscorers as United reached the minor semi-final. Zdrilic played in all but one game during the 1995/96 season where United qualified for the finals series for the third consecutive season. The talented forward scored 10 goals in 35 league games during the season - including a goal in the first leg of United's elimination semi-final against Brisbane Strikers. In the 1996/97 season, Zdrilic became the most dangerous forward in the league - combining with strike partner Ante Milicic to score 39 goals during the regular season. 

Scoring the majority of the goals with 21 in 26 games, Zdrilic won the NSL Golden Boot as United finished minor premiers. Zdrilic's impressive goal scoring form led to his first Socceroos call-up, making his full international debut against New Zealand. United's brilliant playmaker and Johnny Warren Medallist Krešimir Marušić contributed greatly to the side's strike force and found Zdrilic from a corner in the preliminary final who then headed the ball in to the path of Milicic to send United in to their first NSL Grand Final since 1988. 

United faced Brisbane Strikers in the grand final - who had also never won a championship - but were unable to get over the line as the Queenslanders stormed to a two-nil victory. Following his free scoring season at United, Zdrilic received an offer to join Swiss giants Grasshoppers, who loaned him out to Swiss Nationalliga A side FC Aarau for the 1997/98 season. 

A regular in the Aarau side that finished fourth in the league, Zdrilic then moved to Germany where he would spend a season in the Bundesliga and the 2. Bundesliga each with both SSV Ulm 1846 and SpVgg Unterhaching. While playing in Germany, Zdrilic got his first Socceroos call-up since 1997, becoming a regular in their 2000 and 2001 fixtures where he scored 18 goals in 19 appearances - including eight scored in Australia's world record-breaking 31-nil victory over American Samoa during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. 

Zdrilic scored seven goals in 38 Bundesliga appearances and 12 goals in 40 appearances in the 2. Bundesliga before heading to the UK. Zdrilic spent a season with English First Division side Walsall before joining Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen. Despite the Scottish club finishing second-to-last in the 2003/04 season, Zdrilic was re-called to the national team for the first time since 2001 before returning to Germany with 2. Bundesliga side SV Eintracht Trier 05. 

Zdrilic spent half of the 2004/05 season at the club before signing for new franchise club Sydney FC for the inaugural A-League. Sydney won the 2005 Oceania Club Championship as the last Australian club to participate in the competition. Zdrilic captained the side and finished the tournament as top scorer, which included a goal in the final.

Zdrilic spent three seasons at the club where he won the inaugural A-League Championship (missed out on the finals series) before retiring from top flight football. The striker returned to former club Sydney United for the 2009 NSW Premier League season before hanging up his boots at the age of 35. 

Following his retirement, Zdrilic became a NSW Premier League coach and football pundit before becoming an assistant coach - having stints in the A-League, Bundesliga, MLS, Belgian Pro League and currently Serie A. Zdrilic was selected in Sydney United's 50th Anniversary All Stars Team.