Dragan Žilic
Encyclopedia
Dragan Žilić is a retired Serbia
n football goalkeeper.
to HNK Rijeka caused a minor sensation as it marked the first occasion in a very long time that a player of Serbia
n ethnicity moved to a Croatia
n club. Already 30 years of age at this time, Žilić earned a place in the first team right away, helping his new club with a series of confident goalkeeping displays. Simultaneously off the pitch and sometimes even on it, he was the victim of constant verbal abuse from the nationalist elements of Rijeka fans. They threw flares at him, threatened him with violence and displayed match day banners that read: "Žilić, out of Rijeka, and out of Croatia".
Over time the abuse toned down and the fans mostly managed to tolerate his presence on their team. His standing in fan eyes improved as he played well during Rijeka's 2005–06 run
in the Croatian Cup
that ended with the club lifting the trophy. On 29 November 2006, Žilić scored a 92nd minute header versus NK Konavljanin
that got Rijeka into the 2006–07 Croatian Cup
semifinals.
By fall 2008, Žilić's role in the club got marginalized as he lost his first team spot and got demoted to as low as training with juniors. During the 2008–09 winter transfer window he moved to Slovenia
n club ND Gorica
.
Rijeka
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n football goalkeeper.
Rijeka
During the summer of 2005, Žilić's transfer from FK SmederevoFK Smederevo
Fudbalski klub Smederevo is a Serbian professional football club based in the city of Smederevo.-History:...
to HNK Rijeka caused a minor sensation as it marked the first occasion in a very long time that a player of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n ethnicity moved to a Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n club. Already 30 years of age at this time, Žilić earned a place in the first team right away, helping his new club with a series of confident goalkeeping displays. Simultaneously off the pitch and sometimes even on it, he was the victim of constant verbal abuse from the nationalist elements of Rijeka fans. They threw flares at him, threatened him with violence and displayed match day banners that read: "Žilić, out of Rijeka, and out of Croatia".
Over time the abuse toned down and the fans mostly managed to tolerate his presence on their team. His standing in fan eyes improved as he played well during Rijeka's 2005–06 run
2005–06 Croatian Cup
The 2005–06 Croatian Cup was the fifteenth season of Croatia's football knockout competition.-Calendar:-Preliminary round:The preliminary round was held on 31 August, 2005.-First round:Matches played on 21 September, 2005.-Second round:...
in the Croatian Cup
Croatian Cup
The Croatian Cup is an annually held football tournament for Croatian football clubs and is the second most important competition in Croatian football after the Prva HNL league championship. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation and usually runs from late August to May...
that ended with the club lifting the trophy. On 29 November 2006, Žilić scored a 92nd minute header versus NK Konavljanin
NK Konavljanin
NK Konavljanin is a Croatian football club based in Čilipi....
that got Rijeka into the 2006–07 Croatian Cup
2006–07 Croatian Cup
The 2006–07 Croatian Cup was the sixteenth season of Croatia's football knockout competition.-Calendar:-Preliminary round:The preliminary round was held on 30 August, 2006.-First round:Matches played on 20 September, 2006.-Second round:...
semifinals.
By fall 2008, Žilić's role in the club got marginalized as he lost his first team spot and got demoted to as low as training with juniors. During the 2008–09 winter transfer window he moved to Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n club ND Gorica
ND Gorica
ND Gorica is a Slovenian football club, playing in the town of Nova Gorica. They are one of the most successful Slovenian clubs with four Slovenian League, two Slovenian Cup and one Slovenian Supercup titles. Together with NK Maribor and NK Celje they are the only club that have participated in...
.
Honours
Sartid Smederevo- Serbia and Montenegro CupSerbia and Montenegro CupThe Serbia and Montenegro Cup is a defunct cup tournament. The competition was formed in 2003 after FR Yugoslavia had changed its name to Serbia and Montenegro on February 4, 2003. The format from this tournament did not change at all from that of the Yugoslav Cup the only difference was the name...
: 2002–03
Rijeka
- Croatian CupCroatian CupThe Croatian Cup is an annually held football tournament for Croatian football clubs and is the second most important competition in Croatian football after the Prva HNL league championship. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation and usually runs from late August to May...
: 2005–06
External links
- National Football Teams
- Dragan Žilić at 1hnl.net
- Dragan Žilić at prvaliga.si
- Dragan Žilić at reprezentacija.rs