Vedran Rožić

Vedran Rožić

Personal information
Date of birth	2 November 1954
Place of birth	Trogir, FPR Yugoslavia
Playing position	Defender, Sweeper
Youth career
	Slaven Trogir
¸1969-1972	Hajduk Split
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1972–1984	HNK Hajduk Split	305	(1)
1984–1989	Croatia Sydney FC
National team
1978–1983	Yugoslavia	10	(0)
Honours Men's Football Representing  Yugoslavia Mediterranean Games 1979 Split Team
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Vedran Rožić (born 2 November 1954 in Trogir, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia) is a former Croatian football player and Hajduk chairman. He played 12 years at Hajduk Split and with 390 official caps, he is the most capped player in Hajduk history. He played 10 times for Yugoslavia. He played with the team at the 1979 Mediterranean Games.^[1]

Hajduk Split

He started he's youth career at Slaven Trogir. Thanks to the scouting of Vojmir Kačić, he quckly came to Hajduk Split. Vedran made he's debut in November 1972 against Sloboda Tuzla. He was the youngest member of the Hajduk golden generation and would be the last one of them to leave the club later.

Rožić played technicly beautiful football and at the beginning he played as a left back. During the Branko Zebec years, he played in the midfield. Later he became a left center back where he was good at attacking counter play and had good marking against enemy strikers.

Later in he's career he played as a sweeper. He played the Backenbauer role perfectly. He was known for he's elegance in front of the keeper. He could easily jump in the 11 meter box and return the ball to the keeper. Many defenders in Yugoslavia would try to copy that style.

He was not an aggressive player, he didn't talk much to the press and was very moderate. During the 70s when Hajduk players such as Šurjak,Mužinić and Žungul were superstars, he would drive every day after training to he's house in Trogir and would ignore the media attention.

He won the Yugoslav league in 1974,1975 and 1979. He also won five Yugoslav cups in 1973,1974,1976,1977 and 1984.

He left the club in 1984 and thus becoming the last player of the great 70s generation which stayed at Hajduk and the player with the most caps for Hajduk. 390 in total.

Croatia Sydney FC

He's move to Australia was a political controversy because the Croats in Australia were radically right-wing nationalits and especially Croatia Sydney. The media in Yugoslavia had mixed receptions in light of the controversial transfer.

In Syndey he quickly became player-coach and in 1985 and 1986 saw success, with United winning the Northern NSL Division crown over powerhouse clubs such as Sydney Olympic, Marconi, and Sydney City. However, in the preliminary final they lost to Sydney Olympic. 1987 saw a lean season in the league, but a successful cup season which brought them another trophy: the Beach Fashions Cup, with a 2–0 aggregate victory over South Melbourne.

He left the club in 1989 but for political reasons he refused to return to Yugoslavia and stayed in Sydney. He returned to Croatia in 1991.

Player honours

Hajduk Split

• Yugoslav First League (3): 1974, 1975, 1979
• Yugoslav Cup (5): 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1984

References

1. Mediterranean Games 1979

External links

• Profile at Serbian federation official site
• Vedran Rožić (Parliament of Croatia)