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June 29th, 2005, 05:30 PM
Club legend Josip Biskic has returned to Melbourne Croatia in a coaching capacity, which was announced last night by Croatia president Stanko Bilic after visiting the Lexus Centre with Croatian National team coach, and Dinamo Zagreb legend, Zlatko Kranjcar.
Biskic has returned to the club at which he began and finished his career with at the pinnacle of the sport in this country.
He finds the team with a good core player base which was not performing under former coach Zlatko Vego, a team which also failed to gel under the guidance of Alex Kiratzoglou and former assistant coach Josip Spoljar. The 5-1 shellacking at the hands of Heidelberg on Sunday evening was evidence of the way the season was heading. The demanding supporters expected more. A club which was always in the top half of the ladder for the majority of their NSL years, sitting four points off relegation in the state’s top division is simply not good enough.
It is still mathematically possible for Croatia to reach the top six this year, but it is not likely. Biskic’s main task to the end of the season is to make the side gel, reach their potential as a team and above all see the side play an attractive brand of football to bring some of the crowds that the former stalwart remembers playing in front of against the Preston’s, Heidelberg’s and Hellas’.
This week Croatia takes on old rival South Melbourne Hellas. Croatia has never beaten Hellas away since their move from the old Middle Park. The usually large contingent of traveling Croatia fans has been cut down to only a few after a senseless decision by the FFV to play the match in front of only members of each club. This will no doubt be the lowest ever derby crowd for both clubs, around 1000 fans are expected to watch the match. A far cry from the days of old were 8,000+ fans was the norm.
The appointment has also appeased fans of the club, sick of lackluster performances and players not playing with the passion for the shirt. Many would remember Biskic as the tough tackling, never say die midfield maestro which could turn a game around with a deft free kick. If he can instill these qualities into his players, and in turn the team, results are bound to improve.
Out of the 13 years he served for the club, 8 of them were as captain. He also won the player of the year in season 1991/92.
Other honours include;
State League Cup Champion ’83
Dockerty Cup Champion ’83, ’85 & ’89
Ampol Cup Champion ’86 & ’87
Ansett Cup Champion ’87
NSL Minor Premiers ’90, ’91, ’93 & ’94
NSL Cup Champion ’94
NSL Champions ’94 & ’95
NSL record for most games – 282
The Melbourne Croatia board has welcomed Josip Biskic back into the club and are hopeful he can instill some pride in the shirt
Biskic has returned to the club at which he began and finished his career with at the pinnacle of the sport in this country.
He finds the team with a good core player base which was not performing under former coach Zlatko Vego, a team which also failed to gel under the guidance of Alex Kiratzoglou and former assistant coach Josip Spoljar. The 5-1 shellacking at the hands of Heidelberg on Sunday evening was evidence of the way the season was heading. The demanding supporters expected more. A club which was always in the top half of the ladder for the majority of their NSL years, sitting four points off relegation in the state’s top division is simply not good enough.
It is still mathematically possible for Croatia to reach the top six this year, but it is not likely. Biskic’s main task to the end of the season is to make the side gel, reach their potential as a team and above all see the side play an attractive brand of football to bring some of the crowds that the former stalwart remembers playing in front of against the Preston’s, Heidelberg’s and Hellas’.
This week Croatia takes on old rival South Melbourne Hellas. Croatia has never beaten Hellas away since their move from the old Middle Park. The usually large contingent of traveling Croatia fans has been cut down to only a few after a senseless decision by the FFV to play the match in front of only members of each club. This will no doubt be the lowest ever derby crowd for both clubs, around 1000 fans are expected to watch the match. A far cry from the days of old were 8,000+ fans was the norm.
The appointment has also appeased fans of the club, sick of lackluster performances and players not playing with the passion for the shirt. Many would remember Biskic as the tough tackling, never say die midfield maestro which could turn a game around with a deft free kick. If he can instill these qualities into his players, and in turn the team, results are bound to improve.
Out of the 13 years he served for the club, 8 of them were as captain. He also won the player of the year in season 1991/92.
Other honours include;
State League Cup Champion ’83
Dockerty Cup Champion ’83, ’85 & ’89
Ampol Cup Champion ’86 & ’87
Ansett Cup Champion ’87
NSL Minor Premiers ’90, ’91, ’93 & ’94
NSL Cup Champion ’94
NSL Champions ’94 & ’95
NSL record for most games – 282
The Melbourne Croatia board has welcomed Josip Biskic back into the club and are hopeful he can instill some pride in the shirt