Marijan Bilić is a Croatian retired footballer who played in the Yugoslav First League, National Soccer League, and North American Soccer League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | SR Croatia SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1954–1967 | Dinamo Zagreb | ||
| 1969–1974 | Toronto Croatia | ||
| 1977 | Toronto Metros-Croatia | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1970 | Toronto Croatia | ||
| 1975 | Toronto Metros-Croatia (interim) | ||
| 1976 | Toronto Metros-Croatia (interim) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
editBilić played in the Yugoslav First League with Dinamo Zagreb in 1967.[1][2] In 1969, he played with Toronto Croatia in the National Soccer League, where he was given the captaincy.[3] He assisted in winning the NSL Championship in 1971, and 1974.[4][5] In 1977, Toronto Metro's signed Bilić to a playing contract.[6][7]
Managerial career
editIn July 1970, he was named the player-coach for Toronto Croatia.[8] In 1975, he briefly served as an interim coach for the Toronto Metros-Croatia in the North American Soccer League, where he managed a 13-9 record.[9][10] After the dismissal of Ivan Markovic as head coach in 1976 he returned to the coaching position, where he appointed Domagoj Kapetanović as his tactician and eventual successor.[11][12]
References
edit- ^ "Marijan Bilic". naslsoccer.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ Sopta, Marin. "Istaknuti nogometaši i treneri hrvatskog iseljeništva - prvi dio" (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ Harrison, Ian (27 June 1969). "Yugoslav star puts Croatia up on top". Toronto Daily Star. p. C20.
- ^ Sopta, Marin. "Gradski vijećnik Toronta: Ova momčad je nešto najbolje što se moglo dogoditi našoj ligi. Svi žele pobijediti Croatiju!" (in Croatian). Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ "C.N.S.C. TORONTO CROATIA". 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ "NASL-". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ "NASL Toronto Metros-Croatia Rosters". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ Fraser, Terry (10 July 1970). "Varzim has yielded one goal on tour". Toronto Daily Star. p. 18.
- ^ Lewis, Michael (11 February 2015). "How Eusébio and a team of Canadian Croatians took North American soccer by storm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ "Maricovic . steps down as coach of Metros". The Globe and Mail. 12 July 1976. p. S7.
- ^ Bradburn, Jamie (24 September 2016). "Historicist: Toronto Metros-Croatia, 1976 Soccer Bowl Champions". Torontoist. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ Reed, J. D. "MINNESOTA HAD TO EAT CROATMEAL". SI.com. Retrieved 15 September 2017.