Do You Remember Them #14- Ivica Olic

Biodata

Full Name: Ivica Olic

Nationality: Croatian

Date of Birth: 14 September 1979

Position: Forward

Former Clubs:

1996- 1998 Marsonia

1998- 2000 Hertha Berlin II

1998- 2000 Hertha Berlin

2000- 2001 Marsonia

2001- 2002 NK Zagreb

2002- 2003 Dinamo Zagreb

2003- 2007 CSKA Moscow

2007- 2009 Hamburger SV

2009- 2012 Bayern Munich

2012- 2015 VfL Wolfsburg

2015- 2016 Hamburger SV

2016- 2017 1860 Munich

International Career:

2002- 2015 Croatia

Achievement:

Hertha BSC II

1998- 1999 NOFV-Oberliga

Marsonia

1999- 2000 Croatian Second League

NK Zagreb

2001- 2002 Croatian First League

Dinamo Zagreb

2002- 2003 Croatian First League

2003 Croatian Super Cup

CSKA Moscow

2003 Russian Premier League

2004 Russian Super Cup

2004- 2005 Russian Cup

2004- 2005 UEFA Cup

2005 Russian Premier League

2005- 2006 Russian Cup

2006 Russian Premier League

2006 Russian Super Cup

Hamburger SV

2007 Intertoto Cup

Bayern Munich

2009- 2010 Bundesliga

2009- 2010 DFB Pokal

2010 DFL-Supercup

Career

Even though it is a small nation by size, Croatia is still consistently producing top-quality player since they gained independence from Yugoslavia. Football talents from different positions were emerging in this period. They have the likes of Pletikosa and Subasic in between the sticks, Srna and Lovren in defence, Prosinecki and Modric as the midfield general with Suker and Mandzukic upfront. However, there is a striker who also carried the attacking line whenever he played and carries a high reputation as the prolific striker in both club and country. He is Ivica Olic.

Ivica Olic started his footballing career in his local club NK Marsonia in 1996. His performance was very impressive as he caught the attention of the German club, Hertha Berlin. However, Olic’s playing time in the German capital was limited and he returned to his boyhood club Marsonia the following year. His return had proved to be very successful as Olic helped Marsonia to earn promotion to the top flight after winning the Croatian Second League with his team. With another impressive season in his CV, Olic had transferred to a bigger Croatian clubs such as NK Zagreb and Dinamo Zagreb. In which he had developed as the best striker in Croatian First League. His performance in the Croatian league had earned him a place in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he scored one important goal against Italy in a 2-1 Croatia victory.

Olic’s form in the Croatian league wasn’t gone unnoticed as he was subsequently signed by the Russian giants, CSKA Moscow in 2003. He continued his red hot form and helped his team to win numerous trophies. Including the 2005 UEFA Cup. Olic even awarded with the Order of Friendship by the Russian Federation after winning the UEFA Cup. In January 2007, Hamburger SV signed Ivica Olic to rescue them from relegation as they finished in the relegation zone before the winter break. This transfer worked out well as Olic fires Hamburger SV from the relegation zone to a seventh-place finish at the end of the season. In the next two complete season in Hamburg, Olic is the main striking force as he scored more than double digits for the two seasons stay there. He even carried his form into the national team as he was the man of the match in the Euro 2008 qualifier match that get England eliminated from the qualifying group. Olic also scored the winning goal that clinched the unbelievable win against Germany in Euro 2008.

On 1 July 2009, Olic joined Bayern Munich on a free transfer. He was initially signed to be the back-up to Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez, but he began to be preferred as the club’s first choice due to injury and fitness issues. The most memorable moment in his Bayern career was both in the European stage. He scored a goal against Manchester United in the 2010 Champions League quarterfinals that give Bayern the away goal advantage to advance to the next round. Olic also scored a perfect hat-trick (scored with his left foot, right foot and his head) against Lyon in the semifinal second leg that sent Bayern to the Champions League final. However, the emergence of Thomas Muller and the signing of Mario Mandzukic had limited Olic’s playing time in Munich. He signed for VfL Wolfsburg at the beginning of the 2012-2013 season. Olic is still the main target man for VfL Wolfsburg as he contributes most of the goal for the entire team. He even helped his team to finish second place finished just behind his former team, Bayern Munich.

On January 2015, Olic returned to Hamburger SV on an 18-month contract. In which his main priority in his returning to Hamburg is to help the team to avoid relegation. In his first season back to Hamburger SV, he helped his team narrowly escaped relegation by just a single point. Olic missed most of his second season mainly due to injuries and lack of form. On July 2016, Olic signed for 2.Bundesliga side 1860 Munich. However, his club suffered relegation in his only season there. He announced retirement after the season ended.

Post Retirement

Olic is currently part of the assistant manager in the Croatian national team setup. He is part of the coaching team that lead the Croatia national team to reach final in 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. In the upcoming Euro 2020, we are also able to see Olic contributing his knowledge to replicate their glory in Russia to another tournament.