Dragan Žilić (; born 14 December 1974) is a Serbian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for German amateur club FC Rastpfuhl.
Club career Žilić joined his hometown club OFK Kikinda as a trainee in 1985. He made his senior debut in the 1992–93 First League of FR Yugoslavia, as the team finished in the lower half of the standings. In the summer of 1996, Žilić was transferred to Vojvodina. He was a regular member of the team that reached the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup finals, losing 2–1 on aggregate to Werder Bremen.
In June 2000, Žilić moved abroad to Bulgaria and signed with CSKA Sofia on a three-year contract. He left the club by mutual agreement in February 2001, having played just two official games for the team. In July 2001, Žilić returned to his homeland and joined ambitious Sartid Smederevo. He spent four seasons with the Oklopnici, winning the Serbia and Montenegro Cup in 2003.
In July 2005, Žilić completed a controversial move to Croatian side Rijeka. The transfer caused a minor sensation in the region as it marked the first occasion that a Serbian-born player joined a Croatian club after the Yugoslav Wars. Despite being exposed to severe verbal abuse by the nationalist supporters of Rijeka, Žilić immediately established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper and gradually earned the support of fans with his consistent performances. He played an important role in helping them win the 2005–06 Croatian Cup. On 29 November 2006, Žilić scored a 92nd-minute header against Konavljanin that pushed Rijeka into the 2006–07 Croatian Cup semi-finals. He would lose his place in the first team by the fall of 2008, being demoted to as low as training with the youth team. In the 2009 winter transfer window, Žilić signed with Slovenian club Gorica on a free transfer. He retired from professional football after the 2009–10 season.
In early 2015, at the age of 40, Žilić came out of retirement to play for German amateur club Gençlerbirliği Homburg in the Bezirksliga. He became player-manager of Landesliga club SpVgg Einöd-Ingweiler in October of the same year.
International career Žilić made his international debut for FR Yugoslavia in a 1–1 away friendly draw against Brazil on 23 September 1998. He came on as a second-half substitute for Ivica Kralj and kept a clean sheet in the process. After nearly four years of absence, Žilić returned to the squad in a 2–1 friendly win over Mexico at Bank One Ballpark on 13 February 2002. He earned a total of eight caps for the national team between 1998 and 2003.
Post-playing career Following his initial retirement in 2010, Žilić served as president of OFK Kikinda.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsOFK Kikinda1992–93First League of FR Yugoslavia20—201993–94First League of FR Yugoslavia80—801994–95Second League of FR Yugoslavia300—3001995–96Second League of FR Yugoslavia300—300Total700—700Vojvodina1996–97First League of FR Yugoslavia4040801997–98First League of FR Yugoslavia130001301998–99First League of FR Yugoslavia2301003301999–2000First League of FR Yugoslavia9040130Total490180670CSKA Sofia2000–01Bulgarian First League10001020Sartid Smederevo2001–02First League of Serbia and Montenegro330003302002–03First League of Serbia and Montenegro33050404202003–04First League of Serbia and Montenegro27020403302004–05First League of Serbia and Montenegro19030220Total1120701101300Rijeka2005–06Croatian First League29070203802006–07Croatian First League27061203512007–08Croatian First League23010—240Total79014140971Gorica2008–09Slovenian First League300000302009–10Slovenian First League1600000160Total1900000190Gençlerbirliği Homburg2014–15Bezirksliga20——202015–16Landesliga80——80Total100——100SpVgg Einöd-Ingweiler2015–16Landesliga130——1302016–17Landesliga200——200Total330——330SV Beeden2017–18Landesliga160——160Gençlerbirliği Homburg2017–18Landesliga110——1102018–19Landesliga170——170Total280——280ASV Kleinottweiler2018–19Landesliga110——110SV Schwarzenbach2019–20Verbandsliga140——1402020–21Verbandsliga20——202021–22Verbandsliga70——70Total230——230SG Knopp/Wiesbach2021–22Bezirksliga50——502022–23Bezirksliga40——40Total90——90FC Bierbach2023–24Landesliga00——00Gençlerbirliği Homburg2024–25Bezirksliga150——150Career total47502113405301
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsFR Yugoslavia199810199900200000200100200230Serbia and Montenegro200340Total80
Honours Sartid Smederevo Serbia and Montenegro Cup: 2002–03 Rijeka Croatian Cup: 2005–06
References
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