Ned Zelic (born 4 July 1971) is an Australian former footballer who played as a centre-back or defensive midfielder.
Club career Zelic started his career in the old Australian National Soccer League, where he played with clubs Sydney Croatia and Sydney Olympic. In his junior years he played for Croatia Deakin.
Zelic spent most of the 1990s playing in Europe, most notably for Borussia Dortmund where he reached the UEFA Cup Final in his first season with the club, losing to Juventus of Italy and won the German Bundesliga title in 1995. He had a brief stint in the Premier League for QPR, moving for a club record £1.25 million, which was beset by injury and discontent. After just 4 Premier League games for the West London club, he departed to Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.
After only a few months he signed for AJ Auxerre of France. At Auxerre, he replaced Laurent Blanc who moved to FC Barcelona, and participated in the UEFA Champions League. In July 1996, Zelic was selected to play for a World All Star team v Brazil at Giants Stadium, New York City. The All Star team was coached by Euro 92 winner with Denmark, Richard Moller Nielsen and consisted of such players as Jürgen Klinsmann, George Weah, Marcel Desailly, Lothar Matthäus, David Ginola and Fernando Redondo. In 1998, Zelic decided to move back to Germany and went on to make 102 appearances for 1860 Munich in the Bundesliga.
In 2002, he moved to Japan to play in the J1 League where he stayed for two years and played under Dutch coaches Hans Ooft and Wim Jansen, winning the Japanese Cup with his club Urawa Red Diamonds. Zelic signed for FC Wacker Tirol of Austria in July 2004 and stayed there for one season.
A-League In 2005, Ned Zelic agreed terms to a two-year deal as a marquee to captain the Newcastle Jets in the A-League, where he played out the whole season from central defence. The Jets finished fourth on the league table and lost to the Central Coast Mariners 2–1 on aggregate over two legs in the Minor Semi-final.
Zelic underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee after the semi-finals. Several months later he decided to move back overseas and it was not certain if he would continue his career.
Europe After being granted a work permit, he signed a one-year deal with Dutch side Helmond Sport in August 2006, working again with his former 1860 Munich teammate Gerald Vanenburg, who was coach there. However, he left Helmond after only two months due to knee problems and considered retirement.
In January 2007, Zelic joined Georgian club FC Dinamo Tbilisi on a free transfer, where he played under former Czech National Team coach Dusan Uhrin. He announced his retirement from football in May 2008, after winning the Georgian Championship with Dinamo Tbilisi.Aussie great Zelic announces retirement
He was selected in Four Four Two magazine's Top 25 Australian Footballers of All-Time.
International career He has played for the Australia youth, Olympic and senior teams, but made himself unavailable in November 1999 after disagreements with coach Frank Farina. Zelic was captain of the Australian team that competed and finished 4th at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Personal life Ned Zelic attended Wanniassa High School in Canberra, ACT. Zelic is the older brother of former footballer turned actor Ivan Zelic and presenter Lucy Zelić.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSydney Croatia1989National Soccer League80801989–9020201990–91260260Total360360Sydney Olympic1991–92National Soccer League161161Borussia Dortmund1992–93Bundesliga1901901993–941811811994–954040Total411411Queens Park Rangers1995–96Premier League4040Eintracht Frankfurt1995–96Bundesliga171171Auxerre1996–97Division 11201201860 Munich1997–98Bundesliga1301301998–993313311999–20002322322000–012702702001–026060Total10231023Kyoto Purple Sanga2002J1 League10000010Urawa Reds2002J1 League1010002020032221070302Total2322070322Wacker Tirol2004–05Austrian Bundesliga220220Newcastle United Jets2005–06A-League211211Helmond Sport2006–07Eerste Divisie7070Dinamo Tbilisi2006–07Umaglesi Liga110110Career total313920703229
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsAustralia1991611992501993511994201995301996001997152199800199921Total385
Honours Dinamo Tbilisi Umaglesi Liga: 2007–2008
Urawa Reds J.League Cup: 2003
Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga: 1994–1995 UEFA Cup: runners-up 1992–93
Australia FIFA Confederations Cup: runner-up, 1997
References
External links OzFootball profile FIFA World All Star Team