Marijan Bilić

Marijan Bilić is a Croatian former footballer who played in the Yugoslav First League, National Soccer League, and North American Soccer League.

Marijan Bilić
Personal information
Place of birth SR Croatia SFR Yugoslavia
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

Bilić 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

In 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
  1. "Marijan Bilic". naslsoccer.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  2. Sopta, Marin. "Istaknuti nogometaši i treneri hrvatskog iseljeništva - prvi dio" (in Croatian). Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  3. Harrison, Ian (27 June 1969). "Yugoslav star puts Croatia up on top". Toronto Daily Star. p. C20.
  4. 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.
  5. "C.N.S.C. TORONTO CROATIA". 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  6. "NASL-". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  7. "NASL Toronto Metros-Croatia Rosters". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  8. Fraser, Terry (10 July 1970). "Varzim has yielded one goal on tour". Toronto Daily Star. p. 18.
  9. 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.
  10. "Maricovic . steps down as coach of Metros". The Globe and Mail. 12 July 1976. p. S7.
  11. Bradburn, Jamie (24 September 2016). "Historicist: Toronto Metros-Croatia, 1976 Soccer Bowl Champions". Torontoist. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  12. Reed, J. D. "MINNESOTA HAD TO EAT CROATMEAL". SI.com. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
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