Tonči Žilić (born 26 February 1975) is a retired Croatian football player. He spent most of his career playing in the Croatian Prva HNL, but also a spell in Italy where he played three seasons in Serie B.

Tonči Žilić
Personal information
Date of birth (1975-02-26) 26 February 1975 (age 49)
Place of birth Split, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Orkan Dugi Rat
1992–1993 Primorac Stobreč
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993 Primorac Stobreč
1994–1996 Šibenik 59 (5)
1996–1997 Osijek 20 (2)
1997–1998 Castel di Sangro 11 (1)
1998–2000 Verona 8 (0)
1999–2000Fermana (loan) 0 (0)
2000–2001 Siena 12 (0)
2002–2003 Šibenik 28 (0)
2003–2004 Zagreb 36 (1)
2004–2007 Hajduk Split 43 (1)
2008 Solin 14 (0)
2009–2010 Drava 35 (0)
2010–2011 Orkan Dugi Rat
2011 Omiš 8 (0)
International career
1996–1997 Croatia U21 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in Split, Žilić began playing football for local side NK Orkan Dugi Rat, debuting early for the senior team before moving to Primorac Stobreč, at 17 and a half years of age.[1] He joined HNK Šibenik and NK Osijek before leaving for Italy in December 1997.

Žilić joined Serie B side A.S.D. Castel di Sangro Calcio. After one season, he left and would play in Serie B for Hellas Verona F.C. and A.C. Siena.[2]

In 2002, Žilić returned to Croatia where he would spend the next six seasons playing in the Prva HNL with Šibenik, NK Zagreb and Hajduk Split. After spending the 2007–2008 season outside the Hajduk first team, training with the junior team, he went to the Druga HNL team NK Solin, where he stayed until January 2009, when he signed for the Slovenian team Drava Ptuj. After a year and a half there, he returned to his hometown club, the fourth-tier NK Orkan, serving both as a player and a youth team coach. In 2011, he joined the Treća HNL Jug side NK Omiš.

Žilić made four appearances for the Croatia national under-21 football team.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Glas Dalmacije (5 October 2008). "Nogomet: Tonči Žilić, Stoper Solina". Grad Solin.
  2. ^ Rota, Davide (29 April 1998). "Yugoslav Players and Coaches in Italy". RSSSF.
  3. ^ "Tonći Žilić". Croatian Football Federation. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
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