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Ivitsa OlichCroatian footballer, forward for the Croatian national team and the football club Wolfsburg.
Date of Birth: 14.09.1979
Country:  Croatia |
Content:
- Ivica Olić: A Croatian Football Legend
- Russian Success with CSKA Moscow
- Career at Hamburg and Bayern Munich
- International Career with Croatia
Ivica Olić: A Croatian Football Legend
Early Life and Club CareerIvica Olić, a renowned Croatian national team and VfL Wolfsburg striker, was born and raised in the small Croatian village of Davor near the city of Slavonski Brod. He began his football journey with local club Marsonia in 1996, spending two seasons there. In 1998, Olić joined Hertha BSC in Berlin. Due to limited playing time at Hertha, he returned to Marsonia a year later.
At Marsonia, Olić had a remarkable season, scoring 17 goals in 29 matches. His impressive performance earned him a move to NK Zagreb in 2001, where he netted 21 goals in 28 matches, contributing to his team's Croatian championship victory. The following season, Olić joined GNK Dinamo Zagreb, becoming the Croatian League's top scorer with 16 goals in 21 matches.
Russian Success with CSKA Moscow
In 2003, Olić signed a four-year contract with PFC CSKA Moscow. During his four years at the club, he made a total of 116 appearances, scoring 44 goals. As part of CSKA, Olić won the Russian Championship three times, the Russian Cup and the Russian Super Cup twice each. Additionally, he played a pivotal role in CSKA's UEFA Cup triumph in 2005.
Career at Hamburg and Bayern Munich
In January 2007, Olić moved to Hamburger SV. As per an agreement with Bayern Munich, Olić transferred to the Bavarian club in the summer of 2009 and played there until 2012.
International Career with Croatia
Olić has been a regular member of the Croatian national team since 2002. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he played in two matches and scored a crucial goal against Italy. He also represented Croatia in three matches at UEFA Euro 2004 and two matches at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. On November 21, 2007, Olić was instrumental in Croatia's victory over England, scoring a goal that secured the team's qualification for UEFA Euro 2008. At Euro 2008, he earned the first penalty of the tournament on June 8, 2008.
