Full name Zoran Vulic Name Zoran Vulic Manages RNK Split 1979–1988 Hajduk Split | Years Team Height 1.86 m Role Footballer | |
 | ||
Date of birth (1961-10-04) 4 October 1961 (age 54) Current team Sheriff Tiraspol (manager) | ||
Place of birth Split, FPR Yugoslavia | ||
Zoran Vulić (born 4 October 1961) is a Croatian retired footballer who played as a central defender and football manager.
Contents
Playing career
Vulić was born in Split, Croatia, Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. He was the son of Ante Vulić, a famous goalkeeper for HNK Hajduk Split in the 1950s. Zoran Vulić joined Hajduk Split and the stopper with a powerful shot played nine seasons in his first spell, amassing 167 league games with 25 goals. He then had successful abroad stints with RCD Mallorca (Spain) and FC Nantes (France) in the following five years, being instrumental for the former in a La Liga return in his debut season – 35 matches, five goals – and scoring more than ten times overall with both clubs.
Vulić returned to Hajduk in 1993, retiring after two years at the age of 34. With the club he conquered two Yugoslavian cups in 1984 and 1987, two Croatian leagues (1994, 1995) and one cup (1995).
Vulić won 25 caps for Yugoslavia netting once, and participated at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, appearing in four out of five matches (two starts) for the eventual quarterfinalists. His debut was on 30 April 1986 in a 2–4 friendly loss in Brazil.
During three years, starting in 1990, Vulić played as many times for the newly established Croatian national team.
Manager career
Vulić became a manager in 1998, and his first spells were spent at his main club Hajduk, only being fired near the end of his fourth.
His biggest success as Hajduk manager was winning the 2000–01 Croatian First Football League and the 2002–03 Croatian Football Cup. In 2004, he was sacked just 3 round before the end of the 2003–04 Croatian First Football League where he held the first place in the league. Petar Nadoveza took over the team and won the championship at the end.
In January 2008 he moved to Russian Premier League's FC Luch-Energiya Vladivostok, returning the following year to his country with NK Rijeka. In February 2010, he took charge of lowly NK Istra 1961.
Vulić also managed RNK Split on two occasions. His biggest success with them was reaching the final of the 2014–15 Croatian Football Cup where they were beaten on penalties by Dinamo Zagreb.
In 2015, he took over Sheriff Tiraspol and managed to win the 2015–16 Moldovan National Division. He left the club in June 2016.
Additionally, Vulić also served as assistant in the Croatian national team.
On 14 December 2016, Vulić was appointed as a manager of FC Atyrau.
Player
Hajduk Split
Manager
Hajduk Split
Sheriff Tiraspol