Mijo Dadic
Encyclopedia
Mijo Dadić
Mijo Dadić (born 15 October 1981 in Rijeka
, Republic Croatia, is a Croatia
n football (soccer)
player. He currently plays for Deltras Sidoarjo
in the Indonesia Super League.
’s defence, cuts an imposing figure in the backline amongst his opponents. A former Croatian National Junior
, Mijo Dadić is the pillar of strength with great aerial ability that makes him one of the most consistent performers in the team. He first made his mark in Malaysia with MK Land FC
, before returning in 2006 as part of coach Bojan Hodak
’s foreign recruits in UPB-MyTeam FC
’s Malaysian Premier League
debut.
Mijo Dadić, the youngest in a family of five, loved the game since he was a kid and was enrolled in a football school at his birthplace in Rijeka
at the age of 7. Despite having no football blood in the family, his father is retired and his mother is a cook, Mijo Dadić excelled in the sport he chose and was selected to play for Croatian National Juniors
at the Under-16
, Under-17
and Under-18
age groups.
Mijo Dadić signed his first professional contract when he turned 19 years-old, for his hometown club NK Rijeka
, which is the third most successful club in his country. He was tied for 4 years there with NK Rijeka
plying in the First Division. Targeted as one for the future, NK Rijeka
loaned out the youngster to NK Pomorac
in his first season, to gain more experience in the top level competition. The central defender who was occasionally used as a cover in defensive midfield, spent six months there before being sent to NK Orient
in the Second Division, also on loan. Following his successful short term stints at both clubs, NK Rijeka
recalled Mijo Dadic for the start of his second season there in 2001. Off the field, things did not turn out the way Mijo Dadić expected as he was not paid wages regularly, while on the field he did not get a chance. A new coach from across town took over the reins at NK Rijeka
, side-lining Mijo Dadić in favour of players that had followed him there. Hapoel Ranana, promised to free Mijo Dadić of his misery in 2002 following successful trials with the Israel
i outfit, but NK Rijeka
demanded an astronomical figure of DM1 million (1 million Deutsche Marks = RM2.85 miliion Ringgit in 2002), causing Hapoel Ranana to balk at the figure and abandon plans of signing Mijo Dadić. Fed-up of his prospects at NK Rijeka
with two more years remaining on his contract, Mijo Dadić began the search for other opportunities to venture abroad. He brokered at deal with the club that had owed him USD 100,000 (RM 380,000 in 2002), telling the management of NK Rijeka
that he would be willing to forego the amount in return for his International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Mijo Dadic wanted out, and they agreed.
Childhood friend Marin Mikac
convinced his fellow compatriot to seek fortune in Malaysia, and Mijo Dadic duly followed in 2004. Together with Marin Mikac
, they managed to land a contract with Malaysian Premier League
side MK Land FC
, under the watchful eye of head coach Khan Hung Meng, joining a team laden with big stars of the Malaysian game such as Marlon Alex James
, K. Nanthakumar
, Shahrin Majid, Paidiya Rao, M. Chandran amongst others. There was much excitement for club football back then; fighting for honours with the states in the Malaysian League and MK Land FC
emerged as a force to be reckoned with. In his first season there, MK Land FC
missed out on promotion to the Malaysian Super League
, finishing three points behind winners MPPJ FC, as during then only the champion’s gain promotion. It was an almost similar tale the following season in 2005 when MK Land FC
finished third in the standings, once more failing to obtain promotion. A cruel twist of fate in 2006, caused MK Land FC
to pullout from the M-League that year citing financial difficulties, and thus were handed a 5 year ban by FAM
. Their staff including the players were left in a quandary and Mijo Dadic was forced to head home, due to FAM
’s ridiculous ruling whereby foreign players were not allowed to switch camps immediately within the League, upon completion of their contract, despite him attracting attention from other teams.
Returning to Croatia
in 2006, Mijo Dadić played Second Division football with a club from Zagreb
. It was a decent club but they too struggled with players’ wages. Fellow countryman Bojan Hodak
rescued Mijo Dadić from obscurity in their country, offering the latter a chance to play for another club side, UPB-MyTeam FC
in their Malaysian Premier League
debut. Mijo Dadic was glad to learn that his former mentor at MK Land FC
, Khan Hung Meng also assumed a coaching position at the club, and immediately agreed to come back to Malaysia. It was a remarkable season for UPB-MyTeam FC
, chugging their way up the standings to earn promotion to the Malaysian Super League
, finishing runner-up. However, Mijo Dadić who played a pivotal part in the first half of the campaign, even scoring UPB-MyTeam FC
’s first ever goal in the M-League, was struck by ligament injury in the home match against Sabah FA
in April, and missed the rest of the season recuperating.
Mijo Dadić’s back at his best now, and will feature in the Malaysian Super League
for the first time in yet another debut of sorts for UPB-MyTeam FC
. Thoroughly enjoying his time here, he recently signed on an extension to his playing career saying “I give my best all the time, and I hate to lose”
In Persiba Balikpapan
Mijo Dadić’s selected to be Captain of team.
He currently plays for Deltras Sidoarjo in the Indonesia Super League.
Mijo Dadić (born 15 October 1981 in Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
, Republic Croatia, is a Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. He currently plays for Deltras Sidoarjo
Deltras Sidoarjo
Persatuan Sepakbola Delta Putra Sidoarjo is an Indonesian football club based in Sidoarjo, Indonesia. Founded in 1989 by a businessman named HM Mislan as Gelora Dewata '89 with home base in Bali, they moved to Sidoarjo in 2001 and changed their name to Gelora Putra Delta after playing some matches...
in the Indonesia Super League.
Careers
At 6 ft 2 in this towering rock in the heart of UPB-MyTeam FCUPB-MyTeam FC
For information about the reality TV series, see MyTeam .UPB MyTeam Football Club is a defunct Malaysian soccer club which formerly competed in the top tier of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League...
’s defence, cuts an imposing figure in the backline amongst his opponents. A former Croatian National Junior
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
, Mijo Dadić is the pillar of strength with great aerial ability that makes him one of the most consistent performers in the team. He first made his mark in Malaysia with MK Land FC
MK Land FC
MK Land Football Club is a defunct football club from Malaysia, based in Selayang, Selangor. They then withdrew from the 2006 Premier League competition, citing financial difficulties...
, before returning in 2006 as part of coach Bojan Hodak
Bojan Hodak
Bojan Hodak, , is a former Croatian football player and current football coach-manager of UPB-MyTeam FC of the Malaysian Super League the top football division in Malaysia....
’s foreign recruits in UPB-MyTeam FC
UPB-MyTeam FC
For information about the reality TV series, see MyTeam .UPB MyTeam Football Club is a defunct Malaysian soccer club which formerly competed in the top tier of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League...
’s Malaysian Premier League
Malaysian Premier League
Malaysia Premier League is the second-tier football league in Malaysia. The league is currently named Astro Premier League Malaysia...
debut.
Mijo Dadić, the youngest in a family of five, loved the game since he was a kid and was enrolled in a football school at his birthplace in Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
at the age of 7. Despite having no football blood in the family, his father is retired and his mother is a cook, Mijo Dadić excelled in the sport he chose and was selected to play for Croatian National Juniors
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
at the Under-16
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
, Under-17
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
and Under-18
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
age groups.
Mijo Dadić signed his first professional contract when he turned 19 years-old, for his hometown club NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
, which is the third most successful club in his country. He was tied for 4 years there with NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
plying in the First Division. Targeted as one for the future, NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
loaned out the youngster to NK Pomorac
NK Pomorac
NK Pomorac is a Croatian football club based in Kostrena, a suburb of Rijeka, a port city lying on the Adriatic Sea. Kostrena is known for its maritime tradition, which is reflected in the club's name, as the word "pomorac" means "mariner" or "seaman" in English.Founded in 1912, NK Pomorac is one...
in his first season, to gain more experience in the top level competition. The central defender who was occasionally used as a cover in defensive midfield, spent six months there before being sent to NK Orient
NK Orijent
NK Orijent is a football club which was founded in 1918. It is a club from Sušak, the north-east part of the city of Rijeka in Croatia with long tradition. In season 2008/9 it currently plays in the third division .-External links:...
in the Second Division, also on loan. Following his successful short term stints at both clubs, NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
recalled Mijo Dadic for the start of his second season there in 2001. Off the field, things did not turn out the way Mijo Dadić expected as he was not paid wages regularly, while on the field he did not get a chance. A new coach from across town took over the reins at NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
, side-lining Mijo Dadić in favour of players that had followed him there. Hapoel Ranana, promised to free Mijo Dadić of his misery in 2002 following successful trials with the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i outfit, but NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
demanded an astronomical figure of DM1 million (1 million Deutsche Marks = RM2.85 miliion Ringgit in 2002), causing Hapoel Ranana to balk at the figure and abandon plans of signing Mijo Dadić. Fed-up of his prospects at NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
with two more years remaining on his contract, Mijo Dadić began the search for other opportunities to venture abroad. He brokered at deal with the club that had owed him USD 100,000 (RM 380,000 in 2002), telling the management of NK Rijeka
NK Rijeka
HNK Rijeka is a Croatian football club, from Rijeka on the Croatian coast.-History:The club was founded as NK Kvarner in 1946, after Rijeka passed from Italy to Yugoslavia following the end of World War II. During its early period in Yugoslavia, the club had moderate success in various Yugoslav...
that he would be willing to forego the amount in return for his International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Mijo Dadic wanted out, and they agreed.
Childhood friend Marin Mikac
Marin Mikac
Marin Mikać is a Croatian football player. He currently plays for NK Orijent in the 2. HNL.-External links:* *...
convinced his fellow compatriot to seek fortune in Malaysia, and Mijo Dadic duly followed in 2004. Together with Marin Mikac
Marin Mikac
Marin Mikać is a Croatian football player. He currently plays for NK Orijent in the 2. HNL.-External links:* *...
, they managed to land a contract with Malaysian Premier League
Malaysian Premier League
Malaysia Premier League is the second-tier football league in Malaysia. The league is currently named Astro Premier League Malaysia...
side MK Land FC
MK Land FC
MK Land Football Club is a defunct football club from Malaysia, based in Selayang, Selangor. They then withdrew from the 2006 Premier League competition, citing financial difficulties...
, under the watchful eye of head coach Khan Hung Meng, joining a team laden with big stars of the Malaysian game such as Marlon Alex James
Marlon Alex James
Marlon James is a Vincentian soccer player currently unattached after being released by Vancouver Whitecaps in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-Youth and early Caribbean career:...
, K. Nanthakumar
K. Nanthakumar
K. Nanthakumar is a Malaysian footballer who is currently a Defensive Midfielder for Perak FA. He is a member of the Malaysian national team....
, Shahrin Majid, Paidiya Rao, M. Chandran amongst others. There was much excitement for club football back then; fighting for honours with the states in the Malaysian League and MK Land FC
MK Land FC
MK Land Football Club is a defunct football club from Malaysia, based in Selayang, Selangor. They then withdrew from the 2006 Premier League competition, citing financial difficulties...
emerged as a force to be reckoned with. In his first season there, MK Land FC
MK Land FC
MK Land Football Club is a defunct football club from Malaysia, based in Selayang, Selangor. They then withdrew from the 2006 Premier League competition, citing financial difficulties...
missed out on promotion to the Malaysian Super League
Malaysian Super League
The Malaysia Super League is a Malaysian professional league for association football. At the top flight of the Malaysian football league system and it is managed by the Malaysia Super League Sdn Bhd, under supervision of the Football Association of Malaysia...
, finishing three points behind winners MPPJ FC, as during then only the champion’s gain promotion. It was an almost similar tale the following season in 2005 when MK Land FC
MK Land FC
MK Land Football Club is a defunct football club from Malaysia, based in Selayang, Selangor. They then withdrew from the 2006 Premier League competition, citing financial difficulties...
finished third in the standings, once more failing to obtain promotion. A cruel twist of fate in 2006, caused MK Land FC
MK Land FC
MK Land Football Club is a defunct football club from Malaysia, based in Selayang, Selangor. They then withdrew from the 2006 Premier League competition, citing financial difficulties...
to pullout from the M-League that year citing financial difficulties, and thus were handed a 5 year ban by FAM
FAM
FAM or Fam can mean:* the "Foreign Affairs Manual" of the U.S. Department of State* file alteration monitor* Fat acceptance movement* fuzzy associative matrix* fuzzy associative memory* Free Aceh Movement* Fertility Awareness Method...
. Their staff including the players were left in a quandary and Mijo Dadic was forced to head home, due to FAM
FAM
FAM or Fam can mean:* the "Foreign Affairs Manual" of the U.S. Department of State* file alteration monitor* Fat acceptance movement* fuzzy associative matrix* fuzzy associative memory* Free Aceh Movement* Fertility Awareness Method...
’s ridiculous ruling whereby foreign players were not allowed to switch camps immediately within the League, upon completion of their contract, despite him attracting attention from other teams.
Returning to Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
in 2006, Mijo Dadić played Second Division football with a club from Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. It was a decent club but they too struggled with players’ wages. Fellow countryman Bojan Hodak
Bojan Hodak
Bojan Hodak, , is a former Croatian football player and current football coach-manager of UPB-MyTeam FC of the Malaysian Super League the top football division in Malaysia....
rescued Mijo Dadić from obscurity in their country, offering the latter a chance to play for another club side, UPB-MyTeam FC
UPB-MyTeam FC
For information about the reality TV series, see MyTeam .UPB MyTeam Football Club is a defunct Malaysian soccer club which formerly competed in the top tier of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League...
in their Malaysian Premier League
Malaysian Premier League
Malaysia Premier League is the second-tier football league in Malaysia. The league is currently named Astro Premier League Malaysia...
debut. Mijo Dadic was glad to learn that his former mentor at MK Land FC
MK Land FC
MK Land Football Club is a defunct football club from Malaysia, based in Selayang, Selangor. They then withdrew from the 2006 Premier League competition, citing financial difficulties...
, Khan Hung Meng also assumed a coaching position at the club, and immediately agreed to come back to Malaysia. It was a remarkable season for UPB-MyTeam FC
UPB-MyTeam FC
For information about the reality TV series, see MyTeam .UPB MyTeam Football Club is a defunct Malaysian soccer club which formerly competed in the top tier of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League...
, chugging their way up the standings to earn promotion to the Malaysian Super League
Malaysian Super League
The Malaysia Super League is a Malaysian professional league for association football. At the top flight of the Malaysian football league system and it is managed by the Malaysia Super League Sdn Bhd, under supervision of the Football Association of Malaysia...
, finishing runner-up. However, Mijo Dadić who played a pivotal part in the first half of the campaign, even scoring UPB-MyTeam FC
UPB-MyTeam FC
For information about the reality TV series, see MyTeam .UPB MyTeam Football Club is a defunct Malaysian soccer club which formerly competed in the top tier of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League...
’s first ever goal in the M-League, was struck by ligament injury in the home match against Sabah FA
Sabah FA
The Football Association of Sabah is a registered football association affiliated with the Football Association of Malaysia. The association's football team competes in Malaysia's football league representing the state of Sabah in Borneo. Sabah FA is a professional football club and one of the 14...
in April, and missed the rest of the season recuperating.
Mijo Dadić’s back at his best now, and will feature in the Malaysian Super League
Malaysian Super League
The Malaysia Super League is a Malaysian professional league for association football. At the top flight of the Malaysian football league system and it is managed by the Malaysia Super League Sdn Bhd, under supervision of the Football Association of Malaysia...
for the first time in yet another debut of sorts for UPB-MyTeam FC
UPB-MyTeam FC
For information about the reality TV series, see MyTeam .UPB MyTeam Football Club is a defunct Malaysian soccer club which formerly competed in the top tier of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League...
. Thoroughly enjoying his time here, he recently signed on an extension to his playing career saying “I give my best all the time, and I hate to lose”
In Persiba Balikpapan
Persiba Balikpapan
Persiba, an acronym for Persatuan Sepak Bola Indonesia Balikpapan is an Indonesian football club based in Balikpapan, Indonesia. In media, the tautology Persiba Balikpapan is often used and to distinguish the club with another club with the same acronym, Persiba Bantul.Beruang Madu is the club's...
Mijo Dadić’s selected to be Captain of team.
He currently plays for Deltras Sidoarjo in the Indonesia Super League.