Born in Osijek (Croatia) on 1 November, 1970.

After beginning to play football in his home town, he signs up for the Dinamo of Zagreb at the age of 18. Later, this club changed into Croatia Zagreb. He belonged to this team from 1989 to 1997. In these eight years, he played 417 matches with this team and scored 220 goals. He became League champion on three occasions and Cup winner on three other occasions. He has been the top goal scorer in the Croatian League on two occasions and the second best goal scorer of the League on three occasions. He has also been nominated the best football player of the League of his country on three occasions. He made his debut with the Real Sociedad on 4 January, 1998, in the League match against Mallorca.