Nikica Jelavic - Ten Fast Facts

Learn more about our newest arrival Nikica Jelavic with our ten fast facts...



•    Jelavic represented Croatia in international football, but was actually born in what is now Bosnia-Herzegovina. The town of Capljina is on the border with Croatia.

•    He took his first steps in youth football in Bosnia with GOSK Gabela, but started his pro journey with Hajduk Split, where Slaven Bilic was his boss in the early days.

•    Jelavic picked up a number of medals during his time in Split, twice winning the national title and lifting the Croatian Cup in 2003.

•    Injuries restricted his appearances with Hajduk, however, and he looked outside Croatia for his next move with a year in Belgium kickstarting a career in Europe.

•    It was a two-year spell at Rapid Wien that brought his name to the fore, with a 29-goal campaign in 2009/10 alerting Rangers to his talents.

•    The 6’2 striker continued his prolific form in Glasgow, and was a Scottish Premier League winner in 2010/11 – the same year that the Gers also won the Scottish League Cup.

•    After moving to Everton in January 2012, a lightning start to his career on Merseyside saw him score nine goals in 13 Barclays Premier League games and pick up the League’s Player of the Month award for April 2012.

•    Despite only being with the Toffees for the final four months of his debut campaign in England, he finished the season as Everton’s top goalscorer.

•    Hull City became his second English club when he moved along the M62 in January 2014, but he was cup tied for the Tigers’ run to the FA Cup final that year.

•    He has appeared at two international tournaments, UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, scoring in the former in a 3-1 win over Republic of Ireland.