Marijan Bilić is a Croatian former footballer who played in the Yugoslav First League, National Soccer League, and North American Soccer League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | SR Croatia SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1954–1967 | Dinamo Zagreb | ||
| 1969–1974 | Toronto Croatia | ||
| 1977 | Toronto Metros-Croatia | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1970 | Toronto Croatia | ||
| 1975 | Toronto Metros-Croatia (interim) | ||
| 1976 | Toronto Metros-Croatia (interim) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bilić played in the Yugoslav First League with Dinamo Zagreb in 1967.[1][2] In 1969, he played with Toronto Croatia in the National Soccer League, where he was given the captaincy.[3] He assisted in winning the NSL Championship in 1971, and 1974.[4][5] In 1977, Toronto Metro's signed Bilić to a playing contract.[6][7]
In July 1970, he was named the player-coach for Toronto Croatia.[8] In 1975, he briefly served as an interim coach for the Toronto Metros-Croatia in the North American Soccer League, where he managed a 13-9 record.[9][10] After the dismissal of Ivan Markovic as head coach in 1976 he returned to the coaching position, where he appointed Domagoj Kapetanović as his tactician and eventual successor.[11][12]