Mate Bilić

Mate Bilić (born 23 October 1980) is a Croatian retired footballer who played as a striker.

During his professional career he played mainly in Spain – where he arrived at the age of 21 – representing five different clubs. He amassed La Liga totals of 124 games and 22 goals over the course of five seasons in representation of Sporting de Gijón and Zaragoza, adding 197/66 in Segunda División.

Club career

Born in Split, Croatia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Bilić began his professional career in 1997 at hometown club HNK Hajduk Split, and went on to establish himself as a regular during the 1999–2000 season, after a season-long loan spell with NK Mosor in the Croatian second division. In two separate campaigns he scored 15 league goals for Hajduk, including nine in 2000–01 as the side won its fourth national championship title.

At the end of August 2001 Bilić transferred to La Liga with Real Zaragoza, but failed to impress as he only netted once in 18 league appearances. Between 2002 and 2006 he would represent, one season each, UD Almería, Sporting de Gijón, Córdoba CF and UE Lleida (all clubs playing in the second level).