Velimir Crljen
Crljen in 2011
Personal information
Full name Velimir Crljen
Date of birth (1966-07-23) 23 July 1966
Place of birth SFR Yugoslavia
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992 HNK Šibenik 1 (0)
1993 Toronto Croatia
1994 Toronto Rockets 5 (1)
1996–1998 Singapore Armed Forces FC
2000 Toronto Croatia
2001 Jurong FC
2002–2006 Toronto Croatia
Managerial career
2000 Toronto Croatia (player/coach)
2003 Toronto Croatia (player/coach)
2005 Toronto Croatia (player/coach)
2009 Toronto Croatia
2011–2015 Toronto Croatia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Velimir Crljen (born 23 July 1966) is a Croatian retired footballer and manager who played in the Croatian First Football League, American Professional Soccer League, Canadian Professional Soccer League, and S.League. He also had several notable terms as a manager for Toronto Croatia in the CPSL/CSL.

Playing career

Crljen played with HNK Šibenik of the Croatian First Football League in 1992.[1] In 1993, he played abroad in the Canadian National Soccer League with Toronto Croatia.[2] The following season played in the American Professional Soccer League with the Toronto Rockets. He made his debut on 8 July 1994 against Seattle Sounders.[3] In 1996, he played in the newly formed S.League with the Singapore Armed Forces FC, where he formed an instrumental triumvirate with fellow Croatian imports Ivica Raguz, and Jure Ere.[4] During his tenure with SAFFC he won the three league titles, Singapore Cup, and the Singapore FA Cup.[5]

In 2000, he returned to Canada in the role of player/coach for Toronto Croatia in the Canadian Professional Soccer League.[6] Crljen managed to achieve a CPSL Championship after defeating the Toronto Olympians.[7] After a one-year absence he returned to Singapore to sign with Jurong FC.[8][9] In 2002, he permanently returned to Toronto Croatia, where he would eventually make the full transition from a player to a manager.[10] He won his second CPSL Championship as a player in 2004.[11]

Managerial career

In 2003, he resumed his dual role of player/coach for Toronto.[12] After a year sabbatical from coaching, he returned to manage in 2005 and was named the head coach for the 2006 CSL All-Star team.[13] In 2009, he fully retired from competitive soccer and returned to managing Toronto Croatia, where he was dismissed at the conclusion of the season.[14] He returned in 2011 to lead Croatia to a championship, and followed by a double in 2012.[15][16] In 2012, he was recognized by the league with the Coach of the Year award.[17] He added another championship title in 2015, making Crljen one of the most successful managers in CPSL/CSL history.[18][19]

Honours

Player

Singapore Armed Forces FC
Toronto Croatia

Managerial

Toronto Croatia

References

  1. ↑ "Velimir Crljen". hrnogomet.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  2. ↑ McDonald, Marvin (24 July 1993). "Offence doesn't mean victory". NewspaperArchive.com. Winnipeg Free Press. p. 71. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "July 8, 1994". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "S-league: Facts & Figures". Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "S-league 1999 season". s-leaguefootball.blogspot.ca. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Canadian Professional Soccer League". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  7. ↑ Glover, Robin. "October 1, 2000 Toronto Olympians vs Toronto Croatia". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "Match Number: 019". www.geocities.ws. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  9. ↑ "2001 - Mar. 14 - Croatia on the move; Crijen overseas; Windsor gets game". 4 January 2003. Archived from the original on 4 January 2003. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 25 December 2002. Archived from the original on 25 December 2002. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  11. ↑ Glover, Robin. "October 11, 2004 CPSL Rogers Cup Final Vaughan Shooters vs Toronto Croatia (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "October 1, 2003 CPSL Toronto Croatia vs Brampton (League decision)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  13. ↑ "May 7, 2006 CPSL All-Stars vs Clyde FC (Scotlanc) (from CPSL media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  14. ↑ Gossai, Amit (17 May 2010). "Toronto Croatia opener delayed | Mississauga.com". Mississauga.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  15. ↑ "Canadian Soccer League". 24 January 2013. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  16. ↑ "October 27, 2012 CSL Final--Toronto Croatia vs Montreal Impact Academy (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "November 15, 2011--Toronto Croatia's Tihomir Maletic MVP For Second Year...Annual Award Winners Announced Sunday (from CSL website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  18. ↑ Adamson, Stan. "TORONTO CROATIA WIN A SQUEAKER FOR CSL CHAMPIONSHIP….Milton score Second Division victory | Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  19. ↑ Pavic, Marko (26 November 2015). "Toronto Croatia ponovo najbolja, osvojila je kanadsko prvenstvo". www.vecernji.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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