31 Aug 2010 Nikica will be legend like Suker

RANGERS have just landed a striker to compare with Croatia goalscoring legend Davor Suker.

That's the verdict on £4.1million hitman Nikica Jelavic from the mentor who helped transform him into a star.

Zoran Vulic starred for Yugoslavia at Italia 90 and made a name for himself as a centre-half in La Liga with the likes of Real Mallorca.

These days Vulic - who also turned out for Nantes in France - is back home in Croatia coaching First Division side NK Istra 1961.

But he has never forgotten the promise he saw in the young Jelavic and he believes Gers' new boy will take the SPL by storm after the international break.

Vulic said: "I am so delighted Nikica has finally signed for Rangers. I have been very lucky to have the opportunity to work with him as a coach and he deserves to enjoy his big move to Glasgow.

"I followed the signing through the newspapers and the TV in Croatia and the transfer of Nikica to Rangers has made big headlines.

"It was worrying though because one day the deal was on - then the following day it looked like collapsing.

"But Rangers have made a very clever move to sign Nikica and I can see why Walter Smith insisted on getting him.

"I definitely know what Rangers are getting. I was the manager who gave Nikica his professional debut.

"I know what he is capable of doing on the pitch. Nikica is like my SON in football terms. All Rangers' hard work in the negotiations with Rapid Vienna will pay off now they have signed Jelavic.

"All their efforts will be worthwhile. I'm sure Jelavic will conquer the Scottish league with his goals.

"Nikica's movements to lose his markers are similar to those of Davor Suker.

"When he runs the silhouette of his body is the carbon-copy of Davor.

"It's the same with the way he shoots at goal and links himself with the midfielders. It's the same as Davor."

Vulic knows the weight he is putting on Jelavic's shoulders by putting him in the same bracket as Suker.

The Croat superstar's talents took him to the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal in a goal-laden career.

Vulic stressed: "Davor was a top-class player, he was one of the best strikers in the world at his peak.

"Davor's exploits helped earn him the nickname Sukerman and won him that move to Real Madrid.

"But Nikica is a killer in the penalty box like Davor.

"Defenders can't give him an inch of space because he can demolish you.

"Jelavic is the type of player every manager would like to have every day in training.

"And he is more of a team player than Davor.

"I don't think he had the fighting spirit that Jelavic has.

"Nikica's the type of soldier who would always be in the front line ready to fight for the cause.

"He is a fighter and works very intelligently on the pitch.

"Jelavic is really hungry to succeed and works non-stop for 90 minutes.

"He drops into the midfield areas exactly like Suker used to and opens up spaces in the opposition defence.

"If he has the chance to shoot on goal, he will do so. I know Nikica will be a nightmare for defenders in Scotland.

"If Rangers have two good wingers who can supply good crosses, he can score a lot of goals for them.

"Rangers is the perfect move and Scottish football will suit him.

"I feel I know everything about Rangers because Dado Prso talked about the club all the time when he was with Croatia.

"I was the assistant coach of the national team at the time and Dado always spoke of how well he was treated over at Ibrox."

After hanging up his boots Vulic started doing coaching badges and worked as a trainer in the Hajduk Split youth academy.

Then in 2000 he was given the chance to become boss of Hadjuk. And one of his first tasks was to call up a raw, teenage striker called Jelavic who had been playing for the under-17 side.

Vulic, 48, recalled: "I was looking for a striker. We had two but they did not convince me at all.

"I had reached my desperation point because I couldn't go and buy anyone.

"So I started looking in the youth team and I got a whisper that a new boy called Jelavic had arrived at the club. I was advised to take a look at him. The game I watched, Hajduk were losing 3-0 in the first half.

"But Jelavic came on in the second half and the match finished 3-3.

"He scored twice and set up the other goal. I decided to take him right away to train with the first team.

"People looked at me in a way that suggested they thought I was completely out of my mind!

"Yet Jelavic started playing in the first team and I remember his debut in a cup game against Dinamo Zagreb.

"We won and Nikica scored. The rest is history."

Vulic revealed he could even have been a predecessor of Jelavic at Ibrox.

Back in the days of Graeme Souness he had a 10-day trial at Gers' summer base in Tuscany but couldn't clinch a deal. He said: "Sometimes in football the most incredible things happen. When I finished my deal with Real Mallorca, I had the opportunity to move to Rangers.

"Destiny meant I didn't go to Glasgow in the end, but I am happy because Nikica is there now.

"In a way part of me is there too because I helped him as a player.

"In my trial at Rangers I trained with Terry Butcher and Ray Wilkins.

"That was the season when Maurice Johnston signed for the club and he joined us over in Italy.

"Butcher was very friendly with me and helped out as my English was not good in those days.

"It was a brilliant experience and I remember those hot days of intensive training in Italy and it's a good memory for me.

"Unfortunately, Rangers didn't sign me - I'm just glad Nikica went one better."