One of the most talented players ever produced in this country, Simunic, 33, was a recent acquisition by Dinamo Zagreb.

He signed with the Croatian powerhouse after a long and illustrious career in the German Bundesliga.

The ball-playing defender’s contract with the Croatians runs for another 18 months, after which he’ll be 35.

Simunic left Australia on Wednesday after spending the European winter break Down Under but hinted this might be his last club contract.

“My eventual plan was to play these one and a half years and see how the body feels but to tell you the truth, I’d most probably call it a day,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“I’ve been overseas for such a long time, I want to start living.”

However, Simunic said he was “90 percent” certain of returning to live in Australia in his home town of Canberra when he does finally hang up his boots.

Whenever Simunic comes back to Australia he tries to take in a few games, and he says he’s noticed the improvement this time around.

“I’ve watched two or three games and to tell you the truth, I’m actually very impressed," he said. It’s getting closer and closer to that European level.

“Technically it’s not bad at all. Obviously a lot of players who come out of Australia are physical, they can run a lot but tactically the league is getting a lot better.

“They’ve brought in some proven coaches. I don’t know them personally but I can see how the teams play.

"After playing overseas for such a long time, you can see the coaches have stamped their style on the teams.”

Simunic said it was hard to compare the old NSL with the A-League but hailed the former national league as being deceptively strong.

This writer first saw Simunic as a teenager in the mid-1990s playing for Melbourne Knights in the old NSL.

After catching the eye in the junior system alongside players such as former Olyroo Zeljko Susa, Simunic attended the AIS.

Simunic’s talent was clear for all to see with his composure on the ball and ability to play out from the back earning him a regular spot in the championship winning Knights first team as a 17-year-old.

He left the Melbourne club for German football in 1998 and has been there up until the last day of the 2011 August transfer window.

Simunic made his name at Hertha Berlin playing nine seasons and over 200 times up until 2009 before a move to Hoffenheim.

But a falling out with coach Ernst Tanner opened up the possibility of a move to the Croatian capital.

Simunic sees this new direction as ticking off one of his ambitions to play in the country of his heritage.

But also, perhaps more importantly, keeping match fit ahead of the Euro 2012 tournament, where Croatia have drawn Spain and Italy.

“Not making the World Cup last year was a huge shock for us," said Simunic, who opted not to play for Australia and made his Croatia debut a decade ago.

"It’s been a big turnaround to qualify for the Euros and do it the hard way through the play-offs against a very, very good Turkey side who were coached by Guus Hiddink.

“We’ve taken a good hard look at ourselves and we’re now playing good football.

“At the Euros, it’s a very tough group but at any European championships, they’re all very good teams.”

In Poland, Croatia play Ireland first then the 2006 world champions Italy followed by the current world champions Spain.

“The most important thing is to win the first game,” Simunic said. “We won’t under-estimate the fighting Irish but you win that first game and you’ve always got a chance.

“If we got through, it’d probably be the biggest achievement for the national team.”

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