REBEL former Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic has sealed his dream deal to join Croatian giants Hajduk Split on a two year contract, the club confirmed tonight.
Milicevic has been on the lookout for a big move back to Europe since exiting Newcastle Jets towards the end of last season after a fallout with coach Branko Culina and skipper Michael Bridges.
He came close to a move back to his former club FC Basel in Switzerland but opted instead to return to Australia, join a state league side to maintain match fitness and look for a more lucrative deal in the off-season.
After a sucessful run with South Melbourne in the VPL, he was released by the club two weeks ago to clinch the deal with Hajduk.
Unusually for the normally outspoken Milicevic, he left Australia without revealing any details of the looming deal.
But today Hajduk held a press conference to confirm the signing, and also unveiled former Gold Coast United star and NYL Player of the Year Steve Lustica as another signing.
Midfielder Lustica has inked a four year deal with the Croatian club.
The pair could now make their debut for their new side against Barcelona when the two sides meet in a friendly on July 23.
Milicevic fronted today's press conference and slipped on his new top while speaking fluent Croatian.
He returned to Australia from Europe in 2007 to join Melbourne Victory but a furious bust-up with coach Ernie Merrick and skipper Kevin Muscat saw an early end to his contract after just two games.
While back in Australia he proved to be the A-League's most colourful and outspoken character - but he soon realised his future lay back in Europe than in his homeland, where he said he now felt alienated.
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