The two men remain good friends however, and the controversial Brisbane Roar front man was one of the first Tadic called when the opportunity of playing in the A-League arose.

Those close to the Croatian were surprised by his decision to head Down Under but after a horror stint in Poland, the striker said he was in need of a new beginning.

At just 25, Tadic is the very definition of the reluctant journeyman, with a long list of professional clubs across Germany, Croatia, France and Poland cluttering up his football CV.

Melbourne Heart have signed him on a one year contract, but all going well the former Croatian youth international is hoping to parlay some good form into a more permanent stay.

“I had a very difficult time when I was in Poland and I see this as a nice place for the future,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“There were a lot of questions (from friends) but for me this was right. I want to come here and start enjoying my game again.

“I see this as the place to come into good shape and score goals and help the team get good results.”

Capped 22 times for Croatia’s U21s, Tadic is not one to blame others for the way his career has panned out to date. Everything, he says, depends on him.

But if football really is a game of second, third - even fourth - chances there a few better candidates to test the theory.

“The life of a professional football player is like this - you never know when you need to move,” he said.

“Maybe you would like to spend two or three years but you spend one year – it depends on the situation. You never know what can happen.

“I would like to stay longer (with Heart). We will see. It depends on me, how I will play and how we make this season.”

His versatility, mobility and skill with the ball will make him an important addition to Heart’s attacking line-up and the perfect foil to the more traditional target man they have in Dylan McAllister.

Rookie head coach John Aloisi has high hopes for the tall lean striker who he admits “lost his way” in Europe.

Speaking of Tadic in an earlier interview he said: “It’s a fresh start here, and he’s only just turned 25 so he’s a good age.

“He’s very sharp in front of goal, mobile...he can play anywhere along the front three. He will hopefully score lots of goals.”

There will be no better opportunity for the striker to grab local hero status than when his team runs out on Friday for the first round derby clash against Melbourne Victory.

Just don’t expect the Croatian to be overawed by 35,000 plus passing through the gates of Etihad Stadium for the much-anticipated season opener.

Tadic has been in the thick of equally passionate derbies in the Bundesliga and Croatia – including the fiercely contested Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split fixture which rates as one of the great Euro rivalries.

“(Derbies) are a great experience,” he said. “Every player I think waits for a game like this because it’s a lot of people in the stadium and you can show (your football). It’s the best game to play.

“I don’t know for other players but for me, every time you are maybe a little bit nervous, but when you come on the field, when you touch the ball, you don’t think about it. (The nerves) are just gone.

"When you step on the pitch you think just about your game.”

The pitch will be different, the jersey, the fans and his teammates but one small ritual has never changed for the wandering striker from the farming town of Dakovo.

That first step over the white line will be with his right foot. Heart fans will be hoping that same foot helps fire them into finals contention in Season 8.