Yugoslavian striker Bosko Balaban arrived in England in 2001 amid a wave of expectation, with Aston Villa paying near £6m to bring him to Villa Park.After five year with local side HNK Rijeka, Dinamo Zagreb had been persuaded enough to bring him to Croatia.
After ending as top scorer in the league, and finishing with 38 goals in 55 games, Balaban made the big move to the Premier League in 2001.
With a fee of £5,8m and £20,000 a week wages, you would be forgiven for thinking his two and a half years in England were quite fruitful.
However in that extended period of time he made only nine appearances, seven as a substitute, and failed to find the back of the net.
A loan back to Dinamo Zagreb ensued in the 2002/03 season where he once again found his goal scoring boots, but upon returning still failed.
He ended his unhappy English experience in 2004, moving to Club Brugge.
After 47 goals in 83 games in Belgium, during which he endeared himself to the fans, he returned to Croatia for his third spell at Dinamo Zagreb.
Two seasons and more goals flowed, before another switch came about.
This time to Greek side Panionios, where he is still playing at the moment.
