Ivan Zelic was born to
Croatian parents on February 24, 1978. He started playing
football at the age of 7 for
Canberra FC, a club known for developing Croatian-Australian football players. This included his older brother
Ned Zelic and Croatian international player
Josip Simuic. Zelic received a scholarship to the
Australian Institute of Sport (A.I.S) at the age of 16, where he was spotted by
Sydney Olympic from the
National Soccer League (NSL). He began playing in this professional league at the age of 17 as a defender in
David Ratcliffe's side of 1995–96. He then signed for
Adelaide City on a two-year deal, leaving halfway through the second season to join the
Melbourne Knights. After finishing the season, Zelic returned home to play for Canberra FC, playing for the local side as a left sided midfielder as they won the minor premiership. After a 9-month lay off through injury, he recovered and signed for Malaysian club
Johor FC, where he spent a season.
International career Zelic was a regular of the Australian Under 20s, or
Young Socceroos, starting 11 leading up to and during the
World Youth Cup in
Malaysia in 1997. After the
World Youth Cup, he became the captain of the
Australian Olympic team or
Olyroos leading up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics but fell out of favor with Australian Olympic team coach
Raul Blanco. Blanco eventually invited Zelic to be part of the Olympic squad for the 2000
Olympics in Sydney, but Zelic declined the offer. ==Acting career==