Nikica Jelavić is a Croatian footballer, who plays as a striker for Premier League club Everton and the Croatia national team. He started his youth career at his local side GOŠK Gabela, which plays in the Bosnian league system. He later played with Prva HNL side Hajduk Split in 2002, before moving to Belgian Pro League club Zulte Waregem in 2007. In the 2008–09 season, Jelavić played for the Austrian champions Rapid Vienna. In the Austrian Bundesliga he played 24 games and scored 7 goals. On 20 August 2010, Jelavić completed a £4 million move to Rangers on a six-year-deal. On 11 September, Jelavić scored his first Rangers goal against Hamilton Academical at New Douglas Park. On 21 September, Jelavić played against Dunfermline Athletic in the League Cup, scoring two goals in the game. Jelavić\'s first hat trick for Rangers came in a 6–0 win over Motherwell on 12 February 2011 at Ibrox Stadium. On 31 January 2012, Jelavić signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Everton for a fee of £5 million. On 10 March 2012, Jelavić scored his first goal for Everton- the only goal of the game in a 1–0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park. Jelavić was named the Premier League Player of the Month for April 2012, being the first Croatian to achieve this. In 2010, he made five international appearances, scoring the equaliser in a 1–1 friendly match against Slovakia in Bratislava. Jelavić was also selected for Croatia\'s UEFA Euro 2012 squad and scored his first competitive international goal.
