Ladić was born in Čakovec, but grew up in the nearby village of Gornji Hrašćan and started his career at NK Varteks in 1977, transferring to the club's senior squad in 1980.
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He once again attracted the attention in the quarterfinals against Germany by saving a header and a volley from Oliver Bierhoff at close range, helping the Croatian team to record a surprisingly convincing 3-0 victory over the highly-favoured German side.
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In the early morning of 5 September 2010, hours after an under-21 international between Serbia and Croatia, Ladić was involved in a car accident when the Mercedes-Benz E-Class he was driving collided with a Renault Clio at a Zagreb road intersection.
Dražen Ladić, former goalkeeper of the Croatian national football team and winner of the bronze medal at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, grew up in the village.
Dražen Ladić | Dražen Žerić | Dražen Ričl | Dražen Marović | Dražen Bošnjaković |