Born in Nikšić (SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia), he started his career in 1993 by playing with the local club FK Sutjeska Nikšić where in 7 seasons he made over 250 league appearances and scored over 30 goals.
Within days in January 1989, the trio ousted Miljan Radović, the chairman of the Montenegrin Communist League and Božina Ivanović, the Presidents of the Presidency of Montenegro, replacing them with politically obedient confidants Veselin Vukotić and Branko Kostić, respectively.