Ivica Olić was a top footballer at the international level. In his playing career, he played 651 official matches and scored 244 goals. He played for NK Zagreb, GNK Dinamo – Zagreb, CSKA – Moscow, HSV, Bayern, Wolfsburg, Munich 1860 and won national championship titles in all countries where he played. He played in 2 Champions League finals with Bayern, and won the UEFA Cup with CSKA. He played 104 games for the Croatian national football team and scored 20 goals. He took part in 3 World Cups and 2 European Championships.

As a coach, Ivica Olić was a member of the professional staff of the Croatian national team at 2 World Cups (2018 and 2022) and at one European Championship (2020). With the national team, he won a silver medal at the World Cup in Russia in 2018 and a bronze medal at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Also, in 2021, he was the head coach of FC CSKA Moscow.