Croatian Sensation joins Millwall - Profile

The Croatian midfielder, who is 33 years old, was not considered worthy of first-team football by Luton manager Kevin Blackwell, despite most fans believing that he could still do a job for us. Blackwell sent Brkovic out on loan to Millwall, where he has proved to be a reasonable success, scoring three goals in nine appearances. He has today joined Millwall on a permanent basis, along with another former Luton signing Adrian Forbes, who signed for Millwall earlier in January.

Brkovic's Luton career started under Joe Kinnear, when he was signed from Leyton Orient on a free transfer. His appearances were relatively minimal in

Brko and Keane after goal against Swindon

that season in Division Three, but his contribution was good to the team. Brko scored just once in the league that season, a winning goal at Torquay United, where he also picked up a season ending injury. He returned to the team the next season in Division Two, and scored on the opening day of the season in a 3-2 home defeat to Peterborough United. His form then improved throughout the season, which was shown in the 4-3 victory over Stevenage in the Mickey Mouse Trophy, where Brkovic scored a six-minute hat-trick away from home to give Luton the win, and the memory of watching my Teletext screen change from 2-1 to Stevenage to 4-2 to Luton, Brkovic hat-trick will haunt me forever. Two more goals in the FA Cup against Guiseley followed, before a great goal away from home to Tranmere a few weeks later helped Luton pick up an excellent 3-1 away win. After that, he became somewhat more anonymous through the season, with his form diminishing, and just one more goal straight from a corner at Chesterfield in a 2-1 defeat. At this point, most Luton fans considered him a decent player, but nothing more than that, and certainly not a player capable of being in a title winning team week in week out. His next season at Luton seemed to prove this, with an unspectacular season and just one goal to his credit in Mike Newell's first season in charge.

At this moment in time, many Luton fans were starting to get on the Croatian's back, and wouldn't have been too bothered when Mike Newell dropped him for the start of the 04-05 season for Stephen O'Leary. However,

Brkovic after crucial Hull goal

Brkovic ended up proving his critics very much wrong, by performing well and scoring a goal in the 4-3 victory over Barnsley early on in the season. Two more at Blackpool followed as Luton went on a superb unbeaten run. It was this season that Brkovic started to prove his knack for scoring important and incredible goals - his overhead kick at home to Bradford was the goal of the season, and a scissors kick in the last ten minutes at home to Port Vale gave Luton an important win. However, his finest moment that season came in a crucial home match to title rivals Hull City. Brkovic got on the end of a Robinson cross to head the ball home and give Luton a 1-0 win. His performance throughout that season was absolutely superb, and although Kevin Nicholls was rightly awarded the Player of the Year, Brko could so easily have won it for his incredible turnaround in form and his general attitude to the team, which didn't appear to be as passionate as Nicholls' attitude, but he was definitely part of a key group of players who cared for the club, along with Howard, Curtis, Nicholls, Foley, Sol Davis, Marlon, Vine and Coyne, only two of which remain now.

Croatian Sensation scores again

Brkovic carried his form into the next season as well. On the opening day of the season, he helped Luton to a completely unexpected 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace by scoring another late goal. He would also score in the midweek win over Southampton, although Dean Morgan would be the unlikely inspiration for that win. A few matches later, he then pulled off another goal of the season with an overhead kick against Leicester City that helped Luton on the way to a 2-0 away victory. Although his form that season wasn't as strong as the previous season, he still proved his worth to the team with late goals at Derby and Watford that rescued points for Luton.

The relegation season last year saw Brko's appearances restricted due to injuries, but when available he was a definite first choice, as he added passion to the team as well as ability. Not passion in the Kevin Nicholls style, but just the will to perform well, which was sadly lacking that season in other players. He again popped up with a last minute winner at Barnsley that season, although this was maybe more because of a keeper mistake, but nevertheless he was still in the right place at the right time. His injury could well have been one of the factors in the relegation of last season as well.

Good luck for the rest of your career Ahmet, and thanks for your commitment and effort at Luton Town FC.