Petrović moved to Dinamo Zagreb in 1990, where he played as a right-back. In June 1991, Dinamo changed their name to HAŠK Građanski.[4] In HAŠK Građanski's short 1991–92 UEFA Cup campaign, Petrović scored all three of HAŠK Građanski's goals over two legs played against Trabzonspor.[5] He scored two penalties in the first leg played on 17 September 1991, which HAŠK lost 3–2 to Trabzonspor.[6] He scored another goal in the second leg played on 2 October 1991, which HAŠK tied 1–1.[7] In spite of Petrović's goalscoring form, HAŠK were eliminated from the UEFA Cup losing to Trabzonspor on aggregate.
Sevilla
Petrović joined Sevilla in November 1991,[8] with his transfer from HAŠK Građanski costing the Spanish team 500,000 DM.[9] HAŠK Građanski had agreed on Petrović's transfer as part of a package with Davor Šuker, who joined Sevilla simultaneously.[10] At the time, La Liga teams could field only up to four foreigners on the pitch, and Sevilla already had two foreign starters in Iván Zamorano and Pablo Bengoechea.[11] With the addition of Šuker, Petrović was meant to be Sevilla's fourth foreign starter, although he initially enjoyed little playing time.[11] Gradually, manager Víctor Espárrago began bringing him off the bench, and in a breakthrough performance, Petrović made an assist in Sevilla's 1–0 win against Real Murcia in the 1992 Copa del Rey Round of 16.[12] On 22 March 1992, Petrović scored his only goal in a league match with Real Burgos, with Sevilla winning 3–2.[11] However, after the departure of Espárrago, a markedly dry spell followed, especially when Sevilla signed Diego Maradona in the summer of 1992.[11] Therefore, he was quick to sign for Dutch club FC Den Bosch that summer.
Den Bosch and Waalwijk
Petrović joined FC Den Bosch in 1992 while his father was living in nearby Heusden as a guest worker.[13] This circumstance seemed to be a deciding factor in his move to Den Bosch, as it was widely regarded that he could have easily played for a more competitive team.[13] Den Bosch director Chris van der Laar commented that Petrović was "too good for Den Bosch".[13] In spite of Petrović's good reception, Den Bosch struggled in the 1992–93 season and ended up relegated back to the second tier at the end of the season. After a 5–0 loss against Feyenoord in May 1993, Den Bosch manager Hans van der Pluijm noted that "[Petrović] is playing three classes better than the rest of the team."[13] He was eager to join RKC Waalwijk in 1994. It was at this club which he excelled as an attacking right-back, and he scored 13 goals in total of 2 seasons before joining Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in 1996.
PSV
Petrović joined PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 1996. He was a regular starter during the 1996–97 season, when PSV won the Eredivisie that season under manager Dick Advocaat.[14] In his second season at the club, however, he proved a difficult player to manage and he was also involved in a spat with team captain Arthur Numan. Towards the end of Petrović's time at PSV, Advocaat was critical of his smoking habits.[15] In the fall of 1997, Petrović accepted a lucrative offer from the Urawa Red Diamonds, which estranged him from the rest of the club.[15] He insisted that he did not wish to leave PSV, but that the offer could not be ignored since ten of his relatives were living off of his money in Yugoslavia.[14] Petrović played a total of 35 games for PSV.[14] He played his last game for PSV on 5 November 1997, in a Champions League match against Newcastle United at St James' Park.[14]
Urawa Red Diamonds
In 1997, he moved to Japan to play for Urawa Red Diamonds[16] before returning to RKC Waalwijk in 2000 where he finished his playing career.
After the rumors were spread, Petrović took several opportunities to explain how the media identified him. When a Dutch journalist asked Petrović about his nationality considering the breakup of Yugoslavia, Petrović insisted on his identity as a Yugoslav. He explained himself with the following:
"I'm not going to change...I'm Montenegrin, as you are Brabantian and he is Frisian. But here [in the Netherlands] are all Dutch people. That's not what we are after, after the war [in Yugoslavia]. But if you're Yugoslav, you're Yugoslav."[15]
Managerial career
On 21 August 2006, Petrović was appointed as the new manager of Portuguese team Boavista. In his first match as manager, Boavista won 3–0 against Benfica. However, he resigned in October 2006 after only a month and a half in charge.[21] The following 2007–08 season Petrovic managed RKC Waalwijk to a second place in the Dutch 2nd division and failed to gain promotion to the Eredivisie. In the 2008–09 season he was Martin Jol's assistant at Hamburger SV.
On 28 July 2010, West Ham United confirmed Petrović as the assistant manager to manager Avram Grant.[22] On 23 November 2010, West Ham parted company with Petrović after less than four months. Upon his departure he made controversial comments about the Premier League questioning its quality.[23] In February 2010, Petrovic was named assistant to manager Guus Hiddink at Anzhi Makhachkala.[24]
On 17 March 2015, Petrović was named the assistant to manager Dick Advocaat at Sunderland, but was sacked on 4 October later that year.[25] He became assistant to manager Advocaat once more when he joined him at FC Utrecht in 2018.[26]
Botev Plovdiv
In the beginning of June 2019, Botev Plovdiv introduced Petrović as the new manager of the club.[27] Following his recommendations the club signed Marko Pervan, Philippe van Arnhem and Rodney Klooster. After a long run of poor results, on 16 October, Petrović was sacked.[28] Shortly after that van Arnhem and Klooster were also released. In 12 games under his guidance Botev Plovdiv won only twice, achieved three draws and lost seven matches, last four of which in a row. The next Botev Plovdiv manager achieved seven wins in a row with the same squad attributing to the competency of Petrović.
Inter Zaprešić
In the beginning of January 2020, Inter Zaprešić introduced Petrović as their new manager.[29] On 10 April 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Petrović terminated the contract with the club.[30]
He was appointed assistant to Advocaat again at Feyenoord in summer 2020.[31]
Iraq
After the resignation of Dick Advocaat in November 2021 as manager of the Iraq national team, Petrović took over on a caretaker basis.[32] He would coach Iraq at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup and the final round of the World Cup.[32] In the last seconds of his first match as head coach against Oman, which ended in a 1–1 draw, Petrović entered the field to designate who would kick the penalty.[33] He was sacked on 2 February 2022.[34]
