Desnica played mostly as a left winger for Rijeka and relied on pace and dribbling ability to charge towards the opposition box.

After returning to Croatia in 1990 he continued to play for smaller clubs, and helped NK Zadar win Yugoslav third-tier title in 1991.

Following Croatia's independence and the establishment of the new league system he joined second-tier club NK Pazinka and also won promotion with them in 1992.

Born in Obrovac, Croatia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Desnica spent much of his career with HNK Rijeka, appearing in nearly 300 official games and winning two Yugoslav Cups in the process.

[1] Desnica earned one cap for Yugoslavia, scoring in a 2–3 away loss against Romania for the UEFA Euro 1980 qualifiers, on 25 October 1978.