His father was considered to be an Ustasha sympathizer and bourgeois, so in socialist Yugoslavia he had to accept jobs he was over-qualified for.
Rožić obtained a degree in biology from the Faculty of Mathematics and Science at the University of Zagreb and pursued a scientific career.
Rožić joined the Croatian Army where he served as a translator, due to his fluent use of English, German and Italian.
He was also a member of Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), and in 1993 he was elected to Zagreb city council.
[1] In October 2009, Rožić joined the Zagreb branch of the Croatian Peasant Party (HSS).