Nikola Jerkan (born 8 December 1964) is a Croatian former professional footballer who played as a defender.
[4] He struggled to hold down a first-team place and after the departures of Frank Clark and Stuart Pearce, never hit it off with new manager Dave Bassett.
He went on a year-long loan to Rapid Wien of Austria at the start of the 1997–98 season and was never seen in the English game again.
Jerkan made his debut for Croatia in a July 1992 friendly match away against Australia and attained 31 caps, scoring one goal[5] (against Lithuania in Zagreb during the qualifications for Euro 96).
[6] Jerkan managed Real Avilés B for two seasons, securing the club's first ever promotion to the Tercera División (fourth tier).