Sejad Salihović

Sejad Salihović (Bosnian pronunciation: [sějad sâːlixoʋitɕ]; born 8 October 1984) is a Bosnian former professional footballer. He spent most of his career playing for 1899 Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga. He also played for Hertha BSC, Beijing Renhe, St. Gallen and Hamburger SV.

Sejad Salihović
Salihović with 1899 Hoffenheim in 2008
Personal information
Full name Sejad Salihović[1]
Date of birth (1984-10-08) 8 October 1984
Place of birth Zvornik, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1995–1998 Minerva Berlin
1998–2000 Hertha Zehlendorf
2000–2003 Hertha BSC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Hertha BSC II 88 (35)
2004–2006 Hertha BSC 5 (0)
2006–2012 1899 Hoffenheim II 2 (0)
2006–2015 1899 Hoffenheim 228 (62)
2015–2017 Beijing Renhe 28 (5)
2017 St. Gallen 13 (0)
2017–2018 Hamburger SV 10 (1)
Total 374 (103)
National team
2005–2006 Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 9 (3)
2007–2015 Bosnia and Herzegovina 47 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

For eight years, from 2007 to 2015, Salihović played for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, earning 47 caps and scoring 4 goals for the team. He represented the nation at their first major tournament, the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Salihović began his career in the youth teams of lower-league sides Minerva Berlin and Hertha Zehlendorf. In the 2000–01 season, he was transferred to Hertha BSC, where he played for the U17 and U19 teams before eventually entering the reserve team in 2003.[3]

Hertha BSC

Salihović was promoted to the first team in 2004. He made his professional debut in a Bundesliga match against Hamburger SV on 26 September 2004, which ended in a 1–2 defeat.[4]

1899 Hoffenheim

In 2006, Salihović was transferred to 1899 Hoffenheim.[5] In his first season, the team played in Regionalliga Süd, at the time third tier league in Germany. At the end of the season, they managed to get promoted to 2. Bundesliga.[6]

He was rated by Kicker as the best player of 2. Bundesliga in 2007–08 season with the best over-all grades,[7] as 1899 Hoffenheim were once again promoted, this time to Bundesliga.[8]

Salihović helped 1899 Hoffenheim finish on the top of the table heading into the winter break in their first Bundesliga season.[9] However, they could not continue in the same rhythm, finishing season only seventh.[10]

At the end of the 2012–13 season, Salihović scored two late penalties against Borussia Dortmund to secure relegation play-off matches, ultimately saving his team from being relegated.[11][12]

His last seasons at 1899 Hoffenheim were plagued by injuries, limiting his playing time and performance.[13][14][15][16]

He left 1889 Hoffenheim in 2015, after 9 years, becoming the record appearance maker in club's history.[17]

Beijing Renhe

On 7 June 2015, 1899 Hoffenheim announced on their official website that Salihović would leave the club to join Chinese Super League side Beijing Renhe.[18]

St. Gallen

In February 2017, Salihović signed with Swiss Super League side St. Gallen until the end of the season.[19] As his contract was not renewed, he left the club on a free transfer in June 2017.[20]

Hamburger SV

On 13 September 2017, Salihović signed a one-year contract with Hamburger SV, returning to Bundesliga after more than two years.[21] He made his debut on 15 September, in a 0–2 loss against Hannover 96.[22] Salihović scored his first goal against Mainz 05, in an eventual 2–3 loss.[23] At the end of the season, Salihović left the club as his contract was not renewed.[24]

Retirement

On 4 April 2019, Salihović's adviser Tolga Dirican announced that despite offers from many 2. Bundesliga clubs, Salihović decided to end his career.[25]

International career

Salihović was a regular member of Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 team.[26] During October 2006, while playing for the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 team, Salihović scored twice in the team's 2–3 aggregate loss to Czech Republic under-21 in the play-offs for 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Both his goals were shots from over 25 meters out.[27][28]

Since then, Salihović has been promoted to the senior side and has become an important member of the team. He debuted on 13 October 2007 in a 2–3 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying loss to Greece,[29] and scored his first goal against Oman on 9 June 2009 in a friendly game.[30] Although his favorite position is in midfield, he has often been used as a left back in lack of other options.[31] Due to unsporting behavior in game against Portugal during 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs,[32] Salihović was suspended for four games, missing the UEFA Euro 2012 qualification games against Luxembourg, France, Albania and Romania. He returned for a friendly match against Slovakia, which Bosnia won 3–2 in Bratislava.[33]

In June 2014, he was named in Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, country's first big competition.[34] He played at all three games that Bosnia played at the World Cup. In the 2–1 and 1–0 losses against Argentina[35] and Nigeria and in a 3–1 win against Iran.[36]

After Bosnia failed to qualify to the 2016 UEFA Euro, Salihović, even though he never did announce it, left the national team.

Personal life

Salihović and his family migrated to Berlin in 1992, right before the Bosnian War started. In June 2009, after 17 years, Sejad visited his hometown of Zvornik where his parents Ismet and Fadila were renovating their home. His hobbies include reading, playing football, and spending time with his family.[37]

On 15 December 2014, Salihović married his girlfriend Julia.[38] In April 2015, the couple became parents of a boy named Lian.[39]

Style of play

Salihović had a powerful shot with his left foot and was a free-kick specialist right up to his retirement.[40][41]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 29 August 2018.[42]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hertha BSC II 2003–04 NOFV-Oberliga Nord 3113–––3113
2004–05 Regionalliga Nord 271410––2814
2005–06 308–––308
Total 883510––8935
Hertha BSC 2004–05 Bundesliga 5000––50
2005–06 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
Total 5000001060
1899 Hoffenheim II 2006–07 Oberliga Baden-Württemberg 10–––10
2011–12 Regionalliga Süd 10–––10
Total 20–––20
1899 Hoffenheim 2006–07 Regionalliga Süd 3010–––3010
2007–08 2. Bundesliga 27641––317
2008–09 Bundesliga 29811––309
2009–10 32441––365
2010–11 26540––305
2011–12 23932––2611
2012–13 20710–2[lower-alpha 2]0237
2013–14 281120––3011
2014–15 13200––132
Total 22862195–2024967
Beijing Renhe 2015 Chinese Super League 15200––152
2016 China League One 13300––133
Total 28500––285
St. Gallen 2016–17 Swiss Super League 130–––130
Hamburger SV 2017–18 Bundesliga 101–––101
Career total 3741032050030397108
  1. Appearance in 2005 DFL-Ligapokal
  2. Appearances in 2012–13 Bundesliga relegation play-offs

International
As of match played 13 October 2015.[43]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
200730
200860
200982
201041
201151
201270
201360
201460
201520
Total474

International goals
Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first.[43]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1. 6 June 2009 Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Cannes, France  Oman
2–1
2–1
 Friendly
2. 9 September 2009 Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Turkey
1–1
1–1
 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. 29 May 2010 Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden  Sweden
1–1
2–4
 Friendly
4. 2 September 2011 Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus  Belarus
1–0
2–0
 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

References
  1. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of players: Bosnia and Herzegovina" (PDF). FIFA. 14 July 2014. p. 5. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  2. "Sejad Salihovic". hsv.de. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  3. "Sejad Salihovic Spielerprofil" (in German). ligainsider.de. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  4. "Takahara rettet Toppmöller" (in German). kicker.de. 22 September 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  5. "Hoffenheim plant Salihović-Comeback" (in German). sport.de. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  6. "TSG 1899 Hoffenheim steigt in die 2. Bundesliga auf" (in German). baden-wuertemberg.de. 5 May 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  7. "Salihovics kühnes Ziel" (in German). kicker.de. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  8. "Dorfklub Hoffenheim steigt auf, Lautern gerettet" (in German). welt.de. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  9. "Aufsteiger Hoffenheim schießt sich zur Herbstmeisterschaft" (in German). t-online.de. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  10. "Hoffenheims 2008/09 Saison" (in German). fussballdaten.de. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  11. "Salihovic brace makes impossible possible". achtzehn99.de. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  12. "Salihović vodi Hoffenheim ka opstanku, Bayern i Borussija bez milosti" (in Bosnian). scsport.ba. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  13. "Hoffenheim midfielder Sejad Salihovic sidelined with groin injury". goal.com. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  14. "Hoffenheims Salihovic fällt zehn Wochen aus" (in German). spiegel.de. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  15. "Salihovic verletzt!" (in German). bild.de. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  16. "Knieprellung bei Salihovic, Modeste mit Zerrung" (in German). bundesliga.com. 30 March 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  17. "Salihović vor Bundesliga-Rückkehr?" (in German). sport.de. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  18. "Sejad Salihovic verlässt die TSG" (in German). achtzehn99.de. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  19. "Sejad Salihovic unterschreibt mit St. Gallen" (in German). 4-4-2.com. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  20. "Sejad Salihović ponovo u dresu Hofenhajma?" (in Bosnian). zvornicki.ba. 7 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  21. "Sejad Salihovic wechselt zum HSV" (in German). eurosport.de. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  22. "Harnik stochert 96 zum Sieg und zur Tabellenführung" (in German). kicker.de. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  23. "Bell und Latza profitieren von Hamburger Fehlern" (in German). kicker.de. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  24. "Rastali se HSV i Sejad Salihović" (in Bosnian). oslobodjenje.ba. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  25. "Uprkos brojnim ponudama: Bivši bh. reprezentativac završava fudbalsku karijeru" (in Bosnian). Sport1.ba. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  26. "Sejad Salihović se vraća u Bundesligu" (in Bosnian). reprezentacija.ba. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  27. "Hubník gives Czechs the edge". uefa.com. 6 October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  28. "Frejlach sends Czechs through". uefa.com. 10 October 2006. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  29. "Holders Greece take command of group". uefa.com. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  30. "Bosnia 2–1 Oman". 11v11.com. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  31. "Sa Papetom na Euro 2012" (in Bosnian). sportin.ba. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  32. "Od Bešlije do Bešića, crveni kartoni zmajeva koje ćemo dugo pamtiti" (in Bosnian). faktor.ba. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  33. "Slovakia 2–3 Bosnia" (in Serbian). lat.rtrs.tv. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  34. "Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014 World Cup squad". The Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  35. "Bosnia beaten by Messi marvel". FIFA. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  36. "Bosnians bid farewell by eliminating Iran". FIFA. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  37. "Sejad Salihovic Profil" (in German). achtzehn99.de. 10 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  38. "Sejad Salihović se oženio i čeka dijete: Kum će biti Vedad Ibišević" (in Bosnian). reprezentacija.ba. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  39. "Sejad Salihović i njegov sinčić Lian" (in Bosnian). radiosarajevo.ba. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  40. "Salihovic: We can beat anyone". fifa.com. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  41. "Kralj slobodnjaka: Sejad Salihović" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  42. "S. Salihović". soccerway.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  43. "Sejad Salihović". eu-football.info. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
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