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Yugslavia
Yugoslavia after break up
Yugoslavia World Cup 2018
Macedonia/Montenegro/Kosovo,
Serbia , Croatia, Slovenia
Yugoslavia World Cup 1994
In 2014, I create an all-time Yugoslavian team that featured players from all the former republics. Later I created an all-time team for Croatia and Serbia. Then, I also posted an all-time Yugoslavian team, excluding players from Croatia and Serbia. In 2019, I decided to create individual all-time team for Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both countries have qualified for the World Cup Finals after the breakup of Yugoslavia. My All-time Yugoslavian team, excluding players from Croatia and Serbia became Macedonia/Montenegro/Kosovo. In 2022, I finally created Yugoslavia after break up All-Time Team.
Macedonia/Montenegro/Kosovo,
Serbia , Croatia, Slovenia
Yugoslavia World Cup 1994
In 2014, I create an all-time Yugoslavian team that featured players from all the former republics. Later I created an all-time team for Croatia and Serbia. Then, I also posted an all-time Yugoslavian team, excluding players from Croatia and Serbia. In 2019, I decided to create individual all-time team for Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both countries have qualified for the World Cup Finals after the breakup of Yugoslavia. My All-time Yugoslavian team, excluding players from Croatia and Serbia became Macedonia/Montenegro/Kosovo. In 2022, I finally created Yugoslavia after break up All-Time Team.
All the players from Yugoslavia era were selected through ethnicity and birth place. I found this region full of players who are Croats and Serbs. It was difficult for me to determine if the player should be on the team or how they feel about being on this team. Birth place became my main criteria for eligibility. Any player born here are entitled to be on this team. My team included footballers who probably would not be considered to be on most Bosnia and Herzegovina All-Time team. I apologised to any ill feeling that I might cause due to the political and sensitive nature of the situation in this country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen a steady rise in their fortunes on the international football stage in recent times. From 1920 to 1992, the players lined up for Yugoslavia. After its independence, Bosnia and Herzegovina have to wait until the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to compete for a place in a major competition. Bosnia and Herzegovina finally qualified for the 2014 World Cup.
This is my all-time team for Bosnia and Herzegovina. If there were an All-Time World Cup, this would be the 23 players I would bring to the tournament.
Team
GK: Asmir Begovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
The Begović family fled the Bosnian War to Germany and moved Canada when Asmir was 10 years old. He grew up in Canada and played for their youth team before switching to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina senior team. He helped Bosnia and Herzegovina to qualify for the WC in 2014. Professionally, he started with Portsmouth. He spent most of his career with Stoke City in England. He was used as a backup for Chelsea.
GK: Enver Marić (Yugoslavia)
Enver Marić started his career playing for FK Velež Mostar from 1967 to 1976, for who he played a record 600 games in his nine-year stint. Marić then went on to play for German club FC Schalke 04 from 1976 to 1978 and the Yugoslavia national team at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He was capped 32 times for Yugoslavia in the period from 1972 to 1976.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have seen a steady rise in their fortunes on the international football stage in recent times. From 1920 to 1992, the players lined up for Yugoslavia. After its independence, Bosnia and Herzegovina have to wait until the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers to compete for a place in a major competition. Bosnia and Herzegovina finally qualified for the 2014 World Cup.
This is my all-time team for Bosnia and Herzegovina. If there were an All-Time World Cup, this would be the 23 players I would bring to the tournament.
Team
GK: Asmir Begovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
The Begović family fled the Bosnian War to Germany and moved Canada when Asmir was 10 years old. He grew up in Canada and played for their youth team before switching to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina senior team. He helped Bosnia and Herzegovina to qualify for the WC in 2014. Professionally, he started with Portsmouth. He spent most of his career with Stoke City in England. He was used as a backup for Chelsea.
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| Asmir Begovic |
Enver Marić started his career playing for FK Velež Mostar from 1967 to 1976, for who he played a record 600 games in his nine-year stint. Marić then went on to play for German club FC Schalke 04 from 1976 to 1978 and the Yugoslavia national team at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He was capped 32 times for Yugoslavia in the period from 1972 to 1976.
GK: Ivan Ćurković (Yugoslavia)
Curkovic played as a goalkeeper for Velež Mostar, Partizan and Saint-Étienne. Ćurković was a goalie of outstanding quality who played for AS Saint-Étienne during the 1970s and early1980s and was instrumental in the successful runs of Saint-Étienne's football club to the top of the French League and to the finals of the European Cup in the 1975–76 season. He played alongside French legend Michel Platini from 1978 to 1981. Capped 19 times for Yugoslavia.
Curkovic played as a goalkeeper for Velež Mostar, Partizan and Saint-Étienne. Ćurković was a goalie of outstanding quality who played for AS Saint-Étienne during the 1970s and early1980s and was instrumental in the successful runs of Saint-Étienne's football club to the top of the French League and to the finals of the European Cup in the 1975–76 season. He played alongside French legend Michel Platini from 1978 to 1981. Capped 19 times for Yugoslavia.
RB: Mirsad Fazlagić (Yugoslavia)
RB: Branko Stanković (Yugoslavia)
Branko Stanković was best remembered for his career with Red Star Belgrade, where he won 4 league titles and established himself as one of the best defender in Yugoslavian football history. He participated at two World Cups(1950 and 1954) and twice at Olympic Games. Stanković is one of the most elegant defense players of his time. Because of his playing style, he earned his nickname Ambassador.
CB: Faruk Hadžibegić (Yugoslavia)
CB: Josip Katalinski (Yugoslavia)
CM: Mehmed Baždarević (Yugoslavia/Bosnia and Herzegovina)
RW/RB: Hasan Salihamidžić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Hasan Salihamidžić is best remembered for playing 9 seasons with Bayern Munich. With Bayern, he won the 2001 Champions' League final, scoring one of the penalties in the shootout win in the Final. He also played for Juventus and Wolfsburg. At the international level, he earned 43 caps and scored six goals for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. He is regarded by many as one of the most successful Bosnian football players in recent times.
-- Ivan Ćurković was born in Mostar. From 1989 until 2006, Ćurković was president of FK Partizan. He was the president of the Serbian Olympic Committee until February 2009. In 2009, he became the vice-president of the Serbian Football Association. He seemed to have absorbed into the Serbian society. However, he remained eligible due to his birth place. I could not determine the nationality and ethnicity of many players from Yugoslavia so I strictly used birth place as one of the main criterias.
-- Dejan Lovren was born in modern day Bosnia, but he played for Croatia where he grew up.
-- Miralem Pjanić was an all-round midfielder. He could play as an attack midfielder and a defensive midfielder. He was on the Serie A Team of the Year for four consecutive years.
-- Despite having only a single cap from Yugoslavia, Asim Ferhatović was considered among the greatest from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is a legend at FK Sarajevo. Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium, the site of the Opening Ceremonies of the 1984 Winter Olympics and the home of FK Sarajevo, is named in his honour. The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team often used the stadium for their international matches in the past. It is also the largest stadium in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although he may be regarded as a local legend in Sarajevo, he did not achieve the same level of international stardom as players like Vahid Halilhodžić, Edin Dzeko, and Zlatko Vujovic. While I value the significance of being a local hero, it was challenging to select him over the other mentioned players. Ultimately, his omission from the team was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make.
Mirsad Fazlagić played 450 matches for FK Sarajevo in the Yugoslavian First League. He made 19 appearances for Yugoslavia. He is especially known internationally for being the captain of Yugoslavia during the 1968 European Football Championship, where they came second by barely losing to the home side Italy after a two-legged final in Rome.
RB: Branko Stanković (Yugoslavia)
Branko Stanković was best remembered for his career with Red Star Belgrade, where he won 4 league titles and established himself as one of the best defender in Yugoslavian football history. He participated at two World Cups(1950 and 1954) and twice at Olympic Games. Stanković is one of the most elegant defense players of his time. Because of his playing style, he earned his nickname Ambassador.
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| Mirsad Fazlagić |
Faruk Hadžibegić was capped 61 times for Yugoslavia from 1982 to 1992. He went to the World Cup Finals
in 1990. He is the second most capped Bosian player for Yugoslavian
national team and and fifth overall most capped player for the
Yugoslavia national football team (61 caps). During his career he played
for FK Sarajevo, Real Betis, FC Sochaux and Toulouse FC.
CB: Mirsad Hibić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Hibić had been a prolific part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team since its inception, having been capped 35 times, 14 as captain. At club level, he played for NK Čelik Zenica and Hajduk Split. In 1996, he moved to Sevilla FC, and then, he joined Atlético Madrid in 2000 before retiring in January 2004.
CB: Emir Spahić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Emir Spahić was the captain of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2014 World Cup Finals. He had played 94 times for the national team. Over the course of his club career, Spahić played for Zagreb, Shinnik Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sevilla, Anzhi Makhachkala, Montpellier, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, etc. He is a first cousin of fellow national team player Edin Džeko.
CB: Mirsad Hibić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Hibić had been a prolific part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team since its inception, having been capped 35 times, 14 as captain. At club level, he played for NK Čelik Zenica and Hajduk Split. In 1996, he moved to Sevilla FC, and then, he joined Atlético Madrid in 2000 before retiring in January 2004.
CB: Emir Spahić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Emir Spahić was the captain of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 2014 World Cup Finals. He had played 94 times for the national team. Over the course of his club career, Spahić played for Zagreb, Shinnik Yaroslavl, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sevilla, Anzhi Makhachkala, Montpellier, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV, etc. He is a first cousin of fellow national team player Edin Džeko.
Josip
Katalinski was capped 41 times for Yugoslavia. He went to European
Championship in 1976. He scored the winning goal for the game against
Spain that helped Yugoslavia to qualify for the World Cup Finals in
1974. He played for FK Željezničar from 1965 to 1975. He made more than
250 league appearances, and although he was a defender, he scored 48
league goals. In 1975, he joined Nice in France.
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| Josip Katalinski |
LB: Sead Kolašinac (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Born in Germany, Sead Kolašinac had represented Germany at the youth level, but he chose to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2013. He represented his country at the 2014 World Cup Finals. From 2012 to 2017, he played for Schalke 04. He was named the Bundesliga Team of the Year twice. In 2018, he moved to play for Arsenal.
Born in Germany, Sead Kolašinac had represented Germany at the youth level, but he chose to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2013. He represented his country at the 2014 World Cup Finals. From 2012 to 2017, he played for Schalke 04. He was named the Bundesliga Team of the Year twice. In 2018, he moved to play for Arsenal.
LB: Džemal Hadžiabdić (Yugoslavia)
Džemal Hadžiabdić made his debut in 1971 with his native Velez Mostar, where he spent nine seasons. In 1980, he moved to Swansea City in Wales. In his first season abroad, he helped the new team to advance to the top of the English division, where he managed to spend two more seasons before finishing his career in 1982. He made his debut for Yugoslavia in a September 1974 friendly match against Italy and has earned a total of 20 caps, scoring no goals.
DM/RB: Refik Šabanadžović (Yugoslavia)
Refik Šabanadžović began with OFK Titograd before he moved to Sarajevo's Željezničar in 1983. He helped the club to reach the UEFA Cup semifinals in the 1984–85 season. He played for Red Stars Belgrade from 1987 to 1991, where he won the European Cup in 1991. With AEK, he won three league championship in the 1990's. He also played for Olympiacos and Kansas City Wizards. He was capped 8 times. He played 4 games at the 1990 World Cup Finals.
CM: Miralem Pjanić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Miralem Pjanić started his career at Metz in France. He signed for Lyon in 2008 before signing for Roma in 2011. In 2016. Pjanić joined Juventus. He was named Serie A Team of the Year for 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons. Pjanić made his senior international debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2008, earning over 90 caps and scoring 15 goals since. He went to the 2014 World Cup. He had represented Luxembourg at youth levels.
Miralem Pjanić started his career at Metz in France. He signed for Lyon in 2008 before signing for Roma in 2011. In 2016. Pjanić joined Juventus. He was named Serie A Team of the Year for 2015–16, 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons. Pjanić made his senior international debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2008, earning over 90 caps and scoring 15 goals since. He went to the 2014 World Cup. He had represented Luxembourg at youth levels.
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| Miralem Pjanić |
Mehmed Baždarević collected 54 caps and scored 4 goals for Yugoslavia between 1983 and 1992, and another 2 caps for Bosina and Herzegovina after the breakup of Yugoslavia. However, the team was not recognised by FIFA until 1995 in part due to the Bosnian War. He went the Euro 1984 held in France. He played for FK Željezničar Sarajevo and went to the UEFA semifinal in 1985.
RW/RB: Hasan Salihamidžić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Hasan Salihamidžić is best remembered for playing 9 seasons with Bayern Munich. With Bayern, he won the 2001 Champions' League final, scoring one of the penalties in the shootout win in the Final. He also played for Juventus and Wolfsburg. At the international level, he earned 43 caps and scored six goals for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. He is regarded by many as one of the most successful Bosnian football players in recent times.
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| Hasan Salihamidžić |
LW: Enver Hadžiabdić (Yugoslavia)
Hadžiabdić is so far the only person in Željezničar history to have won league titles both as a player and as a manager. As a player he won the Yugoslav First League with Željezničar in 1972 and the First League of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1998. He played for Željezničar between 1965 and 1974. Then, he played for Charleroi for three years. For Yugoslavia, he was capped 12 times. He played in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
AM/SS: Blaž Slišković (Yugoslavia/Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Slišković had a good career with Hajduk Split and Marseille. In 2011, he was chosen in the "Hajduk Split Best 11 of all-time. He also played for FK Velež Mostar, Hajduk Split, Pescara, RC Lens, FC Mulhouse, Rennes, NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac and HŠK Zrinjski. In 1985, he was named the Yugoslav Footballer of the Year. He was capped 26 times for Yugoslavia. He missed the 1982 World Cup Finals and Euro 1983. In 1993, he played three matches for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
AM: Ivica Osim (Yugoslavia)Slišković had a good career with Hajduk Split and Marseille. In 2011, he was chosen in the "Hajduk Split Best 11 of all-time. He also played for FK Velež Mostar, Hajduk Split, Pescara, RC Lens, FC Mulhouse, Rennes, NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac and HŠK Zrinjski. In 1985, he was named the Yugoslav Footballer of the Year. He was capped 26 times for Yugoslavia. He missed the 1982 World Cup Finals and Euro 1983. In 1993, he played three matches for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ivica Osim was born in Bosnia of a mixed family in 1941. He played with FK
Željezničar Sarajevo before moving aboard in 1970. Apart from three
months in Holland, he played mostly in France. In France, he played for
Valenciennes, Sedan and again at Strasbourg. He was capped 16 times for
Yugoslavia. He reached the Final at Euro 1968.
AM: Safet Sušić (Yugoslavia)
Safet Sušić was one of the greatest Yugoslavian players. He
played for FK Sarajevo, Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star Saint-Ouen and
internationally for Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was voted
Paris Saint-Germain's best player of all time and the best foreign
player of Ligue 1 of all time by France Football. He
represented Yugoslavia at the 1982 and 1990 World Cups, and at the
European Championship 1984. In 1993, he played twice for Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
ST: Vedad Ibišević (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
In 2004, he joined PSG. Then, he joined Alemannia Aachen, and in 2007, he moved to 1899 Hoffeneheim, where he played until 2012. From 2012 to 2016, he played for Stuttgart. At the time of writing, he is with Hertha Berlin. In 2008, he won the Idol Nacije award(Bosnian Footballer of the Year). From 2007 to 2017, he has earned over 80 caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was selected for the 2014 World Cup, where he scored Bosnia's first ever goal in a major tournament.
FW: Vahid Halilhodžić (Yugoslavia)
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| Safet Sušić |
In 2004, he joined PSG. Then, he joined Alemannia Aachen, and in 2007, he moved to 1899 Hoffeneheim, where he played until 2012. From 2012 to 2016, he played for Stuttgart. At the time of writing, he is with Hertha Berlin. In 2008, he won the Idol Nacije award(Bosnian Footballer of the Year). From 2007 to 2017, he has earned over 80 caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was selected for the 2014 World Cup, where he scored Bosnia's first ever goal in a major tournament.
FW: Vahid Halilhodžić (Yugoslavia)
Regarded
as one of the best Yugoslav players in the 1970s and 1980s, Halilhodžić
had successful playing spells with Velež Mostar, and French clubs
Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in the mid-1980s. He also
appeared for the Yugoslav national team and was part of the squads
which won the 1978 European Under-21 Championship before earning 15 full
international caps for Yugoslavia.
ST: Zlatko Vujovic (Yugoslavia)
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| Vahid Halilhodžić |
Born in Sarajevo, Vujović started his career with HNK Hajduk Split, making his first division debuts at just 18. He was named Yugoslav Footballer of the Year in 1981 by the Večernji list daily. In 1986, both siblings moved to compete in France, first with FC Girondins de Bordeaux: in their first season both were undisputed starters in an eventual double. He earned 70 caps for Yugoslavia. He was the captain of the 1990 World Cup team.
ST: Edin Džeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Edin
Dzeko is probably the most famous player for Bosnia and Herzegovina not
from the era under Yugoslavia. He has played over 80 times for his
country and scored 52 goals since 2007, becoming the highest Bosnia and
Herzegovina goalscorer of all time. He led Bosnia and Herzegovina to qualify
for the World Cup in 2014. He had a great career with Wolfsburg and
moved to Manchester City in 2011. At the time of writing, he plays for
Roma, helping the club to reach the semifinal of the Champions' League
in 2018.
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| Edin Džeko |
Honorable Mention
Sergej Barbarez, Dušan Bajević, Asim Ferhatović, Muhamed Mujić, Meho Kodro, Ilija Pantelić, Džemal Hadžiabdić, Džemal Mustedanagić, Edhem Šljivo, Sergej Barbarez, Franjo Vladić, Vedin Musić, Zlatan Bajramović, Boro Primorac, Vahidin Musemić, Josip Bukal, Elvir Baljić, Florijan Matekalo, Petar Manola, Milan Rajlić, Stanko Zagorac, Ibrahim Biogradlić, Vahidin Musemić, Muhamed Konjić, Zoran Vujovic, Dusan Bajevic, Asim "Hase" Ferhatović, Elvir Rahimić, Mirsad Baljić, Davor Jozić, Elvir Bolić. Milan Rajlić, Petar Manola, Edin Višća.
Sergej Barbarez, Dušan Bajević, Asim Ferhatović, Muhamed Mujić, Meho Kodro, Ilija Pantelić, Džemal Hadžiabdić, Džemal Mustedanagić, Edhem Šljivo, Sergej Barbarez, Franjo Vladić, Vedin Musić, Zlatan Bajramović, Boro Primorac, Vahidin Musemić, Josip Bukal, Elvir Baljić, Florijan Matekalo, Petar Manola, Milan Rajlić, Stanko Zagorac, Ibrahim Biogradlić, Vahidin Musemić, Muhamed Konjić, Zoran Vujovic, Dusan Bajevic, Asim "Hase" Ferhatović, Elvir Rahimić, Mirsad Baljić, Davor Jozić, Elvir Bolić. Milan Rajlić, Petar Manola, Edin Višća.
Squad Explanation
-- I wanted to do a review immediately after I created Yugoslavia after breakup All-Time Team. I did a review of this team on March, 2022, only two years after its creation. I went over the ethnic issue, which had been causing me a lot of issues.
-- I wanted to do a review immediately after I created Yugoslavia after breakup All-Time Team. I did a review of this team on March, 2022, only two years after its creation. I went over the ethnic issue, which had been causing me a lot of issues.
-- Because ethnicity is a sensitive issue in the region, I use various criteria for eligibility. All the players from Yugoslavia era were selected through ethnicity and birth place. I found this region full of players who are Croats and Serbs. It was difficult for me to determine if the player should be on the team or how they feel about being on this team. The birth place became my main criteria for eligibility. Any player born here are entitled to be on this team. My team included footballers who probably would not be considered to be on most other Bosnia and Herzegovina All-Time team. I apologised to any ill feeling that I might cause due to the political and sensitive nature of the situation in this country. The players after the collapse of Yugoslavia were based upon the national team they chose.
-- Safet Sušić, Edin Džeko, and Hasan Salihamidžić undoubtedly stand out as the country's finest players. Their inclusion in this list is unquestionable. Additionally, Josip Katalinski, Branko Stanković, and Miralem Pjanić also deserve a place here.
-- Branko Stanković and Josip Katalinski are on my Yugoslavia All-Time team. I left Safet Sušić off that team because Yugoslavia had plenty of great attack midfielders, but he was probably the best player not selected over there.
-- Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for their first ever major tournament in 2014 when they reached the World Cup Finals in Brazil. Edin Džeko, Miralem Pjanić, Sead Kolašinac and Asmir Begovic made this all-time team.
-- During the 1968 European Championship, Yugoslavia secured the second position. Leading the team as the captain was Mirsad Fazlagić, while Ivica Osim also made his mark as a player within the squad.
-- Yugoslavia reached the semi-final of the European Championship in 1960 and 1976. No one from this area went to the 1960 tournament, but in 1976, Vahid Halilhodžić and Josip Katalinski were on the team.
-- Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for their first ever major tournament in 2014 when they reached the World Cup Finals in Brazil. Edin Džeko, Miralem Pjanić, Sead Kolašinac and Asmir Begovic made this all-time team.
-- During the 1968 European Championship, Yugoslavia secured the second position. Leading the team as the captain was Mirsad Fazlagić, while Ivica Osim also made his mark as a player within the squad.
-- Yugoslavia reached the semi-final of the European Championship in 1960 and 1976. No one from this area went to the 1960 tournament, but in 1976, Vahid Halilhodžić and Josip Katalinski were on the team.
Goalkeepers
-- The region was very talented with goalkeepers, Ivan Ćurković, Enver Marić and Ilija Pantelić were considered to be the best five goalkeepers for Yugoslavia after Vladimir Beara (Croatia/Serbia) and Milutin Šoškić (Kosovo). -- Ivan Ćurković enjoyed a remarkable career with Saint-Étienne, leaving a lasting mark. Enver Marić, on the other hand, made a name for himself both as a prominent figure for Yugoslavia during the 1970s and through his successful club career in Germany. Ilija Pantelić was born in modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was then IS Croatia. He served as the starting goalkeeper during Euro 1968. Despite being a Bosnian Serb, his ethnic background did not impact his standing within the team. However, I opted for Marić due to his stronger association with the region, having achieved stardom with FK Velež Mostar. Pantelić and Ćurković may have been Bosnian Serbs, which some individuals may have considered as Serbian, but for this team, I prioritized their place of birth as the primary criterion.
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| Enver Marić |
-- When I created the original Yugoslavia All-Time Team (including players from former republics in 2014, I included Asmir Begović, but I probably overrated him. At the time, he was a goalkeeper on the rise with Stoke. But when I separated that team into two teams, namely Yugoslavia and Yugoslavia after the breakup in 2022. My impression of him changed. His career after 2015 seemed stalled. However, Begovic helped the national team to qualify for the World Cup Finals. So I kept him on this team. Upon further review (in March, 2022), I kept him over Ilija Pantelić. Pantelić was as good as anyone in the pool. He was often listed as the third or fourth greatest ever goalkeeper from Yugoslavia. He was even ranked ahead of Curkovic by some sources.
-- Samir Handanović is also a Bosniak born in Slovenia, but he is ineligible because he opted to play for Slovenia.
Defenders
-- I have some big names central defenders on the team. Faruk Hadžibegić and Josip Katalinski were great defenders from the Yugoslavian era. Mirsad Hibić and Emir Spahić also captained Bosnia and Herzegovina. Muhamed Konjić was the first captain of the national team after independence, but I put him on honourable mention.
-- Josip Katalinski was one of Yugoslavia's greatest central defenders. He helped FK Željezničar to win its only Yugoslavia league title. He was a local hero as well as a national hero.
-- Faruk Hadžibegić was remembered for missing the penalty against Argentina in the shootout during the quarterfinal of the 1990 World Cup Finals. With 61 caps, he was tied for 5th alongside Branko Stankovic as the most capped player for Yugoslavia.
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| Mirsad Fazlagić |
-- Branko Stankovic is listed as a Bosnian Serb. He was born in Sarajevo. Of course, he made this team. But since ethnicity is a serious issue in the region, he is also listed on my Serbia all-time team. He is 5th most capped player in Yugoslavia. Then, I took Mirsad Fazlagić. He was signed by Juventus for a fee that would have made him most expensive defender of all-time, but an injury kept him from going to Italy. He was on the team of the tournament for Euro 1968. He was also a local hero as he helped FK Sarajevo to win a historical league title in 1967. Mensur Mujdža made honorable mention. He was a Bosniak born in Croatia, but chose to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina. Zoran Vujovic who was born in Sarajevo was also considered. He could play as a sweeper as well as on the left side. His twin brother Zlatko is on this team.
-- On leftback, I first took Sead Kolašinac. He was on the Bundesliga Team of the Year twice. Then, I had to decide between Mirsad Baljić and Džemal Hadžiabdić. In three seasons with FC Sion, Baljić scored 40 goals as a leftback. In Swansea, Džemal Hadžiabdić was a cult hero playing alongside fellow Bosnian sweeper Ante Rakjovic. Under manager John Toshack, he was an important member of the team that helped Swansea to a promotion to the First Division and finished 6th in the top flight. I took him basically because he was better known for his career in England.
-- On leftback, I first took Sead Kolašinac. He was on the Bundesliga Team of the Year twice. Then, I had to decide between Mirsad Baljić and Džemal Hadžiabdić. In three seasons with FC Sion, Baljić scored 40 goals as a leftback. In Swansea, Džemal Hadžiabdić was a cult hero playing alongside fellow Bosnian sweeper Ante Rakjovic. Under manager John Toshack, he was an important member of the team that helped Swansea to a promotion to the First Division and finished 6th in the top flight. I took him basically because he was better known for his career in England.
Midfielders/Wingers
-- Safet Sušić was one of the greatest players ever from Yugoslavia. Hasan Salihamidžić was best remembered for playing 9 seasons with Bayern Munich. He was the first star player from here to emerge after the end of Yugoslavia.
-- Enver Hadžiabdić's name was mentioned frequently. For most of his career, he played as a left midfielder, but for the Yugoslav national team, he also played as a left back. He won't get into the team as a leftback, but the team lacked a good left-side attacker or winger. So I dropped striker Asim "Hase" Ferhatović (Yugoslavia) for him. He started his football career in 1948 with FK Sarajevo, for whom he made his first-team debut in 1952. Ferhatović remained with the club until his retirement in 1967, although he represented Fenerbahçe in the 1962–63 Turkish league season. He won a solitary cap for the Yugoslavia national team in 1961.
-- lijas Pašić, considered one of FK Željezničar Sarajevo's greatest players, was sometimes regarded as the first international footballer from FR Bosnia and Herzegovina. Born in Herceg Novi, which is now part of Montenegro, his background raises questions about his eligibility. However, due to uncertainty about his ethnicity, I decided not to include him on the team.
-- Zvjezdan Misimović is one of the greatest players from this country after its independence. But I left him off because I have Blaž Slišković, Ivica Osim and Safet Sušić ahead of him.
-- In July 2011, Zinedine Zidane named Blaz Slišković as one of his idols while growing up and included him in his "All Time Best 11" of Marseille. I trusted Zidane's judgement. I selected him over striker Muhamed Mujić. Mujic, a versatile player capable of playing in various attacking positions. However, his career took a significant turn during the 1962 World Cup Finals when he committed a brutal foul on Soviet defender Eduard Dubinski. Regarded as one of the worst fouls in World Cup history, the Yugoslav federation banned Mujic for a year, effectively ending his career.
-- Ivicia Osim could successfully play in any place in the attack, and because of his extraordinary technique, great ball handling, effective dribbling and good shot, he was nicknamed "Strauss from Grbavica".
-- The team does not have enough central midfielders. Miralem Pjanić and Mehmed Baždarević were very good central midfielders, but the team still needed more backups. When I created the blog, I took Elvir Rahimić and seriously considered Edhem Šljivo. In August 2021, I came across Refik Šabanadžović, a Bosniak player born in Montenegro. He was a member of the Red Star Belgrade team that won the European Cup. Šabanadžović represented Yugoslavia, which meant he was not cap-tied to either Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, he had previously played for a Bosnia and Herzegovina selection in 1993. Based on this information, I made the decision to exclude Rahimic from the team.
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| Mehmed Baždarević |
-- Elvir Rahimić played with Slaven Živinice, NK Bosna, Interblock Ljubljana, SK Vorwärts Steyr and FC Anzhi Makhachkala before he moved to CSKA Moscow. His greatest accomplishment during his 12-year spell with the club has been winning the 2005 UEFA Cup. He served a season there as a player-coach. He played 40 times for Bosnia and Herzegovina between 2007 and 2013.
Forwards
-- Zlatan Ibrahimovic's father was a Muslim Bosniak, but of course, he is not eligible because he played for Sweden. Furthermore, his parents left Yugoslavia long before the breakup of Yugoslavia. -- Despite having only a single cap from Yugoslavia, Asim Ferhatović was considered among the greatest from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is a legend at FK Sarajevo. Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium, the site of the Opening Ceremonies of the 1984 Winter Olympics and the home of FK Sarajevo, is named in his honour. The Bosnia and Herzegovina national team often used the stadium for their international matches in the past. It is also the largest stadium in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although he may be regarded as a local legend in Sarajevo, he did not achieve the same level of international stardom as players like Vahid Halilhodžić, Edin Dzeko, and Zlatko Vujovic. While I value the significance of being a local hero, it was challenging to select him over the other mentioned players. Ultimately, his omission from the team was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make.
-- Zlatko and Zoran Vujovic were born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but they were sometimes listed as Croats. Due to the fact that they played under Yugoslavia, they should be eligible for this team based upon their birthplace. I put Zoran on honorable mention, but Zlatko made this team. Zlatko is the second most capped players ever for Yugoslavia.
-- Meho Kodro's prime years were unfortunately hindered by the war, limiting his international exposure. While he is often remembered for his difficult season with Barcelona, I ultimately opted for Vedad Ibišević, who has made 70 appearances for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ibišević's inclusion was influenced by his recognition in the Bundesliga Team of the Year for the 2008-2009 season. Although Sergej Barbarez was also considered, Ibišević's higher number of games played and goals scored for the national team played a significant role in my decision-making process.
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| Vedad Ibišević |
-- Sergej Barbarez, Dušan Bajević, Asim Ferhatović and Muhamed Mujić were the big names missing on this team.
-- Dušan Bajević was the third all-time leading scorer in the Yugoslavia's league. He also scored 29 goals with 37 caps. He was on my AEK Athens All-Time team. I struggled with the idea to select him over Vedad Ibišević. Ibišević spent a long career in the Bundesliga. Moreover, he was on Bundesliga Team of the Year as well as ESM Team of the Year in the 2008-2009 season.
Formation
Hasan Salihamidžić was known for his speed and skill. So I am using him as a shuttler. I do not know if Mehmed Baždarević can play on the left.
Hasan Salihamidžić was known for his speed and skill. So I am using him as a shuttler. I do not know if Mehmed Baždarević can play on the left.
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