Edin Cocalić

Edin Cocalić
Personal information
Date of birth 5 December 1987 (1987-12-05) (age 24)
Place of birth Višegrad, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position Central Defender, Defensive Midfielder
Club information
Current club Panionios F.C.
Number 26
Youth career
Željezničar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Željezničar 110 (6)
2010– Panionios F.C. 36 (1)
National team
2007–2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 November 2010.
† Appearances (Goals).

Edin Cocalić (Bosnian pronunciation: [ɛdiŋ tsɔtsalitɕ]; born 5 December 1987 in Višegrad) is a Bosnian football player, who is currently playing for Panionios F.C..

Contents

Club career

Cocalić began his football career with Željezničar, where he played for eleven years and captained his team in the last three seasons spent at the club. He received numerous honours at youth level with his club and is known for being the youngest captain in the history of Željezničar.

His highlight moment was scoring a second goal in a city derby against the biggest rivals Sarajevo in a cup match, inspiring his team to a 3–1 win and eventually advancing to semi-final.[1]

He was on the verge of becoming a new Duisburg player, but eventually didn't settle with the offer from the Bundesliga side.[2] Soon afterwards, Cocalić signed a contract with Panionios F.C. in January 2010 that would keep him at the club for the next three and a half years.[3]

On the 3rd of June 2011, Panionios F.C. announced on its website receiving an official offer from the champions of Israel, Maccabi Haifa F.C., for the services of Edin Cocalić, which they rejected. [4]

Attributes

On 23 July 2010, IMScouting marked Cocalić and 6 other defenders as a perfect replacement for Tottenham's centerbacks King and Woodgate, describing him as "another rising talent who has huge potential and an uncompromising defender who is very aggressive and strong in the tackle, great in the air and dangerous in the opposition's penalty box at set pieces." Also, they cited his "fearless nature and good technique" as his most impressive attributes concluding that he "certainly can reach the very top". [5]

International career

He was a captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina U-17 and also a part of Bosnia and Herzegovina U-19 and Bosnia and Herzegovina U-21. He received one call-up for the senior Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.

Personal life

Cocalić became a father in March 2011. His wife, Merima, gave birth to a baby girl.[6]

Cocalić is bilingual, speaking English fluently.[7]

References