Sejad Salihović

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Sejad Salihović
Personal information
Date of birth (1984-10-08) 8 October 1984
Place of birthZvornik, SFR Yugoslavia
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current club1899 Hoffenheim
Number23
Youth career
Minerva Berlin
0000–2000Hertha 03 Zehlendorf
2000–2003Hertha BSC
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2005Hertha BSC II57(22)
2005–2006Hertha BSC5(0)
2006–1899 Hoffenheim195(53)
National team‡
2005–2006Bosnia and Herzegovina U214(2)
2007–Bosnia and Herzegovina39(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 9 November 2013.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 October 2013

Sejad Salihović (born 8 October 1984) is a Bosnian footballer who plays and captains for 1899 Hoffenheim primarily as a central midfielder but can also play as an attacking midfielder and occasionally as a left back. He is also a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. He has a powerful shot with his left foot and is a free kick specialist.[1][2]

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 are renovating their home. His hobbies include reading, playing football, and spending time with his family.[3]

Club career

Early career

Salihović began his career in the youth teams of lower-league sides Minerva 93 Berlin and Hertha 03 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.

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 2–1 defeat.[4] In 2006, he was transferred to 1899 Hoffenheim.

1899 Hoffenheim

He was rated by kicker sports magazine as the player of 2. Bundesliga 2007–08 season with the best over-all grades[5] and finished the season scoring six goals in 27 matches.[6] Currently he is a key player and the captain for 1899 Hoffenheim. The highly rated midfielder was sidelined with groin injury, which has been troubling him for some while, however he has made a full recovery.[7] Salihović had a good start to the 2010–11 Bundesliga season, but sadly ended with an injury. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Salihovic scored two late penalties against Dortmund to secure a relegation play off match. Ultimately, saving Hoffenheim from certain relegation.

International career

During October 2006 while playing for U21 Bosnia and Herzegovina national side, Salihović scored twice in the team's 2–3 aggregate loss to Czech Republic in the play-offs for 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. Both his goals were superb shots from 25 meters out[8] and 30 meters out.[9]

Since then, Salihović has been promoted to the Bosnia and Herzegovina senior side and has become an important member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's national team. Although his favorite position is in midfield, he has often been used as a left-back in lack of other options.[10] He has scored four goals for the senior national team, three of which have been from free-kicks. Due to unsporting behavior, the Bosnian midfielder has been suspended for four games, missing the Euro 2012 qualification matches against Luxembourg, France, Albania and Romania. He did return for a friendly match against Slovakia where Bosnia won 3–2 in Bratislava.

International goals

# Date Location Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 6 June 2009 Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Cannes  Oman 2–1 2–1 Friendly
2. 9 September 2009 Bilino Polje, Zenica  Turkey 1–1 1–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying
3. 29 May 2010 Råsunda, Solna  Sweden 1–1 4–2 Friendly
4. 2 September 2011 Dynamo, Minsk  Belarus 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

References

  1. ↑ "Salihovic: We can beat anyone". FIFA.com. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010. 
  2. ↑ E. Ćatović (17 February 2012). "Kralj Slobodnjaka: Sejad Salihović" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 17 February 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Sejad Salihovic". TSG Hoffenheim. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  4. ↑ "Hamburger SV – Hertha BSC 2:1 (1:1)" (in German). kicker Sportmagazin. 22 September 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2009. 
  5. ↑ "Salihovics kühnes Ziel" (in German). kicker.de. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009. 
  6. ↑ "Salihovic, Sejad" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 24 January 2009. 
  7. ↑ "Hoffemheim Midfielder Sejad Salihovic Sidelined With Groin Injury". goal.com. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2010. 
  8. ↑ Ladislav, Josef (6 October 2006). "Hubník gives Czechs the edge". UEFA.com. Retrieved 9 April 2012. 
  9. ↑ Krvavac, Fuad (10 October 2006). "Frejlach sends Czechs through". UEFA.com. Retrieved 9 April 2012. 
  10. ↑ "Sa Papetom na Euro 2012". sportin.ba. 4 March 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010. 

External links

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – current squad
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