Josip Katalinski
Encyclopedia
Josip "Škija" Katalinski (2 May 1948 – 9 June 2011) was a Bosnian
football player. He is considered to have been one of the greatest football players from the former Yugoslavia.
, a suburb of Sarajevo
. He was spotted there in 1964 by FK Željezničar
coaches who offered a move to their club's youth system. He accepted the offer immediately and one year later made his first team debut. He played for FK Željezničar until 1975. He made more than 250 league appearances and, although he was a defender, he scored 48 league goals. In total, he played more than 350 games in Željezničar's shirt, scoring more than 100 goals. He was a part of the team that won Yugoslav championship title in 1972.
Katalinski decided to go abroad in 1975. Subsequently, he signed a contract with French
side OGC Nice
. He had played 150 games for the club before he decided to end his career in 1978, because of an injury.
(18 caps). In 1972, he made his debut for Yugoslav national team
. He collected 41 caps and scored 10 goals.
One of the most famous moments of his career was a 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
play-off match against Spain
at Waldstadion
in Frankfurt
. He scored the only goal of the game that secured a place on 1974 FIFA World Cup
and instantly became a hero of the nation.
He was a member of Yugoslav 1974 FIFA World Cup and 1976 UEFA European Football Championship
squads.
. He was an educated football coach and he also graduated in physical education. He worked as a coach in several clubs and he was a vicepresident of his favourite FK Željezničar.
Bosnians
Bosnians are people who reside in, or come from, Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the modern state definition a Bosnian can be anyone who holds citizenship of the state. This includes, but is not limited to, members of the constituent ethnic groups of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and...
football player. He is considered to have been one of the greatest football players from the former Yugoslavia.
Club career
Katalinski's career began in a small club FK Igman based in IlidžaIlidža
Ilidža is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has a metro population of 157,654, making it the 7th largest city in the country. Ilidža is the chief suburb of Sarajevo. It is famous for the natural beauty of its surroundings and historical tradition dating back to...
, a suburb of Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
. He was spotted there in 1964 by FK Željezničar
FK Željeznicar
FK Željezničar is a professional football club from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo.The initial acronym stands for Fudbalski sportski klub , and the name Željezničar means "railway worker," given because it was established by a group of railway workers.Željezničar, alias "Željo," is the most...
coaches who offered a move to their club's youth system. He accepted the offer immediately and one year later made his first team debut. He played for FK Željezničar until 1975. He made more than 250 league appearances and, although he was a defender, he scored 48 league goals. In total, he played more than 350 games in Željezničar's shirt, scoring more than 100 goals. He was a part of the team that won Yugoslav championship title in 1972.
Katalinski decided to go abroad in 1975. Subsequently, he signed a contract with French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
side OGC Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
. He had played 150 games for the club before he decided to end his career in 1978, because of an injury.
International career
As a youngster, Katalinski started playing for junior team of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and later for Yugoslav junior national team (12 caps) and Under-21 national teamYugoslavia national under-21 football team
The Yugoslavia national under-21 football team existed in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After the state's dissolution in 1992, the following teams were formed:*Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team...
(18 caps). In 1972, he made his debut for Yugoslav national team
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
. He collected 41 caps and scored 10 goals.
One of the most famous moments of his career was a 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 99 teams entered the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. , as the hosts, and , as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition....
play-off match against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
at Waldstadion
Commerzbank-Arena
The Commerzbank-Arena is a sports stadium in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. Commonly known by its original name, Waldstadion , the stadium opened in 1925. The stadium has been upgraded several times since then; the most recent remodelling was its redevelopment as a football-only stadium in preparation...
in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
. He scored the only goal of the game that secured a place on 1974 FIFA World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
and instantly became a hero of the nation.
He was a member of Yugoslav 1974 FIFA World Cup and 1976 UEFA European Football Championship
1976 UEFA European Football Championship
-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Top scorers:19 goals were scored in 4 games for an average of 4.75 goals per game.4 goals Dieter Müller2 goals Dragan Džajić Ruud Geels...
squads.
Postplaying career
Katalinski worked as a youth coordinator for Football Association of Bosnia and HerzegovinaFootball Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Football Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |football]] in Bosnia and Herzegovina based in Sarajevo.It operates the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, the Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team, Bosnia and Herzegovina...
. He was an educated football coach and he also graduated in physical education. He worked as a coach in several clubs and he was a vicepresident of his favourite FK Željezničar.