Mehmed Baždarevic
Encyclopedia
Mehmed Baždarević is a Bosnian
football manager
and former football midfielder
. He is the current manager of the French Ligue 1
club Sochaux-Montbéliard
. Baždarević played for Bosnian side Željezničar Sarajevo and Sochaux-Montbéliard
, among others. Internationally he earned caps
with Yugoslavia
and Bosnia and Herzegovina
after the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992. He retired as a player in 1998 and moved into management.
semifinals in 1985 under the guidance of Ivica Osim
. In 1987, he moved to French
side Sochaux-Montbéliard
. He stayed at the club until 1996. He collected more than 350 appearances for FC Sochaux in various competitions.
After that, he played for Nîmes Olympique
(1996–97 season) and Swiss
side Étoile Carouge
(1997–98 season) before he announced his retirement in summer of 1998.
team. He was the captain of U21 national team that won inaugural European Under-21 football championship in 1978
. His debut for Yugoslav national team
came in 1983. He collected 54 caps and scored 4 goals for the national team.
Baždarević began to play for the Bosnian national team
in 1992 after Bosnia-Herzegovina gained independence. However, the team was not recognised by FIFA
until 1995 in part due to the Yugoslav wars
.
Baždarević international career is remembered for his spitting on the Turkish
referee Yusuf Namoğlu during a qualifying match
for the 1990 World Cup
, against Norway
played in Sarajevo
. Baždarević was banned from the 1990 World Cup for the incident.
. He guided the club to its biggest success - entering the French Ligue 1
in 2004, which secured him a best Ligue 2
manager of the year award. On 16 July 2005, Baždarević took over Tunisia
n side Étoile Sportive du Sahel
. He reached the 2005
African Champions League
final with the club. Baždarević was fired by Etoile on 12 April 2006, after a 1–0 home defeat to USM Monastir
in their final league cost them the Tunisian League
.
Baždarević was employed as a head coach of Qatar
i Al-Wakra in 2006. In December 2006, he was a short list candidate for the Bosnia-Herzegovina national team coaching spot, but the job went to Fuad Muzurović
instead.
Since December 2007, he has been managing French
side Grenoble Foot 38
where he arrived on recommendation of his mentor Ivica Osim
who knew Grenoble's Japanese owners from working with them in J-League with JEF United. At the end of 2007–08, led by Bazdarevic, Grenoble gained promotion to the French top league. In September 2010, he left Grenoble.
On 10 June 2011, Baždarević was named as the head coach of the Sochaux
for which he played professional football.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
football manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and former football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He is the current manager of the French Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
club Sochaux-Montbéliard
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
. Baždarević played for Bosnian side Željezničar Sarajevo and Sochaux-Montbéliard
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
, among others. Internationally he earned caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
with Yugoslavia
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...
and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
after the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1992. He retired as a player in 1998 and moved into management.
Playing career
Known as Meša in the former Yugoslavia and colloquially known as Mécha in France, he is considered to be one of the best football players from Bosnia and Herzegovina ever. His professional playing career started in Željezničar Sarajevo in 1979. He played more than 300 games for the club. He was part of a team that managed to reach the UEFA CupUEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
semifinals in 1985 under the guidance of Ivica Osim
Ivica Osim
Ivan "Ivica" Osim is a Bosnian former football player and manager. He was most recently head coach of Japan, before he suffered a stroke in November 2007 and left the post...
. In 1987, he moved to 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 Sochaux-Montbéliard
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
. He stayed at the club until 1996. He collected more than 350 appearances for FC Sochaux in various competitions.
After that, he played for Nîmes Olympique
Nîmes Olympique
Nîmes Olympique is a French association football club based in Nîmes. The club was formed on 10 April 1937 and currently play in Championnat National, the third level of French football. The club's only achievement was winning Ligue 2 in 1950 and the Championnat National in 1997...
(1996–97 season) and Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
side Étoile Carouge
Étoile Carouge FC
Étoile Carouge FC is a Swiss football team based in Carouge which was founded in 1904. It currently plays in the Swiss Challenge League.-Current squad:-Former players:-External links:*...
(1997–98 season) before he announced his retirement in summer of 1998.
International career
He also played for the national teams of two countries. He played for Yugoslavia junior, Olympic and U-21Yugoslavia 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...
team. He was the captain of U21 national team that won inaugural European Under-21 football championship in 1978
1978 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1978, which spanned two years had 24 entrants. Yugoslavia U-21s won the competition.The 24 national teams were divided into eight groups. The group winners played off against each other on a two-legged home-and-away basis until the winner was decided...
. 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...
came in 1983. He collected 54 caps and scored 4 goals for the national team.
Baždarević began to play for the Bosnian national team
Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
in 1992 after Bosnia-Herzegovina gained independence. However, the team was not recognised by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
until 1995 in part due to the Yugoslav wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
.
Baždarević international career is remembered for his spitting on the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
referee Yusuf Namoğlu during a qualifying match
1990 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 1990 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 24 places at the tournament...
for the 1990 World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
, against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
played in Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
. Baždarević was banned from the 1990 World Cup for the incident.
Managing career
His coaching career started in Sochaux-Montbéliard where was an assistant and also a coach of the reserve squad. His first job as a head coach was at the IstresFC Istres
Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the...
. He guided the club to its biggest success - entering the French Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
in 2004, which secured him a best Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
manager of the year award. On 16 July 2005, Baždarević took over Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n side Étoile Sportive du Sahel
Étoile Sportive du Sahel
The Étoile Sportive du Sahel is a sports club from Sousse in the Sahel region of Tunisia, known primarily for its football team. The club also has sections for handball, volleyball, basketball, judo and wrestling...
. He reached the 2005
CAF Champions League 2005
The CAF Champions League 2005 started on 29 January 2005 with a preliminary round. The two legs of the final were played on 28 October and 12 November, with Egypt's Al-Ahly coming out as 3-0 aggregate winners.-Preliminary Round:...
African Champions League
CAF Champions League
The CAF Champions League is an annual international club football competition run by the Confederation of African Football . The top club sides from Africa's football leagues are invited to participate in this competition, which is the premier club football competition on the continent and the...
final with the club. Baždarević was fired by Etoile on 12 April 2006, after a 1–0 home defeat to USM Monastir
Union Sportive Monastir
Union Sportive Monastirienne , is a football club from Monastir in Tunisia. Founded in 1923 under the name Ruspina Sports, it was renamed Union Sportive Monastirienne in 1942. The new name reflects the union between Ruspina Sports and other clubs in town and the Nationalists union of Monastir...
in their final league cost them the Tunisian League
Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1
The CLP-1 or "Championnat de la Ligue Professionnelle 1" is the top division of the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. It was created in 1921.-History:...
.
Baždarević was employed as a head coach of Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
i Al-Wakra in 2006. In December 2006, he was a short list candidate for the Bosnia-Herzegovina national team coaching spot, but the job went to Fuad Muzurović
Fuad Muzurovic
Fuad Muzurović is a Bosnian football manager and was the head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team...
instead.
Since December 2007, he has been managing 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 Grenoble Foot 38
Grenoble Foot 38
Grenoble Foot 38, commonly referred to as simply Grenoble, is a French association football club based in Grenoble, a city situated at the foot of the French Alps. The original incarnation of the club was founded in 1892 and, in 1997, was formed into the club that exists today as a result of a merger...
where he arrived on recommendation of his mentor Ivica Osim
Ivica Osim
Ivan "Ivica" Osim is a Bosnian former football player and manager. He was most recently head coach of Japan, before he suffered a stroke in November 2007 and left the post...
who knew Grenoble's Japanese owners from working with them in J-League with JEF United. At the end of 2007–08, led by Bazdarevic, Grenoble gained promotion to the French top league. In September 2010, he left Grenoble.
On 10 June 2011, Baždarević was named as the head coach of the Sochaux
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
for which he played professional football.
Manager
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Istres FC Istres Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the... |
 |
2003 | 2005 | 62 | 21 | 19 | 22 | |
| Étoile du Sahel Étoile Sportive du Sahel The Étoile Sportive du Sahel is a sports club from Sousse in the Sahel region of Tunisia, known primarily for its football team. The club also has sections for handball, volleyball, basketball, judo and wrestling... |
 |
16 July 2005 | 12 April 2006 | 25 | 15 | 7 | 3 | |
| Al-Wakrah |  |
2006 | 2007 | 27 | 7 | 13 | 7 | |
| Grenoble Grenoble Foot 38 Grenoble Foot 38, commonly referred to as simply Grenoble, is a French association football club based in Grenoble, a city situated at the foot of the French Alps. The original incarnation of the club was founded in 1892 and, in 1997, was formed into the club that exists today as a result of a merger... |
|
2007 | 2010 | 67 | 25 | 22 | 20 | |
| Sochaux FC Sochaux-Montbéliard Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city... |
|
2011 | Present | 16 | 4 | 6 | 6 | |