Mirsad Bešlija
Encyclopedia
Mirsad Bešlija is a Bosnian
football winger who is currently playing for Bosnian side, FK Željezničar
. He has also played for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team
.
Bešlija started his career with hometown side Slaven Živinice
. Although he was among the youngest players in their squad, he became an important part of the first team. He was spotted there and signed by Bosna Visoko
, a first division team at that time, in 1997. He spent two seasons in Visoko, during which he was selected for the national U21 team
. His rapid footballing ascent attracted the interest of FK Željezničar
and he signed for them in 2000, becoming a fans' favourite during his single season in the capital.
Bešlija joined Racing Genk
in July 2001, where he stayed for five years, and made over 130 league appearances, and he won the Belgian League with them in 2003-04. He moved to Heart of Midlothian
during January 2006 in a deal worth £850,000 (€1.22 million), a record fee paid by the Tynecastle
side. A dispute developed about whether the overall transfer fee should include agents percentages or not, leading Hearts to suspend payment after the first installment. When further dialogue brought no resolution, Genk petitioned UEFA
to impose a transfer embargo upon Hearts, however, agreement was finally reached in December 2006, with Hearts paying the entire outstanding balance.
Beslija suffered serious injury problems with Hearts and he failed to win a regular first team place. He was loaned out to Belgian club Sint-Truidense for the 2007–08 season, and he was released by Hearts in October 2008 after they reached a severance agreement.
On the international level, Bešlija has not played for Bosnia since 2006 mainly due to several injuries and loss of form at club level. He retired from international football in 2007.
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 winger who is currently playing for Bosnian side, 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...
. He has also played for the Bosnia and Herzegovina 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...
.
Bešlija started his career with hometown side Slaven Živinice
Slaven Živinice
NK Slaven is a football club from the town of Živinice in Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Former players: Elvir Rahimić Mirsad Bešlija...
. Although he was among the youngest players in their squad, he became an important part of the first team. He was spotted there and signed by Bosna Visoko
NK Bosna
Nogometni klub Bosna Visoko is a football club from the city of Visoko that is situated in Bosnia and Herzegovina.NK Bosna was founded in 1953 in the city of Visoko with merging NK Jadran and NK Radnički into one single club...
, a first division team at that time, in 1997. He spent two seasons in Visoko, during which he was selected for the national U21 team
Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 football team
Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 national football team is a youth team of Bosnia and Herzegovina that represents the country in the European Under-21 Football Championship and friendly matches....
. His rapid footballing ascent attracted the interest of 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...
and he signed for them in 2000, becoming a fans' favourite during his single season in the capital.
Bešlija joined Racing Genk
K.R.C. Genk
Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as...
in July 2001, where he stayed for five years, and made over 130 league appearances, and he won the Belgian League with them in 2003-04. He moved to Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
during January 2006 in a deal worth £850,000 (€1.22 million), a record fee paid by the Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
side. A dispute developed about whether the overall transfer fee should include agents percentages or not, leading Hearts to suspend payment after the first installment. When further dialogue brought no resolution, Genk petitioned UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
to impose a transfer embargo upon Hearts, however, agreement was finally reached in December 2006, with Hearts paying the entire outstanding balance.
Beslija suffered serious injury problems with Hearts and he failed to win a regular first team place. He was loaned out to Belgian club Sint-Truidense for the 2007–08 season, and he was released by Hearts in October 2008 after they reached a severance agreement.
On the international level, Bešlija has not played for Bosnia since 2006 mainly due to several injuries and loss of form at club level. He retired from international football in 2007.
External links
- Hearts Appearances at londonhearts.com
- National Football Teams