Muhamed Konjic
Encyclopedia
Muhamed Konjić is a Bosnia
n former football player.
, for which he has been capped 38 times. He was the captain in the first match played by Bosnia-Herzegovina on the 30 November 1995. This match, an immaterial 2–0 defeat to Albania
famously came just nine days after the Dayton Peace Agreement brought an end to the Bosnian conflict.
who has played in many places around Europe in his career. The clubs he played for include FK Sloboda Tuzla
, NK Belišće
, NK Zagreb
, FC Zurich
, AS Monaco
, Coventry City
and Derby County
.
Konjić played in Jean Tigana
's talented Monaco side which famously dumped Manchester United out of the Champions League
in 1998 on away goals after a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford
.
Early in 1999 the 6 ft 3 in defender was recruited by Gordon Strachan
, manager of English Premiership side Coventry City for a fee of around £2million. Injuries prevented fans from getting a real glimpse of the player though, as he made just 19 appearances before the club's relegation at the end of the 2000–01 season.
In the next three seasons, all of which were spent in the Championship
. 'Big Mo' (as he was nicknamed by Sky Blues fans) made 136 appearances, and scored five goals. During this period he became a fans' favourite and was renowned both for his fully committed style of play and also his willingness to bring the ball forward if the midfield and attack were not having any impact.
He was sold at the end of the 2003–04 season to Championship rivals Derby County
by then Sky Blues manager Peter Reid
. In the 2004–05 season he made 18 appearances in George Burley's Derby side which reached the Football League Championship play-offs. Injuries have continued to hamper his progress, and he has made just one appearance for Derby in the 2005–06 season as a result. He was released at the end of the season and subsequently retired from playing.
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...
n former football player.
International
Konjić was an influential player in the Bosnian squadBosnia 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...
, for which he has been capped 38 times. He was the captain in the first match played by Bosnia-Herzegovina on the 30 November 1995. This match, an immaterial 2–0 defeat to Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
famously came just nine days after the Dayton Peace Agreement brought an end to the Bosnian conflict.
Club
He was a solid defenderDefender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who has played in many places around Europe in his career. The clubs he played for include FK Sloboda Tuzla
FK Sloboda Tuzla
FK Sloboda is a football club from the city of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The English translation of the team's name is Football Club Freedom...
, NK Belišće
NK Belišce
NK Belišće is a Croatian football club based in the town of Belišće.-Notable former players: Mario Galinović Danijel Pranjić Milan Pavličić Muhamed Konjić Ivan Lukačević Rudika Vida , top 10 player of 1. HNL 1993-94 -External links:* at Nogometni magazin...
, NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
, FC Zurich
Fussballclub Zürich
Fussballclub Zürich, commonly abbreviated to just FC Zürich, is a Swiss football club from the city of Zürich. The club was founded in 1896 and have won the Swiss Super League 12 times and the Swiss Cup 7 times. The club won the 2009 Swiss Super League and last won the Swiss Cup in 2005...
, AS Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Konjić played in Jean Tigana
Jean Tigana
Jean Amadou Tigana is a manager and former French international footballer, having played in midfield and managed professional football extensively throughout France, including 52 appearances and 1 goal for the France national football team during the 1980s.-Playing career:Tigana started his...
's talented Monaco side which famously dumped Manchester United out of the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in 1998 on away goals after a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
.
Early in 1999 the 6 ft 3 in defender was recruited by Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
, manager of English Premiership side Coventry City for a fee of around £2million. Injuries prevented fans from getting a real glimpse of the player though, as he made just 19 appearances before the club's relegation at the end of the 2000–01 season.
In the next three seasons, all of which were spent in the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. 'Big Mo' (as he was nicknamed by Sky Blues fans) made 136 appearances, and scored five goals. During this period he became a fans' favourite and was renowned both for his fully committed style of play and also his willingness to bring the ball forward if the midfield and attack were not having any impact.
He was sold at the end of the 2003–04 season to Championship rivals Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
by then Sky Blues manager Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
. In the 2004–05 season he made 18 appearances in George Burley's Derby side which reached the Football League Championship play-offs. Injuries have continued to hamper his progress, and he has made just one appearance for Derby in the 2005–06 season as a result. He was released at the end of the season and subsequently retired from playing.
Trivia
- Konjić spent the first eight months of the Bosnian war in his country's army. After his military discharge he trained in the streets, often during artillery raids when everybody else was covering in bomb shelters or cellars.
External links
- http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=926
- http://premiermemories.terapad.com/index.cfm?fa=contentNews.newsDetails&newsID=71230&from=list&directoryId=24917 Footballs Hardest Man