Sergej Barbarez
Encyclopedia
Sergej Barbarez is a former football attacking midfielder
from Bosnia and Herzegovina
. He played for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga
from 2006 to 2008. He finished his career after the season 2007–08. Despite being naturally a midfielder, he could also play as an forward or even as an emergency defender
.
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(then part of Yugoslavia
). His father is Bosnian Serb (Orthodox Christian) and his mother is half-Croat (Catholic
) and half-Bosniak
(Muslim
).
Here, Barbarez was raised by his parents where he also received his education. As a young child, Sergej Barbarez was actually not very interested in football but in basketball
and athletics
. However, at the age of eleven, Barbarez started playing football though mostly for fun with friends after school. His father played as a left-back in FK Lokomotivi and his grandfather Milan was also a footballer.
Then, in 1984, Sergej Barbarez took a step further and started playing football for the youth team of FK Velež
in his native city of Mostar.
Some six years later, Barbarez signed with the first team of FK Velež
at the age of 19. However, briefly after, Barbarez served as a Military police in the Yugoslav People's Army
in Zagreb in 1991 before returning to Mostar to continue his career. In 1991, Sergej Barbarez returned to FK Velež and soon after everyone realized that Barbarez was a true talent.
The same year, Barbarez visited his uncle who was living in Germany
. Some time later, Barbarez was preparing to return back to Mostar but his uncle surprised him by extending his stay in Germany for two weeks. The uncle had arranged for Barbarez a two weeks try-out practise with Hannover 96
. The coach of Hannover 96
was so impressed by Barbarez that he signed him for the club. During those same two weeks the political situation throughout former Yugoslavia
was deteriorating by the minute and fighting was even occurring in some places. So Barbarez came to an agreement with his father to stay with the uncle in Germany for the near future.
In April 1992, the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina came to the city of Mostar. A month prior of the actual war, the father and sister of Barbarez fled with his high school sweetheart Ana to the city of Hannover in Germany. Barbarez's mother Zlata stayed in Mostar throughout the whole War in Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
Barbarez played for Hannover 96 during the second half of the 1991–92 and the whole 1992–93 season. Between 1993 and 1996, Barbarez played for 1. FC Union Berlin
at the third level before signing with Hansa Rostock. Barbarez played here between 1996 and 1998.
From 1998, Barbarez played for Borussia Dortmund
where he stayed until signing with Hamburger SV
in July 2000.
During the first season with Hamburger SV
, Barbarez became the top scorer for his club with 22 goals and joint top scorer of the Bundesliga
with Ebbe Sand
. Though Barbarez could not help Hamburg's elimination from the 2000–01 Champions League at the group stages despite his two goals, when the club qualified for that competition for the first time, after a third place in the previous domestic Bundesliga season.
On 17 May 2006, he signed a two-year deal with Bayer Leverkusen.
against Argentina
in a friendly match.
Before he retired from international football on 13 October 2005, Barbarez was the captain and leader of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
.
On 2 December 2005, he announced his comeback to the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
and played in the EURO 2008 qualifiers. He became captain of the team once again.
On 12 October 2006, Sergej Barbarez officially stepped down from playing for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team
and retired permanently from professional football in June 2008.
to the UEFA Euro 2012. However, the Football Association of Republika Srpska
blocked his entry and later on, Safet Sušić was elected as new coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.
On 5 January 2010, Barbarez received his UEFA Pro Licence in Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina
's educational facility in Jablanica
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
. They have two sons together, Filip-André (born 1994) and Sergio-Luis (1999).
Sergej is currently a member of the board of directors of the Hamburger SV
.
|1996–97||rowspan="2"|Hansa Rostock||rowspan="2"|Bundesliga
||27||2||2||1||0||0||29||3
|-
|1997–98||32||11||1||0||0||0||33||11
|-
|1998–99||rowspan="2"|Borussia Dortmund
||rowspan="2"|Bundesliga
||22||4||2||0||0||0||24||4
|-
|1999–00||14||2||1||0||5||1||20||3
|-
|2000–01||rowspan="6"|Hamburger SV
||rowspan="6"|Bundesliga
||31||22||1||0||8||1||40||23
|-
|2001–02||24||7||1||0||0||0||25||7
|-
|2002–03||24||6||1||0||0||0||25||6
|-
|2003–04||32||10||3||0||2||0||37||10
|-
|2004–05||30||11||1||0||0||0||31||11
|-
|2005–06||33||9||3||3||9||2||45||14
|-
|2006–07||rowspan="2"|Bayer Leverkusen||rowspan="2"|Bundesliga
||32||7||2||0||12||3||46||10
|-
|2007–08||29||4||0||0||10||3||39||7
|-
330||95||18||4||46||10||394||109
330||95||18||4||46||10||394||109
Individual
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...
from Bosnia and Herzegovina
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...
. He played for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
from 2006 to 2008. He finished his career after the season 2007–08. Despite being naturally a midfielder, he could also play as an forward or even as an emergency defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Biography
Sergej Barbarez was born to father Ljubo and mother Zlata, in the city of MostarMostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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...
(then part of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
). His father is Bosnian Serb (Orthodox Christian) and his mother is half-Croat (Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
) and half-Bosniak
Bosniaks
The Bosniaks or Bosniacs are a South Slavic ethnic group, living mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a smaller minority also present in other lands of the Balkan Peninsula especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia...
(Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
).
Here, Barbarez was raised by his parents where he also received his education. As a young child, Sergej Barbarez was actually not very interested in football but in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
. However, at the age of eleven, Barbarez started playing football though mostly for fun with friends after school. His father played as a left-back in FK Lokomotivi and his grandfather Milan was also a footballer.
Then, in 1984, Sergej Barbarez took a step further and started playing football for the youth team of FK Velež
Velež Mostar
FK Velež , successor of RŠD Velež, is a football club from Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the city of Mostar, founded on June 22, 1922....
in his native city of Mostar.
Some six years later, Barbarez signed with the first team of FK Velež
Velež Mostar
FK Velež , successor of RŠD Velež, is a football club from Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the city of Mostar, founded on June 22, 1922....
at the age of 19. However, briefly after, Barbarez served as a Military police in the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
in Zagreb in 1991 before returning to Mostar to continue his career. In 1991, Sergej Barbarez returned to FK Velež and soon after everyone realized that Barbarez was a true talent.
The same year, Barbarez visited his uncle who was living in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Some time later, Barbarez was preparing to return back to Mostar but his uncle surprised him by extending his stay in Germany for two weeks. The uncle had arranged for Barbarez a two weeks try-out practise with Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
. The coach of Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
was so impressed by Barbarez that he signed him for the club. During those same two weeks the political situation throughout former Yugoslavia
Former Yugoslavia
The former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
was deteriorating by the minute and fighting was even occurring in some places. So Barbarez came to an agreement with his father to stay with the uncle in Germany for the near future.
In April 1992, the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina came to the city of Mostar. A month prior of the actual war, the father and sister of Barbarez fled with his high school sweetheart Ana to the city of Hannover in Germany. Barbarez's mother Zlata stayed in Mostar throughout the whole War in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
.
Barbarez played for Hannover 96 during the second half of the 1991–92 and the whole 1992–93 season. Between 1993 and 1996, Barbarez played for 1. FC Union Berlin
1. FC Union Berlin
1. FC Union Berlin is a German association football club based in Berlin. It is one of two sides in the city bearing the name Union that emerged during the Cold War and played in East Germany, while the other played in the west. The club currently plays in the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga.-Foundation to...
at the third level before signing with Hansa Rostock. Barbarez played here between 1996 and 1998.
From 1998, Barbarez played for Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
where he stayed until signing with Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
in July 2000.
During the first season with Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
, Barbarez became the top scorer for his club with 22 goals and joint top scorer of the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
with Ebbe Sand
Ebbe Sand
Ebbe Sand is a Danish former professional footballer who most notably played as a striker for FC Schalke 04 in Germany. He was the German Bundesliga top scorer in 2001, and he won the German Cup in 2001 and 2002 with Schalke...
. Though Barbarez could not help Hamburg's elimination from the 2000–01 Champions League at the group stages despite his two goals, when the club qualified for that competition for the first time, after a third place in the previous domestic Bundesliga season.
On 17 May 2006, he signed a two-year deal with Bayer Leverkusen.
International
On 14 May 1998, Barbarez made his debut for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football teamBosnia 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...
against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in a friendly match.
Before he retired from international football on 13 October 2005, Barbarez was the captain and leader of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football 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...
.
On 2 December 2005, he announced his comeback to the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football 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...
and played in the EURO 2008 qualifiers. He became captain of the team once again.
On 12 October 2006, Sergej Barbarez officially stepped down from playing for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football 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...
and retired permanently from professional football in June 2008.
Coaching career
Barbarez announced on 14 December 2009 that he wants to coach the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football teamBosnia 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...
to the UEFA Euro 2012. However, the Football Association of Republika Srpska
Football Association of Republika Srpska
The Football Association of Republika Srpska is a football association in the Serb run entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina called Republika Srpska. The association supervises over 300 football clubs of which 3 are women's teams. The referee association has around 1,200 members. There are also around...
blocked his entry and later on, Safet Sušić was elected as new coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.
On 5 January 2010, Barbarez received his UEFA Pro Licence in Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Football 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...
's educational facility in Jablanica
Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jablanica is a town and municipality of the same name in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town is situated on the Neretva river and Jablanica lake. Jablanica is a part of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.-Geography:...
, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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...
.
Personal life
Sergej is married to his high-school sweetheart Ana, who is from MostarMostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
. They have two sons together, Filip-André (born 1994) and Sergio-Luis (1999).
Sergej is currently a member of the board of directors of the Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
.
Career statistics
|-|1996–97||rowspan="2"|Hansa Rostock||rowspan="2"|Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
||27||2||2||1||0||0||29||3
|-
|1997–98||32||11||1||0||0||0||33||11
|-
|1998–99||rowspan="2"|Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
||rowspan="2"|Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
||22||4||2||0||0||0||24||4
|-
|1999–00||14||2||1||0||5||1||20||3
|-
|2000–01||rowspan="6"|Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
||rowspan="6"|Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
||31||22||1||0||8||1||40||23
|-
|2001–02||24||7||1||0||0||0||25||7
|-
|2002–03||24||6||1||0||0||0||25||6
|-
|2003–04||32||10||3||0||2||0||37||10
|-
|2004–05||30||11||1||0||0||0||31||11
|-
|2005–06||33||9||3||3||9||2||45||14
|-
|2006–07||rowspan="2"|Bayer Leverkusen||rowspan="2"|Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
||32||7||2||0||12||3||46||10
|-
|2007–08||29||4||0||0||10||3||39||7
|-
330||95||18||4||46||10||394||109
330||95||18||4||46||10||394||109
Honours
Hamburger SV- German League CupDFB-LigapokalThe DFB-Ligapokal, or German League Cup, was a German football competition that took place before the start of the Bundesliga season, featuring the top five teams of the previous Fußball-Bundesliga season and the winners of the DFB-Pokal in Germany...
: 2003
Individual
- German BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
joint top scorer: 2000–01 (with Ebbe SandEbbe SandEbbe Sand is a Danish former professional footballer who most notably played as a striker for FC Schalke 04 in Germany. He was the German Bundesliga top scorer in 2001, and he won the German Cup in 2001 and 2002 with Schalke...
)
External links
- Leverkusen who's who
- Article at Welt Online