Vero Salatic
Encyclopedia
Veroljub "Vero" Salatić (born 14 November 1985 in Zvornik
, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Bosnia
n-born Swiss
footballer
who plays as a midfielder
for AC Omonia
in the Cypriot First Division
.
as a child and started training with local team SC Zug in 1992, aged 7. In 2000 he moved on to Grasshopper-Club Zurich
. In the 2003/04 season
he broke into the first team. He is used mostly as a holding midfielder or as a central defender
.
. He quickly became a key player for the team.
at various levels including at the U-19 European Championship
in 2004 in Switzerland
. In 2005 he starred at the FIFA U-20 World Cup
. The side were managed by Pierre-André Schürmann
. Salatić starred alongside a Swiss team including Blerim Džemaili
, Tranquillo Barnetta
and Valon Behrami
.
His success has not gone unnoticed by the Football Association of Serbia
who have twice attempted to call him up, both times he refused saying he wished to play for Switzerland. He played his last match for the U21 side against England in 2006 and since then neither Köbi Kuhn or Ottmar Hitzfeld
have shown any interest in calling him up.
Zvornik
Zvornik is a city on the Drina river in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, located south of the town of Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town Mali Zvornik lies directly across the river in Serbia, and not far north is Loznica.-History:Zvornik is first mentioned in 1410, although it was...
, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Bosnia
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-born 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....
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who plays as a 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...
for AC Omonia
AC Omonia
Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953...
in the Cypriot First Division
Cypriot First Division
The Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
.
Career
Salatić moved to SwitzerlandSwitzerland
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....
as a child and started training with local team SC Zug in 1992, aged 7. In 2000 he moved on to Grasshopper-Club Zurich
Grasshopper-Club Zürich
Grasshopper Club Zürich commonly referred to as simply GC, GCZ, or Grasshopper is a Swiss multisports club based in Zürich. The oldest and best known section of Grasshopper Club Zürich is its football team...
. In the 2003/04 season
Swiss Super League 2003-04
Statistics of Swiss Super League in the 2003–2004 season.-League standings:-References:...
he broke into the first team. He is used mostly as a holding midfielder or as a central 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....
.
AC Omonia
In July 2011, he signed a contact with Cypriot side AC OmoniaAC Omonia
Athletic Club Omonoia Nicosia is a professional football club that plays in the Cyprus capital city Nicosia. The club was established in 1948 and became a member of the Cyprus Football Association in 1953...
. He quickly became a key player for the team.
International career
Salatić has represented SwitzerlandSwitzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
at various levels including at the U-19 European Championship
UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
in 2004 in Switzerland
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....
. In 2005 he starred at the FIFA U-20 World Cup
FIFA U-20 World Cup
The FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
. The side were managed by Pierre-André Schürmann
Pierre-André Schürmann
Pierre-André Schürmann is a Swiss former footballer and last manager of the Neuchâtel Xamax.-Playing:...
. Salatić starred alongside a Swiss team including Blerim Džemaili
Blerim Džemaili
Blerim Džemaili is a Swiss football midfielder of Albanian origin who plays for Napoli.-FC Zürich:Džemaili started his career at Swiss side FC Zürich. There he was part of the 2005–06 and 2006–2007 Swiss Championship winning team...
, Tranquillo Barnetta
Tranquillo Barnetta
Tranquillo Barnetta is a Swiss footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen and the Swiss national team. He usually plays out wide as a winger but can also play in a more withdrawn role as a defensive midfielder....
and Valon Behrami
Valon Behrami
Valon Behrami is a Swiss footballer of Albanian descent who plays for Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A, as well as the Swiss national team.-Early life:Behrami was born in Titova Mitrovica, Yugoslavia to Albanian parents...
.
His success has not gone unnoticed by the Football Association of Serbia
Football Association of Serbia
The Football Association of Serbia is the governing body of football in Serbia, based in Belgrade. It organizes Serbian football leagues, namely the Serbian Superliga, the Serbia national football team, as well as the Second Leagues....
who have twice attempted to call him up, both times he refused saying he wished to play for Switzerland. He played his last match for the U21 side against England in 2006 and since then neither Köbi Kuhn or Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld
Ottmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
have shown any interest in calling him up.