Yksel Osmanovski
Encyclopedia
Yksel Osmanovski (born February 24, 1977 in Skrävlinge, Malmö
) is a former Swedish
football forward
.
His parents originate from the region of Prespa Lake, Republic of Macedonia
and he is of Turkish
descent. He is the first Muslim
to represent Sweden in football. He has played 14 international matches for the Sweden national team
, and was a squad player for the Euro 2000. He played for Malmö BI and IFK Malmö
as a child, but joined Malmö FF
in 1987 where he eventually made his debut in 1995. He gradually became a star in the Swedish league
, and was bought by Italian Serie A
outfit AS Bari. After three seasons he moved on to Torino Calcio, but struggled to capture a first team place. He therefore returned to Malmö FF in 2004 after a stint at Bordeaux
. There he was part of the team that won the Allsvenskan championship, although Osmanovski himself did not receive a winner's medal, because he took part in too few matches. Still he played the crucial role, in stopping a ball on the goal line against title rivals Halmstad BK. Had it gone in, Malmö would certainly not won the championship, but thanks to the 2-2 scoreline they kept themselves within a shot.
Yksel grew up in Rosengård
, where fellow Swedish soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović
also grew up. In an early interview, Zlatan said that "within a few years, I will play in Italy, and eventually the national team. I want to follow in Yksel's footsteps. We know each other, even if he is four years older than me. I got his autograph when he started playing for Malmö FF, when I played in Malmö BI. When he came to Rosengård and played and dribbled with us kids, we were all shouting "Yksel, Yksel, Yksel!" - Ibrahimović, in 2000
In February 2008, Yksel announced his retirement from professional soccer, having not had his contract with Malmö renewed.
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
) is a former Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
football forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
His parents originate from the region of Prespa Lake, Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
and he is of Turkish
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
descent. He is the first 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...
to represent Sweden in football. He has played 14 international matches for the Sweden national team
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
, and was a squad player for the Euro 2000. He played for Malmö BI and IFK Malmö
IFK Malmö
IFK Malmö is a Swedish football club located in Malmö. The club was founded April 23, 1899.- History :The club was founded in 1899 making it the oldest football club in Malmö. IFK participated in the first season of Allsvenskan in 1924/25. The club has altogether played 13 seasons in the premier...
as a child, but joined Malmö FF
Malmö FF
Malmö Fotbollförening, also known simply as Malmö FF, are a Swedish professional football club based in Malmö. The club is affiliated with Skånes Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Swedbank Stadion. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are sky blue and white...
in 1987 where he eventually made his debut in 1995. He gradually became a star in the Swedish league
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
, and was bought by Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
outfit AS Bari. After three seasons he moved on to Torino Calcio, but struggled to capture a first team place. He therefore returned to Malmö FF in 2004 after a stint at Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
. There he was part of the team that won the Allsvenskan championship, although Osmanovski himself did not receive a winner's medal, because he took part in too few matches. Still he played the crucial role, in stopping a ball on the goal line against title rivals Halmstad BK. Had it gone in, Malmö would certainly not won the championship, but thanks to the 2-2 scoreline they kept themselves within a shot.
Yksel grew up in Rosengård
Rosengård
Rosengård, literally "Rose court", is a city district in Malmö, Sweden. As of 1 January 2007, the population was 21,955, of which 60 percent were born outside of Sweden. In 2008 a total 86% of the population in the city district was of foreign background...
, where fellow Swedish soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimović
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimović is a Swedish footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Milan and the Swedish national team for which he is captain....
also grew up. In an early interview, Zlatan said that "within a few years, I will play in Italy, and eventually the national team. I want to follow in Yksel's footsteps. We know each other, even if he is four years older than me. I got his autograph when he started playing for Malmö FF, when I played in Malmö BI. When he came to Rosengård and played and dribbled with us kids, we were all shouting "Yksel, Yksel, Yksel!" - Ibrahimović, in 2000
In February 2008, Yksel announced his retirement from professional soccer, having not had his contract with Malmö renewed.