Zlatan Muslimovic
Encyclopedia
Zlatan Muslimović, is a Bosnian international
football player. He holds both Bosnian
and Swedish
citizenship
s.
. He went on to play for the Swedish team IFK Göteborg
youth team in 1998 and 1999, before coming to Italy
in the year 2000.
. During the 2004–05 season, he was the top scorer of Serie C1/A side Rimini
, with 15 goals in 32 matches, helping his team in winning the league and being promoted to Serie B
. In 2006–07
he was loaned to Parma F.C.
. In the summer of 2007 he signed for Serie A side Atalanta
but suffered from lack of playing time under head coach Luigi Delneri.
, on a 3 year deal. He instantly became a fan favourite and largely contributed to PAOK's successful run in the 2008-2009 season . He scored his first goal for PAOK in a friendly against Udinese Calcio
and his first league goal in a home game against AEK Athens.
Yet during the 2009–10 season, he began facing many injury problems, and managed to score only four times while his playing time kept diminishing.
His most memorable goal was in the 2010 Europa League Play-offs, when he netted a 101 minute 1–1 equalizer against Fenerbahce, sending PAOK through to the group stages. Yet after another disappointing season it was decided that his contract would not be renewed - his last game for PAOK was against Olympiakos Volou in May 25 2011, where he also scored.
(as of 17 October 2011) since making his debut in 2006 in a friendly match against France
as a second half substitute. He also played for the team in their Euro 2008 qualifying matches
against Malta
(x2), Hungary
, Norway
and Turkey
. Against Croatia, he scored a hat-trick.
One of Muslimović's most memorable current games was the encounter with the Norwegian national football team
in Oslo
. He and mid-fielder Zvjezdan Misimović
scored early goals in the first half giving Bosnia-Herzegovina a night to remember on the 24th of March 2007 with a 2–1 victory. He turned in another solid performance in the match against Turkey by slotting home a pass from Zvjezdan Misimović
past Rüştü Reçber
to level the score at 1–1. Bosnia went on to win the game 3–2 with 89th minute substitute Adnan Čustović
heading in from a corner.
Muslimović is one of only four players (with Elvir Bolić
, Elvir Baljić
and Zvjezdan Misimović
) to ever score a hat-trick for the Bosnian national team, doing so during a friendly match with Croatia
.
Muslimović has also hit the wood work in World Cup 2010 play-offs against Portugal in Lisbon.
He is currently a free agent
.
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...
football player. He holds both Bosnian
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...
and 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....
citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
s.
Early career
As a teenager, Muslimović played for the Swedish teams Habo IF and Husqvarna FFHusqvarna FF
Husqvarna FF is a football club in Huskvarna, Sweden sponsored by the Husqvarna company.-History:Husqvarna FF was founded in 1987 following the merger of Husqvarna IF and Huskvarna Södra IS. In its early years the new club played in Divisions 2 and 3...
. He went on to play for the Swedish team IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
youth team in 1998 and 1999, before coming to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in the year 2000.
Italy
Muslimović signed his first professional contract with Udinese CalcioUdinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
. During the 2004–05 season, he was the top scorer of Serie C1/A side Rimini
Rimini Calcio F.C.
Associazione Calcio Rimini 1912 is an Italian association football club based in Rimini, Emilia-Romagna....
, with 15 goals in 32 matches, helping his team in winning the league and being promoted to Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
. In 2006–07
Serie A 2006-07
The Serie A 2006–2007 season began September 10, 2006. It was scheduled to begin on August 26 and 27, but was then postponed due to the Serie A scandal of 2006. It is the 104th Italian championship ever held, the first without the presence of Juventus, and the 75th Serie A league, the first...
he was loaned to Parma F.C.
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
. In the summer of 2007 he signed for Serie A side Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
but suffered from lack of playing time under head coach Luigi Delneri.
PAOK Thessaloniki
On 22 July 2008, Muslimović signed with the Greek team PAOK FCPAOK FC
P.A.O.K. F.C. is a Greek association football club based in Thessaloniki, Greece. It is the largest supported football club in Macedonia.PAOK FC is the football department of Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans , a multi-sport club. Since its formation in 1926 the football club...
, on a 3 year deal. He instantly became a fan favourite and largely contributed to PAOK's successful run in the 2008-2009 season . He scored his first goal for PAOK in a friendly against Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
and his first league goal in a home game against AEK Athens.
Yet during the 2009–10 season, he began facing many injury problems, and managed to score only four times while his playing time kept diminishing.
His most memorable goal was in the 2010 Europa League Play-offs, when he netted a 101 minute 1–1 equalizer against Fenerbahce, sending PAOK through to the group stages. Yet after another disappointing season it was decided that his contract would not be renewed - his last game for PAOK was against Olympiakos Volou in May 25 2011, where he also scored.
International career
Muslimović has made 33 appearances 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...
(as of 17 October 2011) since making his debut in 2006 in a friendly match against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
as a second half substitute. He also played for the team in their Euro 2008 qualifying matches
2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying Group C
-Standings:Key:*Teams highlighted in green qualified for the finals.Notes on the qualified teams:*Greece secured qualification to the tournament proper on 17 October 2007 following a 1–0 win against Turkey, becoming the second team in the whole of the qualification stage to do so.*Turkey secured...
against Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
(x2), Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
and Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
. Against Croatia, he scored a hat-trick.
One of Muslimović's most memorable current games was the encounter with the Norwegian national football team
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He and mid-fielder Zvjezdan Misimović
Zvjezdan Misimovic
Zvjezdan Misimović is a German-born Bosnian footballer who plays for FC Dynamo Moscow...
scored early goals in the first half giving Bosnia-Herzegovina a night to remember on the 24th of March 2007 with a 2–1 victory. He turned in another solid performance in the match against Turkey by slotting home a pass from Zvjezdan Misimović
Zvjezdan Misimovic
Zvjezdan Misimović is a German-born Bosnian footballer who plays for FC Dynamo Moscow...
past Rüştü Reçber
Rüstü Reçber
Rüştü Reçber is a Turkish international footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Beşiktaş J.K. in the Turkish Süper Lig.He has played a key role in the success of the Turkish national squad, and it was at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where Turkey finished third, that he earned a selection to...
to level the score at 1–1. Bosnia went on to win the game 3–2 with 89th minute substitute Adnan Čustović
Adnan Custovic
Adnan Čustović is a Bosnian footballer who plays as a forward for Germinal Beerschot.- Career :Before joining Mouscron, Čustović mainly played for French division 1 and 2 teams Le Havre AC, Stade Lavallois and Amiens SC, on 21 December left R.E. Mouscron and moved to K.A.A. Gent.- International...
heading in from a corner.
Muslimović is one of only four players (with Elvir Bolić
Elvir Bolic
Elvir Bolić is a former Bosnian football forward. He is the all-time leading scorer for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team....
, Elvir Baljić
Elvir Baljic
Elvir Baljić is a retired Bosnian football player and current assistant manager in Bosnia-Herzegovina's national team.-Club career:...
and Zvjezdan Misimović
Zvjezdan Misimovic
Zvjezdan Misimović is a German-born Bosnian footballer who plays for FC Dynamo Moscow...
) to ever score a hat-trick for the Bosnian national team, doing so during a friendly match with Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
.
Muslimović has also hit the wood work in World Cup 2010 play-offs against Portugal in Lisbon.
He is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.