Hasan Salihamidzic

Hasan Salihamidžić (born January 1, 1977 in Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina), is a Bosnians association football midfielder currently playing for Italian Serie A club Juventus F.C

Biography and club career

Salihamidžić was born to a Bosniaks family. Hasan Salihamidzic father Ahmed and mother Šefika gave Hasan Salihamidzic the nickname "Braco" meaning "little brother" in Bosnian language since Hasan has an older sister. Hasan Salihamidzic finished high school and played in the local club. Then, Salihamidžić moved to Velež Mostar where Hasan Salihamidzic stayed until 1992. During that period young Salihamidžić represented ex-Yugoslavia on U16 level since at that time Bosnia & Herzegovina was still a part of Yugoslavia. The generation of young players in FK Velež Mostar that Salihamidžić was part of was one of the best ever, but the Bosnian war stopped Hasan Salihamidzic from making a single senior appearance for Hasan Salihamidzic club.

Since Hasan Salihamidzic wanted to move to Germany to get away from the war, Hasan Salihamidzic worked as a waiter in a local restaurant for six months to earn enough money for a ticket. In November 1992, Salihamidžić came to Hamburg and with the help of Hasan Salihamidzic cousin Ahmet Halilhodžić Hasan Salihamidzic joined the youth team of the German Bundesliga (football) team Hamburger SV. Hasan Salihamidzic would stay at Hamburg until 1998 before moving to FC Bayern München.

On January 15, 2007, Hasan Salihamidzic signed a 4-year deal with Juventus and joined them in the following summer. Hasan Salihamidzic scored four goals in twenty appearances. On 12 April 2008, Salihamidžić scored two goals for Juventus in a 3-2 victory against A.C. Milan in Serie A.

International career

Salihamidžić and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team national team never qualified for a major tournament, including falling one goal short in a match against Denmark national football team that would have enabled them to qualify for Euro 2004. Hasan Salihamidzic retired from the national team in 2006 with 43 caps and six goals.

Personal life

Salihamidžić has three children, Selina, Nick and Lara June, with Hasan Salihamidzic Spain wife Esther Copado. Francisco Copado is Hasan Salihamidzic brother-in-law.