Sergej Barbarez celebrates 55th birthday

Sergej Barbarez, the head coach of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, is celebrating his 55th birthday. Born in Mostar in 1971, Barbarez began his career at Velež before moving to Germany, where he enjoyed a prominent 17-year professional career.

His notable clubs in Germany include Union Berlin, Hansa Rostock, Borussia Dortmund, HSV, and Bayer Leverkusen. During the 2000/2001 season, he was the Bundesliga top scorer with 22 goals. For the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, he earned 47 caps and scored 17 goals between 1998 and 2006.

Since taking over as national team manager on April 19, 2024, Barbarez has been credited with stabilizing the squad. Under his leadership, the team secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup and achieved a historic advancement to the knockout stage.