Sergej Barbarez guides Bosnia-Herzegovina after 4-1 defeat to Switzerland at World Cup

Former Bosnian striker and professional poker player Sergej Barbarez is serving as the national team’s fifth manager since 2022. Appointed in April 2024, he leads Bosnia-Herzegovina back to a World Cup for the first time in 12 years. In the group‑stage match at SoFi Stadium, Bosnia fell 4‑1 to 19th‑ranked Switzerland, marking their first loss in six World Cup games. Barbarez told reporters that his side had been the better team before the Swiss goal and urged the players to stay focused for the upcoming match against Qatar, which they must win to stay in contention for the knockout stage. He also reiterated his long‑term goal of qualifying for Euro 2028 and emphasized restoring pride to the Bosnian jersey. Barbarez’s background includes a 14‑year Bundesliga career with 105 goals, a decade‑long stint as a professional poker player, and recent work as a broadcaster and critic of the Bosnian football federation.