Asmir Begović
Who was Asmir Begović?
Goalkeeper who earned over 60 caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina and played in the Premier League for clubs including Stoke City, Bournemouth, and Everton.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Asmir Begović (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Asmir Begović, born on June 20, 1987, in Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the EFL Championship club Leicester City. Begović started his senior career with Portsmouth in 2003, developing through various loans before debuting in the Premier League in May 2009. His performances grabbed Stoke City's attention, leading them to sign him for £3.25 million in February 2010.
Begović became one of the Premier League’s dependable goalkeepers during his time at Stoke City. In the 2012-13 season, he played every league match and was named the club’s Player of the Year. A standout moment was in November 2013 when he scored a goal from 97.5 yards against Southampton after just 13 seconds, making him the fifth goalkeeper to score in Premier League history and setting a world record for the longest goal in football. This feat highlighted his skill and is remembered as one of the Premier League’s great moments.
In July 2015, Begović moved to Chelsea for £8 million, joining the reigning Premier League champions. He was mainly the second-choice goalkeeper during his two-year stint but gained top-level experience. He joined AFC Bournemouth in 2017 as the first-choice goalkeeper but lost his spot to Artur Boruc in early 2019, which led to loan spells at Qarabağ and AC Milan, where he played internationally in the Europa League and Serie A. He later signed with Everton.
Begović started his international career with Canada, playing at youth levels and in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2009, he chose to switch to his native Bosnia and Herzegovina. He quickly became the national team’s first-choice goalkeeper, helping Bosnia and Herzegovina qualify for their first major tournament, the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Throughout his international career, he has earned over 60 caps, becoming one of the team’s most experienced and respected players.
Before Fame
Begović was born in Trebinje, a historic town in southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, during a time of significant political tension in the region. His family moved to North America when he was young, and he went to school at St. Francis Xavier High School. Growing up on a different continent from where he was born, Begović first played for Canada at the youth international level, showing how his new home played a big part in his growth as a footballer.
His professional football journey started when Portsmouth saw his potential and signed him in 2003 at the age of 16. The early 2000s were a great time for Portsmouth, as they were establishing themselves in the Premier League. This gave Begović the perfect setting to develop his talents through their academy system and loan opportunities.
Key Achievements
- Scored world record longest goal in football from 97.5 yards in Premier League match
- Won Stoke City Player of the Year award in 2012-13 season
- Helped Bosnia and Herzegovina qualify for their first FIFA World Cup in 2014
- Earned over 60 international caps for Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Played for Premier League champions Chelsea and multiple top-flight English clubs
Did You Know?
- 01.He holds the world record for the longest goal scored in football, achieved from 97.5 yards against Southampton in 2013
- 02.Begović played for Canada at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup before switching to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2009
- 03.He became only the fifth goalkeeper in Premier League history to score a goal during a match
- 04.His goal against Southampton came after just 13 seconds of play, making it one of the fastest goals scored in Premier League history
- 05.He played every single league match for Stoke City during the 2012-13 season, demonstrating exceptional consistency and fitness