Edin Džeko
Who was Edin Džeko?
Prolific striker who became Bosnia and Herzegovina's all-time leading goalscorer with over 60 international goals and played for top European clubs including Manchester City, AS Roma, and Inter Milan.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Edin Džeko (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Edin Džeko, born on March 17, 1986, in Sarajevo, is a Bosnian professional footballer, known as the "Bosnian Diamond." He is one of the top strikers of his generation and Bosnia and Herzegovina's all-time leading scorer with 73 goals in more than 140 international games. Džeko started his career at Željezničar in 2003, moving to Czech club Teplice in 2005, and had a brief loan at Ústí nad Labem. His big moment came at VfL Wolfsburg, where he helped win the 2008-09 Bundesliga, scoring 26 goals as the second-highest scorer. The next season, he led the Bundesliga with 22 goals and had ten assists. This success led to a move to Manchester City in 2011, where he was part of the club's historic 2011-12 Premier League win. In a dramatic game against Queens Park Rangers, he scored a key equalizer in the 92nd minute, setting up Sergio Agüero's title-winning goal and ending City's 44-year wait. Džeko also had a memorable four-goal game against Tottenham Hotspur. After England, he joined AS Roma, and in the 2016-17 season, he was the top scorer in Serie A with 29 goals, becoming the first player to score 50 goals in three of Europe's top leagues: Bundesliga, Premier League, and Serie A. He later played for Inter Milan and Fenerbahçe before moving to Fiorentina and then Schalke 04, where he plays now. Over his career, Džeko has scored more than 400 goals for club and country and was named Bosnian Footballer of the Year for three years in a row.
Before Fame
Džeko grew up in Sarajevo during a challenging time in Bosnia and Herzegovina's history, as the country gained independence and faced civil conflict in the 1990s. Despite these obstacles, he started playing football at a young age and improved his skills in the youth systems of local clubs. He showed talent early on and worked his way up to make his professional debut with Željezničar in 2003 when he was 17. Moving to the Czech Republic with Teplice in 2005 was his first step into European football, laying the groundwork for a successful international career in top leagues across the continent.
Key Achievements
- All-time leading goalscorer for Bosnia and Herzegovina national team with 73 goals
- Won the Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg in 2008-09 season as second-highest scorer
- Serie A top scorer in 2016-17 season with 29 goals for AS Roma
- First player to score 50 goals in three of Europe's top five leagues
- Contributed to Manchester City's first Premier League title in 44 years during 2011-12 season
Did You Know?
- 01.He scored four goals in a single Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur in 2011, one of only a handful of players to achieve this feat in England's top division
- 02.Džeko became the first player in football history to score 50 goals in three of Europe's top five leagues: the Bundesliga, Premier League, and Serie A
- 03.He was awarded the Idol Nacije in 2009 and received the Sixth April Award of Sarajevo in 2013 for his contributions to Bosnian football
- 04.His nickname 'Bosnian Diamond' was coined by fans and media in recognition of his exceptional talent and status as the country's most prized football export
- 05.During his time at Wolfsburg, he registered 10 assists in both the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, showcasing his ability as both scorer and creator
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Idol Nacije | 2009 | — |
| Sixth April Award of Sarajevo | 2013 | — |