This article will be looking at one of the most polarizing figures in Bosnian football history. The person is Vahid Halilhodžić, who is one of the most successful coaches to have come from his country. Despite his success as a manager, his various approaches saw him form problematic relations with his teams and players. We will go back to a much earlier phase of his life in this article, as we rewind his years as a football player.
Early years as a footballer
Vahid Halilhodžić's life as a footballer began in his early teens at local side Turbina Jablanica, with the club's ground being located some 100 metres from his family home. Despite this, a young Halilhodžić never had aspirations to be a professional football player at the time.
He later went on to join Yugoslav First League side Velež Mostar's youth academy at age 16. This is when Halilhodžić started to take football seriously, and he went on to play there at youth levels for the next two and a half years. It was a period of great hope and a bright future for the young forward, who eventually signed his first professional contract with the club.
He was immediately sent on loan to Neretva Metković by his club, as they wanted him to gain some experience. Halilhodžić immediately broke into the Velež Mostar first-team after returning from his loan stint, and formed an effective striking partnership with teammate Dušan Bajević.
It was the beginning of great things to come, as Halilhodžić became one of the club's key players throughout the 1970s, appearing in a total of 376 matches and scoring 253 goals for the club. Halilhodžić was instrumental in winning them their first silverware as well, two goals in their 3–2 Yugoslav Cup final win against Željezničar. After a decade at Velež Mostar however, it was time for a major change.
Bosnian excellence in France
The year of 1981 saw Halilhodžić join French side Nantes. Despite getting into the first-team, his first year was filled with struggle as he only managed to score 7 goals in 28 appearances. To make matters worse, Halilhodžić was also sent off in the first round of the UEFA Cup vs. Lokeren received a 4 match suspension from UEFA.
It was in the succeeding season that France saw the very best of Halilhodžić. The Bosnian helped Nantes win their sixth French championship title, finishing the season as league top scorer with 27 goals in 36 appearances. He managed to finish as league top scorer on one more occasion as well, with 28 goals in the 1984–85 season.
Halilhodžić went on to spend five years at La Beaujoire, appearing in a total of 163 league matches and scoring 92 goals for the club. The year of 1986 saw the Bosnian intentionally ask for a huge unaffordable salary during contract negotiations with Nantes, as he wanted to return to Mostar. Halilhodžić's primary reason for this was to spend more time with his father, who at the time fell seriously ill.
It was around this time that PSG chairman
Francis Borelli saw this as an excellent opportunity, and thus made him an irrefutable offer to sign a one year contract. The main intention of bringing the player was to strengthen their team for their upcoming 1986–87 European Cup campaign.
Halilhodžić's time at PSG was quite a short one, during which he scored 8 goals in 18 games. The 1986-87 season was his final as a player, as the death of his mother at the time ultimately made him retire from football.
That was the end of the magical Bosnian's time in France, and to the rest of the footballing world.
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