An old, somewhat forgotten photograph has caught attention on social media, stirring nostalgia among fans of domestic football. It features a young Emir Spahić in the kit of Zenica’s Čelik, the club where he transitioned from youth to senior football.
In the photo, alongside the young Spahić, is former renowned Zenica striker Amir Japaur.
An interesting fact is that Čelik is the only Bosnian-Herzegovinian club for which the legendary defender played during his senior career. According to available data, Spahić made 19 appearances for Čelik’s first team between 1998 and 1999 before venturing abroad.
After his stint at Bilino Polje, Spahić’s football journey soared to the top. Via GOŠK from Dubrovnik and Zagreb, he built his name in Russia (Shinnik, Torpedo, and Lokomotiv Moscow), followed by a move to the top five leagues, where he wore the jerseys of France’s Montpellier, Spain’s Sevilla, and German Bundesliga clubs Bayer Leverkusen and HSV.
Nevertheless, he left his greatest mark in the jersey bearing the national crest. He played 94 matches for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, scored six goals, and as captain led the Dragons in their historic appearance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Spahić also made history as the national team director, being part of our selection that secured a spot at this year’s World Cup.