Hasan Salihamidžić: The war changed everything, I was 15 when my father told me to grab a Kalashnikov and go out into the street
Returning by car from Belgrade to Sarajevo, I saw what was happening and saw that the situation was serious. The battle line was ten kilometers from my house, Salihamidžić recalled
Hasan Salihamidžić (47) is currently out of office after leaving Bayern Munich at the end of last year, where he spent six years as the club’s sporting director.
Salihamidžić is a legend of Bosnian football, and on January 1 he celebrated his 47th birthday and the New Year. On this occasion, he gave an interview to the German media where he talked about his childhood and earlier life.
– I was born in Mostar, the city where the famous bridge is located. I had a carefree childhood. My father was a policeman, my mother was a teacher, and I already wanted to become a soccer player. Yugoslavia was a country that functioned, it was good for us. We had a simple life, but we were happy. I started playing at the age of 8, my father, who was a second-league player, was my first coach.
For Salihamidžić, the war changed everything
The idyll in his childhood was interrupted by the beginning of the war.
– I played for the youth selections of Yugoslavia, after the match with the national team I had to return home, but there were no flights from Belgrade to Sarajevo. Returning by car, I saw what was happening and saw that the situation was serious. The battle line was ten kilometers from my house – Salihamidžić recalled.
One moment in particular was etched in his memory.
– After two months, my father came to me and said: ‘We have a Kalashnikov in the house and pistols, take them and go search the street.’ Then he told me to take my mother and sister to try to escape. As a 15-year-old, having a Kalashnikov under the bed is not normal.
His life turned upside down when his sister woke him up one day…
– One morning my sister woke me up and said: ‘Get dressed, you’re going to Germany.’ I told her that I wasn’t going. I didn’t want to be separated from my family, it was difficult. Nevertheless, I took a bus to Dortmund, from where I went to Hamburg, where I entered the Institute of Sports. I must say that it is true that those who dedicate themselves and work hard in Germany get a chance. And I took advantage of the opportunity I dreamed about so much, I managed to do it because I fought – concluded Salihamidžić.
(24 sata)
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