When the national team of Bosnia-Herzegovina hosts the German side on Friday (20:45 CET/RTL), Sergej Barbarez finds himself facing a challenge that is as much about himself as it is about the opponents. Barbarez, 53, has been the national coach of his country since April, but he spent almost his entire playing career in Germany. He is particularly known for his stints at Hansa Rostock, Borussia Dortmund, and Hamburger SV. During the 2000/2001 season, he was a part of the HSV team that battled Juventus Turin to a legendary 4-4 draw in the Champions League, and he also finished that season as the Bundesliga top scorer. Remarkably, he achieved this despite not being a classic striker, as he played as an attacking midfielder or a second striker.
His journey in Germany began modestly, arriving with a plastic bag. In the winter of 1991/1992, his father sent him from his hometown of Mostar—where Barbarez was already a professional with local club Velez—to live with his uncle in Hannover. This move was intended to keep him safe from the impending war in Bosnia. His uncle arranged for Barbarez to have a trial at Hannover 96’s second team, coached by Frank Pagelsdorf. “Sergej arrived with a plastic bag. We did conditioning training in the woods, and he was the fastest. I thought: If someone in his situation has the ambition to push himself, I can certainly let him train with us for a while,” said Pagelsdorf in an interview with the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). When football was eventually played during training, Pagelsdorf was convinced of Barbarez’s potential.
The bond formed between the coach and player was rare in professional sports. Pagelsdorf took Barbarez with him to many of his clubs, including Union Berlin, Rostock, and Hamburg, after their time together in Hannover. “He was a complete player: incredibly athletic, with great speed, and very good in aerial duels. He had superb game intelligence and was extremely dangerous in front of goal,” said Pagelsdorf.
As a professional, Barbarez was what one might call a character. He spoke his mind and wasn’t afraid of making enemies. During his time at HSV, he boycotted the Bild newspaper for a while. His stint at Dortmund was tumultuous, putting him in a scapegoat role during the 1999/2000 season, which he nearly ended in relegation if not for Udo Lattek saving the team. Barbarez was an emotional player, and his proud record of seven red cards in the Bundesliga reflects that he often overstepped the mark with his commitment, which is the same number as the notorious Stefan Effenberg. “He was provoked on the field from time to time, which was a disadvantage. But as a person, he was straightforward. You always knew where you stood with him,” Pagelsdorf commented.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Barbarez is a hero, having captained the national team and been named Player of the Year three times. Since April, he has taken on the complex task of bringing his country back onto the football map. Bosnia-Herzegovina qualified for the World Cup in 2014 for the first and only time thus far. In the qualification for Euro 2024, they finished second to last in their group, trailing teams like Luxembourg and Iceland, and in their first four games under Barbarez, they recorded three defeats and a draw.
His mentor, Frank Pagelsdorf, attests to the qualities that Barbarez can use well in his new role: “He was always ambitious as a player and had a good understanding of the game. He is confident too, which are all advantages for a coach.” However, an important trait that Barbarez will need that wasn’t one of his strengths as a professional is patience. Ahead of his home debut this Friday against Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina finds itself in the clear underdog position.
