Mario Božić (Serbian Cyrillic: Марио Божић, pronounced [mâːrio bǒːʒitɕ];[1][2] 25 May 1983 – 3 April 2023)[3][4] was a Bosnian Serb professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
 Božić with Újpest in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 May 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Tuzla, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Date of death | 3 April 2023 (aged 39) | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2002 | Loznica | 34 | (3) |
| 2003 | Radnički Stobex | 12 | (2) |
| 2003–2004 | Beograd | 27 | (1) |
| 2004–2007 | Videoton Fehérvár | 86 | (11) |
| 2008–2009 | Újpest | 40 | (4) |
| 2009–2011 | Slovan Bratislava | 50 | (3) |
| 2011 | Ashdod | 0 | (0) |
| 2012 | Borac Čačak | 0 | (0) |
| 2012 | Shanghai Shenhua | 13 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Simurq | 25 | (6) |
| 2013 | Panachaiki | 10 | (3) |
| 2014 | Voždovac | 11 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | Borac Čačak | 15 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | Loznica | 13 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2008 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
At international level, Božić made two appearances for Bosnia and Herzegovina between 2007 and 2008.
Club career
editBorn in Tuzla, Božić moved to Serbia at an early age and started his senior career with Loznica. He also played for Radnički Stobex and Beograd, before moving to Hungarian club Fehérvár in the summer of 2004. As a regular member of the first team, Božić helped them win the 2005–06 Magyar Kupa. He also made over 100 appearances for the club in all competitions. In the 2008 winter transfer window, Božić was transferred to Újpest. He spent a total of five years in the country, amassing 126 league appearances and scoring 15 goals.
In the summer of 2009, Božić moved to Slovakia and signed with Slovan Bratislava. He spent two seasons in the country and won four major trophies with the club.
In June 2011, Božić signed with Israeli club Ashdod,[5] but failed to make any appearance for the club. He returned to Serbia in the 2012 winter transfer window and surprisingly signed with Borac Čačak. However, after only a few weeks, Božić left the club without making his debut and moved to Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua.
In August 2012, Božić joined Azerbaijani club Simurq, becoming the club's top scorer with six goals in the 2012–13 season.
Božić ended his career by playing with FK Loznica in Serbian second league.[6]
International career
editIn March 2007, Božić received his first call-up for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.[7] He made his international debut on 8 September 2007, coming on as a substitute for Darko Maletić in a 1–0 loss to Hungary. His second and final international was an August 2008 friendly match against Bulgaria.[8]
Post-playing career
editOn 9 February 2017, Božić was appointed director of football at Loznica.[9]
Death
editBožić died on 3 April 2023 from a brain tumor. He was 39 years old.[10]
Career statistics
edit| Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Fehérvár | 2004–05 | NB I | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | NB I | 28 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 6 | |||
| 2006–07 | NB I | 24 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | |||
| 2007–08 | NB I | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | |||
| Total | 86 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 90 | 11 | ||||
| Újpest | 2007–08 | NB I | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 | NB I | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |||
| Total | 40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 4 | ||||
| Slovan Bratislava | 2009–10 | Slovak Super Liga | 26 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 1 |
| 2010–11 | Slovak Super Liga | 24 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| Total | 50 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 67 | 4 | ||
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2012 | Chinese Super League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Simurq | 2012–13 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 25 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 6 |
| Career total | 214 | 24 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 239 | 25 | ||
- ^ Includes Magyar Kupa, Slovak Cup, FA Cup, Azerbaijan Cup
Honours
editFehérvár
- Magyar Kupa: 2005–06
Slovan Bratislava
- Slovak Super Liga: 2010–11
- Slovak Cup: 2009–10, 2010–11
- Slovak Super Cup: 2009
References
edit- ^ "Màrija". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 17 March 2018.
Mȃrio
- ^ "Bȏg". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
Bóžić
- ^ TUGA DO NEBA... Preminulo nesuđeno ZVEZDINO POJAČANJE! Srpski fudbaler izgubio borbu sa OPAKOM BOLEŠĆU! 3 April 2023. Serbian
- ^ TUGA DO NEBA: Preminuo Mario Božić, imao je samo 39 godina 3 April 2023. Serbian
- ^ "Mario Božič prestupuje zo Slovanu Bratislava do tímu najvyššej izraelskej súťaže" (in Slovak). sport.aktuality.sk. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
- ^ Mario Božić at srbijafudbal.com
- ^ "'New team' set for Oslo trip". uefa.com. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Mario Božić postavljen za sportskog direktora" (in Serbian). loznicainfo.com. 9 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ^ "UŽASNE vesti stigle su ovo ponedeljka. U 40. godini je preminuo fudbaler Mario Božić". novosti.rs. Novosti a.d. 3 April 2023.
- ^ Single source here, if player is inactive. If player has not retired, move source next to "Updated" template.
External links
edit
- Mario Božić at Soccerway
- Mario Božić at National-Football-Teams.com