Sergej Jakirović (pronounced [sěrɡej jakǐːroʋitɕ];[2][3] born 23 December 1976) is a Bosnian professional football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Croatian Football League club Dinamo Zagreb.

Sergej Jakirović
Jakirović with Dinamo Zagreb in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1976-12-23) 23 December 1976 (age 47)
Place of birth Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia[1]
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Youth career
Neretva
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 Neretva 24 (3)
1996–1998 RNK Split
1998–1999 Spartak Trnava 20 (2)
1999–2000 Istra 10 (0)
2000–2002 Korotan Prevalje 51 (8)
2002–2004 Kamen Ingrad 47 (5)
2004–2005 NK Zagreb 30 (6)
2005–2007 CSKA Sofia 32 (3)
2007 FC Superfund 1 (0)
2007–2008 Rijeka 21 (0)
2008–2009 Austria Kärnten 0 (0)
2008 Austria Kärnten II 10 (0)
2009Spittal/Drau (loan) 7 (0)
2009 Austria Kärnten II 11 (0)
2010 Lučko 11 (0)
2010–2011 Sesvete 31 (5)
2011 Sloga Gredelj Zagreb 2 (0)
2011–2013 Dugo Selo 49 (17)
2013–2014 Sesvete 22 (2)
2014 Dugo Selo 6 (1)
2015–2016 Matija Gubec
International career
2005–2006 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 (0)
Managerial career
2017–2018 Sesvete
2018–2020 Gorica
2020 Maribor
2020–2022 Zrinjski Mostar
2022–2023 Rijeka
2023–2024 Dinamo Zagreb
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Jakirović played in the Croatian First League for Neretva, Istra, Kamen Ingrad, NK Zagreb and Rijeka.[4]

International career

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Jakirović made his debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina in an August 2005 friendly match away against Estonia and has earned a total of 5 caps, scoring no goals. His final international was a February 2006 friendly against Japan.[5]

Managerial career

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Early career

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Between 2017 and 2018, Jakirović managed Sesvete in the Croatian second division.

On 20 June 2018, Jakirović was appointed manager of Croatian First League club Gorica,[6] which he led to fifth place in the 2018–19 season.[7] On 24 February 2020, following a 6–0 loss to Hajduk Split, he was sacked by the club.[8]

On 23 April 2020, Jakirović was named new manager of Slovenian PrvaLiga club Maribor, replacing Darko Milanič.[9] He was sacked on 29 August 2020 after getting eliminated by the semi-professional Northern Irish team Coleraine in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League first qualifying round.[10]

Zrinjski Mostar

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On 28 December 2020, Jakirović became the new manager of Bosnian Premier League club Zrinjski Mostar, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club.[11]

In his first game in charge, Zrinjski beat Krupa in a league match on 27 February 2021.[12] He oversaw his first loss as Zrinjski manager in a Bosnian Cup game against Sarajevo, played on 10 March 2021.[13]

On 20 January 2022, Jakirović signed a two-and-a-half-year contract extension until 2024.[14] After beating Radnik Bijeljina on 19 March 2022, Zrinjski broke the all-time Bosnian Premier League record with 13 consecutive victories, overpassing the previous record of 12 victories set by Željezničar in the 2011–12 season.[15] On 16 April 2022, he managed Zrinjski to a 4–0 win against Sarajevo, clinching the club's record seventh league title seven rounds before the end of the season.[16] Subsequently, he was named the Bosnian Premier League Manager of the Season.[17]

After getting eliminated from the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League first qualifying round by Moldovan club Sheriff Tiraspol, Jakirović led Zrinjski to the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round, where they got eliminated by Slovak club Slovan Bratislava following a penalty shoot-out, missing out on a chance to play in the group stage.[18]

On 29 November 2022, the board of Zrinjski confirmed that Jakirović had left the club, as he was set to sign a contract with Croatian top division side Rijeka.[19]

Rijeka

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One day after his Zrinjski departure was confirmed, Jakirović signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Rijeka with an option for another year.[20] He made his debut on 21 January 2023, when Rijeka drew 1–1 away against Osijek.[21]

On 28 January, Jakirović won his first match as Rijeka manager after a 2–1 win over Šibenik.[22] After a four-game winning streak, he suffered his first defeat as the club's manager on 25 February 2023 in a 1–0 loss to Slaven Belupo.[23][24] With Rijeka, Jakirović finished the season in fourth place, qualifying for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round.[25] The club eliminated Kosovan side Dukagjini and Faroese side B36 Tórshavn, before being drawn against Lille in the play-off round.[26]

Dinamo Zagreb

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2023–24 season

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On 21 August 2023, three days before their match against Lille, Jakirović left Rijeka and was appointed manager of Dinamo Zagreb, replacing Igor Bišćan.[27]

Jakirović managed his first Dinamo Zagreb match against Sparta Prague in the UEFA Europa League play-off round, winning 3–1 at home on 24 August.[28] However, following a 4–1 defeat to Sparta in the second leg on 31 August, Dinamo was eliminated from the Europa League and continued playing in the Conference League group stage.[29] Following a second place finish in group C, Dinamo eliminated Real Betis 2–1 on aggregate in the knockout round play-offs, qualifying to the round of 16.[30] After winning 2–0 at home against PAOK in the first leg, the side suffered a 5–1 defeat in the second leg, getting eliminated from the Conference League.[31]

On the domestic level, Jakirović led Dinamo to a league and cup double, defeating his former club Rijeka 3–1 on aggregate in the Croatian Cup final.[32]

2024–25 season

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Jakirović's side started the 2024–25 season by beating Istra 1961 in the first round of the league season on 2 August 2024.[33] Dinamo managed to qualify for the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League league phase after eliminating Qarabağ 5–0 on aggregate.[34] In the first league phase match, however, the team suffered a 9–2 defeat against Bayern Munich; it was the club's heaviest ever defeat, and the first time that one side had conceded nine goals in the history of the competition.[35] Two days after the match, on 19 September, he was sacked by the club.[36]

Personal life

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Born in Mostar, Jakirović has both Bosnian and Croatian citizenship.[37] His father, Enver, was a goalkeeper for Neretva.[38]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 17 September 2024[39]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Sesvete 5 June 2017[40] 18 June 2018[41] 36 18 6 12 050.00
Gorica 20 June 2018[6] 24 February 2020[42] 63 28 15 20 044.44
Maribor 23 April 2020[43] 29 August 2020[44] 13 9 1 3 069.23
Zrinjski Mostar 28 December 2020[45] 29 November 2022[19] 77 52 15 10 067.53
Rijeka 30 November 2022[46] 21 August 2023 27 17 4 6 062.96
Dinamo Zagreb 21 August 2023 19 September 2024 60 41 9 10 068.33
Total 276 165 50 61 059.78

Honours

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Player

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Spartak Trnava

CSKA Sofia

Manager

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Zrinjski Mostar

Dinamo Zagreb

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sergej Jakirović". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Sẕđan". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 December 2020. Sèrgej
  3. ^ "Jȁkov". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 December 2020. Jakírović
  4. ^ "Sergej Jakirović". hrnogomet.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Sergej Jakirović, international football player". eu-football.info. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b "SERGEJ JAKIROVIĆ NOVI TRENER GORICE: Novopečeni prvoligaš predstavio i novog napadača iz Poljske". Net.hr (in Croatian). 20 June 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  7. ^ "1. HNL 2018/2019 – 36. Round". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Presudio mu debakl na Poljudu: Gorica smijenila Sergeja Jakirovića!". gol.dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  9. ^ A. G. (23 April 2020). "Jakirović se je izkazal v hrvaški ligi, zdaj bo reševal krizo Maribora" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Uradno: Sergej Jakirović ni več trener Maribora" (in Slovenian). Siol. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  11. ^ H. H. (28 December 2020). "Jakirović novi trener Zrinjskog, zbog restrikcija kasnije stiže u Mostar". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  12. ^ N. K. (27 February 2021). "Zrinjski zasluženo savladao Krupu i prestigao Velež na tabeli Premijer lige BiH". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  13. ^ E. B. (10 March 2021). "Sarajevo se revanširalo Zrinjskom i prošlo u polufinale Kupa BiH". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  14. ^ E. Ganibegović (20 January 2022). "Sergej Jakirović produžio ugovor do 2024. godine". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  15. ^ "Sergej Jakirović je podrl rekord: Njegova ekipa je slavila že 13. zapovrstjo!" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  16. ^ D. P. (16 April 2022). "Zrinjski je sedmi put nogometni prvak Bosne i Hercegovine!". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  17. ^ Ivančević, Marko (27 May 2022). "Jakirović i Kristalnih 11: "Mislim da nema većeg priznanja od ovog"". meridiansport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  18. ^ M. Šljivak (25 August 2022). "Tragedija HŠK Zrinjski u Bratislavi!". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Uprava Zrinjskog potvrdila da Sergej Jakirović više nije njihov trener, mogao bi ga naslijediti bivši igrač Rijeke". Novi list (in Croatian). 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Sergej Jakirović novi trener HNK Rijeka" (in Croatian). HNK Rijeka. 30 November 2022. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  21. ^ "Osijek i Rijeka remizirali u kaljuži na Gradskom vrtu: 16-godišnjoj Osječkoj nadi poništen pogodak krajem susreta". gol.dnevnik.hr (in Croatian). 21 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Rijeka s igračem više ipak na kraju savladala Šibenik, presudio atraktivan gol petom Kolumbijca Obregona". burin.hr (in Croatian). 28 January 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Jakirović: 'Čestitam Slavenu, no koštao nas je jedini udarac u okvir gola'. Zekić: 'Da se ne lažemo...'". sportske.jutarnji.hr (in Croatian). 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Slaven Belupo treći put u sezoni pobijedio Rijeku! Prvi poraz u mandatu Sergeja Jakirovića". 24sata.hr (in Croatian). 25 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  25. ^ "Prva HNL: Rijeka izborila Europu, Lokomotiva pobjedila Istru 1961". sportcom.hr (in Croatian). 21 May 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Rijeka izvukla francuski Lille, teže nije moglo: Hajduk imao sreće, Osijek će također imati jako teškog protivnika". novilist.hr (in Croatian). 7 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  27. ^ S. G. (21 August 2023). "U Rijeci bijesni na Jakirovića: Ovo što su nam uradili je sportska sramota, sve smo mu dali". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Sergej Jakirović pobjedom debitovao na klupi Dinama". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 24 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  29. ^ "SPARTA – DINAMO 4:1 Očajni Dinamo ispao iz Europa lige. Igrat će u Konferencijskoj". index.hr (in Croatian). 31 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  30. ^ "Modrim region može samo da zavidi i aplaudira: Sjajni Dinamo izbacio slavni Betis!". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 22 February 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  31. ^ "PAOK - DINAMO 5:1 Debakl Dinama za ispadanje iz Europe". index.hr (in Croatian). 14 March 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  32. ^ Radenović, Vedran (22 May 2024). "Dinamo savladao Rijeku i osvojio duplu krunu". nezavisne.com (in Bosnian). Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  33. ^ "Ovacije Daniju Olmu i „Singing in the rain" u izvedbi maksimirskog orkestra pod ravnanjem maestra Jakirovića". gnkdinamo.hr (in Croatian). 2 August 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  34. ^ "Sjajni Dinamo s ukupnih 5:0 deklasirao Qarabag i ušao u Ligu prvaka". index.hr (in Croatian). 2 August 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  35. ^ "Masovno se dijeli slika semafora na kraju utakmice Bayerna i Dinama". index.hr (in Croatian). 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  36. ^ "Dinamo smijenio Jakirovića". index.hr (in Croatian). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  37. ^ Miletić, Mladen (14 November 2019). "'Igrao sam za BiH, ali sam hrvatski trener! Dobro je imati dvije putovnice, ha-ha!'". Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  38. ^ "Jakirović: Trener porijeklom iz mostarske ulice Braće Balaća". Bljesak.info (in Bosnian). 27 December 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  39. ^ "Sergej Jakirovic". footballdatabase.eu.
  40. ^ "NK Sesvete promijenio trenera". Sesvete danas (in Croatian). 5 June 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  41. ^ "Sergej Jakirović otišao iz NK Sesveta" (in Croatian). NK Sesvete. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  42. ^ "Sergej Jakirović više nije trener Gorice". index.hr (in Croatian). 24 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  43. ^ "Znana je prva poteza Oliverja Bogatinova. Maribor ima novega trenerja" (in Slovenian). Siol. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Jakirović ni več trener Maribora, kdo bo moštvo vodil v Domžalah?". Večer (in Slovenian). 29 August 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  45. ^ "Sergej Jakirović ima nov klub" (in Slovenian). Nogomania. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  46. ^ "Sergej Jakirović je novi trener Rijeke". index.hr (in Croatian). 30 November 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
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