Sergej Barbarez leads Bosnia and Herzegovina to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The former national team captain, born in Mostar, represented the country between 1998 and 2006.
During his playing career, Barbarez played for clubs such as Velez Mostar, Hannover 96, Union Berlin, Hansa Rostock, Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen.
Barbarez was appointed head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 2024, with qualification for the 2026 World Cup a clear goal. This is his first senior management role and although he doesn’t have a major coaching trophy to his name, he has already achieved a milestone by guiding Bosnia and Herzegovina back to the World Cup for the first time since 2014.
Sergej Barbarez’s record as a coach:
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Matches: 22
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Win: 8
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Draws: 6
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Losses: 8
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Win percentage: 36
Sergej Barbarez’s record as coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
-
Matches: 22
-
Win: 8
-
Draws: 6
-
Losses: 8
-
Win percentage: 36
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Points per match: 1.36
What did Bosnia and Herzegovina coach Sergej Barbarez say before the match?
Before Bosnia and Herzegovina’s FIFA World Cup opener against Canada, Sergej Barbarez accepted his side would start as the underdogs but said the title would not affect his belief. Bosnia is playing in only its second World Cup after making its debut in Brazil in 2014, and Barbarez said the team had already earned respect with the way it qualified.
He pointed to Bosnia’s victory over Italy in the play-offs as proof of the side’s mentality and said the team would bring the same spirit into the tournament. Barbarez said Bosnia would “play with our hearts” and added that the country wants to show its best to the world by earning respect on the field.
Barbarez also confirmed that Edin Dzeko would be available for the opener after recovering from a shoulder injury. The 40-year-old forward remains Bosnia’s all-time top scorer and will once again be at the center of Toronto’s hopes.
(With input from agencies)
Published on June 12, 2026
