Izet Hajrović (Bosnian pronunciation: [ǐzet xâːjroʋitɕ]; born 4 August 1991) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Super League Greece club Aris and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
![]() Hajrović with Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Izet Hajrović[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1991-08-04) 4 August 1991 (age 31) | ||
Place of birth | Brugg, Switzerland | ||
Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Aris | ||
Number | 20 | ||
Youth career | |||
1998–1999 | FC Birr | ||
1999–2000 | FC Windisch | ||
2000–2009 | Grasshoppers | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2009–2014 | Grasshoppers | 91 | (20) |
2014 | Galatasaray | 8 | (0) |
2014–2018 | Werder Bremen | 38 | (2) |
2015–2016 | → Eibar (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2018–2021 | Dinamo Zagreb | 56 | (6) |
2021– | Aris | 9 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2011–2012 | Switzerland U20 | 4 | (0) |
2011–2012 | Switzerland U21 | 4 | (0) |
2012 | Switzerland | 1 | (0) |
2013–2019 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 27 | (6) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 March 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2019 |
Hajrović started his professional career at Grasshoppers, before joining Galatasaray in 2014. Later that year, he switched to Werder Bremen, who loaned him to Eibar in 2015. Three years later, Hajrović signed with Dinamo Zagreb. He moved to Aris in 2021.
A former Swiss youth international, Hajrović even made his senior international debut for Switzerland, only to switch his allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013, earning over 20 caps since. He represented the nation at their first major championship, the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Hajrović started playing football at local clubs, before joining Grasshoppers' youth academy in 2000. He made his professional debut against Luzern on 3 October 2009 at the age of 18.[2] On 19 September 2010, he scored a brace, which were his first professional goals.[3] He scored his first career hat-trick on 17 September 2011.[4]
In January 2014, Hajrović was transferred to Turkish outfit Galatasaray for a fee of €3.5 million.[5] He made his official debut for the team on 2 February against Bursaspor.[6] On 5 February, he scored his first goal for Galatasaray in Turkish Cup game against Tokatspor.[7]
Hajrović debuted in UEFA Champions League against Chelsea on 26 February.[8]
He won his first trophy with the club on 7 May, by beating Eskişehirspor in Turkish Cup final.[9]
After filing a complaint to FIFA that he received no payments from Galatasaray, he was given the right to move on free transfer elsewhere.[10]
In July, Hajrović signed a four-year contract with German side Werder Bremen.[11] He made his competitive debut for the club in DFB-Pokal match against FV Illertissen on 17 August and managed to score a goal.[12] A week later, he made his league debut against Hertha BSC.[13] On 26 April 2015, he scored his first league goal against Paderborn 07.[14]
In August, Hajrović was sent on a season-long loan to Spanish outfit Eibar.[15]
Upon returning from loan spell, he secured first-team spot at Werder Bremen.[16]
In December 2016, he suffered a severe knee injury, which was diagnosed as anterior cruciate ligament tear and was ruled out for at least six months. He returned to the pitch on 16 September 2017, over nine months after the injury.[17]
In January 2018, Hajrović moved to Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb on a deal until June 2019.[18] He debuted officially for the team on 10 February against Osijek.[19] On 4 April, he scored his first goal for Dinamo Zagreb in Croatian Cup tie against Rijeka.[20] He won his first title with the club on 13 May, when they were crowned league champions.[21] On 2 February 2019, he scored a brace against Rudeš, his first league goals for Dinamo Zagreb.[22]
In July, he extended his contract until June 2021.[23]
In June 2021, Hajrović joined Greek outfit Aris on a three-year deal.[24] He debuted competitively for the club in UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against Astana on 22 July.[25] Seven weeks later, he made his league debut against OFI.[26]
After representing Switzerland at various youth levels, Hajrović made his senior international debut in a friendly game against Tunisia on 14 November 2012.[27] However, in June 2013, he decided that he would play for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the future.[28]
In August, his request to change sports citizenship from Swiss to Bosnian was approved by FIFA.[29] Later that month, he received his first senior call-up, for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Slovakia, home and away.[30] He debuted in the home game on 6 September.[31] On 10 September, in the away game, Hajrović scored his first senior international goal, which secured the victory for his team.[32]
In June 2014, Hajrović was named in Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup, country's first major competition.[33] He made his tournament debut in the opening group match against Argentina on 15 June.[34]
Hajrović's younger brother Sead is also a professional footballer. They played together in Grasshoppers, before Sead joined Arsenal's youth academy in July 2009.[35]
He married his long-time girlfriend Lejla in May 2014.[36]
Hajrović is a practising Muslim; along with international teammates Ibrahim Šehić, Muhamed Bešić, Armin Hodžić, Sead Kolašinac, Edin Višća and Ervin Zukanović he visited a mosque in Zenica during national team concentration.[37]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Grasshoppers | 2009–10 | Swiss Super League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||
2010–11 | Swiss Super League | 21 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | – | 25 | 7 | ||
2011–12 | Swiss Super League | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | – | – | 24 | 5 | |||
2012–13 | Swiss Super League | 33 | 8 | 4 | 2 | – | – | 37 | 10 | |||
2013–14 | Swiss Super League | 15 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | – | 22 | 6 | ||
Total | 91 | 20 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0 | – | 109 | 28 | |||
Galatasaray | 2013–14 | Süper Lig | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | – | 12 | 1 | |
Werder Bremen | 2014–15 | Bundesliga | 19 | 1 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 22 | 2 | ||
2016–17 | Bundesliga | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 10 | 1 | |||
2017–18 | Bundesliga | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 9 | 0 | |||
Total | 38 | 2 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 41 | 3 | ||||
Eibar (loan) | 2015–16 | La Liga | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 9 | 1 | ||
Dinamo Zagreb | 2017–18 | Croatian First League | 15 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 17 | 1 | ||
2018–19 | Croatian First League | 17 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 13[lower-alpha 4] | 6[lower-alpha 5] | – | 34 | 10 | ||
2019–20 | Croatian First League | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[lower-alpha 6] | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 7] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
2020–21 | Croatian First League | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | |
Total | 56 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 87 | 14 | ||
Aris | 2021–22 | Super League Greece | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 8] | 0 | – | 11 | 0 | |
Career total | 209 | 28 | 30 | 13 | 29 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 269 | 47 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
2013 | 4 | 1 | |
2014 | 9 | 1 | |
2015 | 4 | 1 | |
2016 | 5 | 0 | |
2017 | 2 | 2 | |
2018 | 0 | 0 | |
2019 | 3 | 1 | |
Total | 27 | 6 |
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 September 2013 | Štadión pod Dubňom, Žilina, Slovakia | 2 | ![]() |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
2 | 3 June 2014 | Soldier Field, Chicago, United States | 7 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
3 | 31 March 2015 | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria | 14 | ![]() |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
4 | 10 October 2017 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 24 | ![]() |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
5 | 2–1 | ||||||
6 | 12 October 2019 | Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 25 | ![]() |
1–0 | 4–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
Grasshoppers[38]
Galatasaray[38]
Dinamo Zagreb[38]
Aris Thessaloniki F.C. – current squad | |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina squad – 2014 FIFA World Cup | ||
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