Smail Prevljak (Bosnian pronunciation: [smaǐl prěʋʎaːk]; born 10 May 1995) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian First Division A club Eupen and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
![]() Prevljak with Red Bull Salzburg in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Smail Prevljak | ||
Date of birth | (1995-05-10) 10 May 1995 (age 27) | ||
Place of birth | Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||
Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Eupen | ||
Number | 9 | ||
Youth career | |||
Igman Konjic | |||
2013–2014 | RB Leipzig | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014 | RB Leipzig II | 2 | (1) |
2014–2015 | RB Leipzig | 1 | (0) |
2014–2015 | → Red Bull Salzburg (loan) | 1 | (0) |
2014–2017 | → Liefering (loan) | 45 | (24) |
2015–2020 | Red Bull Salzburg | 34 | (12) |
2017–2018 | → Mattersburg (loan) | 32 | (16) |
2020 | → Eupen (loan) | 5 | (4) |
2020– | Eupen | 71 | (27) |
National team‡ | |||
2015 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 | 5 | (0) |
2018– | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 22 | (6) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 November 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 September 2022 |
Prevljak started his professional career at RB Leipzig, playing mainly in its reserve team. In 2014, he was loaned to Red Bull Salzburg, who assigned him to Liefering later that year. The following year, he moved to Red Bull Salzburg on permanent basis. Prevljak was sent on loan to Mattersburg in 2017 and to Eupen in 2020. Later that year, he joined Eupen permanently.
A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prevljak made his senior international debut in 2018, earning over 20 caps since.
Prevljak started playing football at his hometown club Igman Konjic, before joining youth academy of German team RB Leipzig in 2013.[2] He made his professional debut playing for RB Leipzig II against Fortuna Chemnitz on 24 May 2014 at the age of 19.[3] On 31 May, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over FC Eilenburg.[4]
In August, Prevljak was sent on a season-long loan to Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg.[5] He made his official debut for the side on 9 November against Altach.[6]
In June 2015, he moved to Red Bull Salzburg permanently.[7] On 23 August, he scored his first goal for the side against Austria Wien.[8] Prevljak scored his first career hat-trick against FAC on 6 November.[9]
In April 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 24 February 2017, over ten months after the injury.[10]
In June, Prevljak was loaned to Mattersburg until the end of season.[11]
In June 2018, he signed a new four-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg.[12] On 16 December, he scored four goals in a defeat of St. Pölten.[13] He won his first trophy with the club on 5 May 2019, when they were crowned league champions.[14]
In January 2020, Prevljak was sent on a six-month loan to Belgian outfit Eupen.[15] He made his competitive debut for the club against St. Truiden on 8 February and managed to score a goal.[16]
In August, Eupen signed Prevljak on a three-year deal.[17]
He scored his first hat-trick for the team in a victory over Charleroi on 17 April 2021.[18]
Prevljak was a member of Bosnia and Herzegovina under-21 team under coach Darko Nestorović.[19]
In March 2018, he received his first senior call-up, for friendly games against Bulgaria and Senegal.[20] He debuted against the former on 23 March.[21]
On 15 November 2020, in a 2020–21 UEFA Nations League game against the Netherlands, Prevljak scored his first senior international goal.[22]
Prevljak married his long-time girlfriend Nejra in March 2017. Together they have a son named Sami.[23]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
RB Leipzig II | 2013–14 | Sachsenliga | 2 | 1 | – | – | 2 | 1 | ||
RB Leipzig | 2014–15 | 2. Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
Red Bull Salzburg (loan) | 2014–15 | Austrian Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Liefering (loan) | 2014–15 | 2. Liga | 17 | 14 | – | – | 17 | 14 | ||
2015–16 | 2. Liga | 14 | 8 | – | – | 14 | 8 | |||
2016–17 | 2. Liga | 14 | 2 | – | – | 14 | 2 | |||
Total | 45 | 24 | – | – | 45 | 24 | ||||
Red Bull Salzburg | 2015–16 | Austrian Bundesliga | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 10 | 2 |
2018–19 | Austrian Bundesliga | 23 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 5[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 32 | 12 | |
2019–20 | Austrian Bundesliga | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
Total | 34 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 47 | 15 | ||
Mattersburg (loan) | 2017–18 | Austrian Bundesliga | 32 | 16 | 4 | 2 | – | 36 | 18 | |
Eupen (loan) | 2019–20 | Belgian First Division A | 5 | 4 | – | – | 5 | 4 | ||
Eupen | 2020–21 | Belgian First Division A | 27 | 16 | 2 | 0 | – | 29 | 16 | |
2021–22 | Belgian First Division A | 30 | 9 | 5 | 7 | – | 35 | 16 | ||
2022–23 | Belgian First Division A | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 | 2 | ||
Total | 76 | 31 | 7 | 7 | – | 83 | 38 | |||
Career total | 191 | 84 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 215 | 96 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
2018 | 1 | 0 | |
2019 | 0 | 0 | |
2020 | 4 | 1 | |
2021 | 11 | 3 | |
2022 | 6 | 2 | |
Total | 22 | 6 |
No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 November 2020 | Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands | 4 | ![]() |
1–3 | 1–3 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League |
2 | 4 September 2021 | Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 11 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
3 | 9 October 2021 | Astana Arena, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan | 13 | ![]() |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
4 | 2–0 | ||||||
5 | 4 June 2022 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland | 19 | ![]() |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League |
6 | 7 June 2022 | Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 20 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League |
Red Bull Salzburg[24]
K.A.S. Eupen – current squad | |
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