Vahid Halilhodžić

Bosnian football manager and former player

Vahid Halilhodžić (born 15 October 1952) is a Bosnian professional football manager and former player. He is regarded as one of the most controversially successful Bosnian football managers, due to his successful tenure in coaching various national teams yet having problematic relations with his teams and players due to different approaches.

Quick Facts

Born: 15 October 1952
Birthplace: Jablanica, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia
Height: 1.82 m / 6 ft
Position: Forward
Total caps: 406
Total goals: 211

Lore & Background

Regarded as one of the best Yugoslav players, Halilhodžić had successful playing spells with Velež Mostar and French clubs Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in 1987. During that time, he earned 15 full international caps for Yugoslavia and was part of national squads who won the 1978 European Under-21 Championship and played at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He was top scorer of the French league in 1983 and 1985.

Reader's Guide

Halilhodžić played for Paris Saint-Germain in the 1986–87 season, appearing in the first 18 games and scoring eight goals. He retired during that season after his mother died.

Did You Know?

He won the 2003–04 Coupe de France with Paris Saint-Germain as a manager.
He qualified for the 2010 World Cup with Ivory Coast, the 2014 World Cup with Algeria, the 2018 World Cup with Japan, and the 2022 World Cup with Morocco.