Haris Medunjanin

Haris Medunjanin
Medunjanin with Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015
Personal information
Full name Haris Medunjanin[1]
Date of birth (1985-03-08) 8 March 1985 (age 38)[2]
Place of birth Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Castellón
Number 4
Youth career
Swift Atletiek
AFC'34
AZ
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 AZ 25 (4)
2006–2007 → Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 32 (7)
2008–2010 Valladolid 42 (7)
2010–2013 Maccabi Tel Aviv 46 (9)
2012–2013 → Gaziantepspor (loan) 30 (4)
2013–2014 Gaziantepspor 32 (2)
2014–2016 Deportivo La Coruña 24 (2)
2016–2017 Maccabi Tel Aviv 33 (4)
2017–2019 Philadelphia Union 98 (5)
2020–2022 FC Cincinnati 69 (4)
2022–2023 PEC 24 (6)
2023– Castellón 7 (2)
International career
2006–2007 Netherlands U21 7 (0)
2009–2018 Bosnia and Herzegovina 60 (9)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Netherlands
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Winner 2006 Portugal
Winner 2007 Netherlands
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:15, 13 October 2023 (UTC)

Haris Medunjanin (Bosnian pronunciation: [xâːris medûːɲanin]; born 8 March 1985) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays for Spanish club CD Castellón as a midfielder.

He started his professional career at AZ, who loaned him to Sparta Rotterdam in 2006. In 2008 he joined Valladolid, before signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv two years later. He was loaned to Gaziantepspor in 2012, signing on a permanent basis the following season; in 2016 he returned to Maccabi and, one year later, moved to the Philadelphia Union.

Medunjanin represented the Netherlands at under-21 level, but in 2009 he decided to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a senior. His international career lasted until 2018, with the highlight being appearing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

AZ

Medunjanin made his Eredivisie debut on 20 February 2005, with AZ Alkmaar. During his three-year spell, however, opportunities were scarce.[4][5][6]

For the 2006–07 season, he was loaned to Sparta Rotterdam,[7] being essential as the modest club finished 13th by scoring seven league goals.[8]

Valladolid

After another unassuming campaign in Alkmaar,[9] Medunjanin was acquired by Spain's Real Valladolid in August 2008.[10] He was relatively used in his first year, mainly as a substitute.[11]

In 2009–10, Medunjanin netted all of his five La Liga goals as a late substitute.[12][13] In January 2010, he and other teammates were fined €6,000 for breaching club discipline by "engaging in untimely nocturnal activities",[14] and the team was also eventually relegated.[15]

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Medunjanin signed a four-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. in Israel in July 2010, for €1.8 million.[16][17] He made his official debut for his new team on the 15th in a UEFA Europa League second qualifying round against FK Mogren, and scored in the 2–0 home win.[18]

Gaziantepspor

On 31 August 2012, Medunjanin signed with Turkish side Gaziantepspor on loan from Maccabi.[19][20] The move was made permanent before the start of the following season, on a three-year deal.[21][22]

Deportivo

On 12 August 2014, after a successful medical, free agent Medunjanin joined Deportivo de La Coruña.[23] On 29 January 2016, having been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Víctor Sánchez,[24] he terminated his contract,[25] and agreed to a one-and-a-half-year deal with his former club Maccabi Tel Aviv two days later.[26]

Medunjanin helped Maccabi to qualify for the Europa League group stage in both his first and second seasons, following runner-up finishes in the Premier League.[27][28]

Philadelphia Union

Medunjanin playing for Philadelphia Union in 2017

On 31 January 2017, Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union signed Medunjanin to a two-year deal with an option for a third.[29] He made his debut in the season opener, in a 0–0 away draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[30] He scored his first goal for his new team on 14 May 2017, contributing to a 4–0 victory at D.C. United;[31] on 27 November, he was named their Player of the Year after contributing 12 assists and two goals.[32]

Becoming one of the Union's core midfielders, Medunjanin's contract option was picked up for the 2019 campaign.[33] He helped the side earn their best season to date by playing every minute in the league, also leading all MLS players in total passes (2,571), total completed passes (2,182), passes in the opponent's half (1,521) and completed passes in the opponent's half (1,217) according to Opta.[34]

On 20 November 2019, Medunjanin was released.[35] During the MLS waiver draft, his rights were selected by FC Cincinnati.[36]

FC Cincinnati

On 5 December 2019, aged 34, Mendunjanin joined FC Cincinnati.[37] He scored his first goal for his new team the following 19 September, with a game-winning olympic corner kick against the New York Red Bulls.[38][39]

Medunjanin left the TQL Stadium in August 2022, by mutual consent.[40]

Later career

On 9 August 2022, Medunjanin returned to the Netherlands after 14 years, on a one-year contract at PEC Zwolle.[41] In July 2023 he moved countries again, with the 38-year-old signing a one-year deal with Spanish Primera Federación club CD Castellón.[42]

International career

Netherlands

Medunjanin was part of the Netherlands under-21 team that won the 2006 tournament of the UEFA European Championship.[43][44] He was also called by coach Foppe de Haan for his squad in the 2007 tournament, held in the Netherlands;[45] the nation went on to retain its title by beating Serbia 4–1 in the final,[46] and in the process qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Medunjanin playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015

In a 2009 interview, Medunjanin expressed strong desire to play for his native Bosnia and Herzegovina.[47] In August of the same year, his paperwork for change of footballing citizenship was submitted to FIFA and, on 31 October 2009, national coach Miroslav Blažević invited the player for the 2010 FIFA World Cup playoff games against Portugal.[48][49] He made his debut – as a starter – in the decisive second leg, a 0–1 loss in Zenica (0–2 on aggregate).[50][51]

Medunjanin scored his first international goal on 17 November 2010, in a friendly with Slovakia.[52][53] In the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, he contributed three goals against Albania (2–0, home),[54] Belarus (2–0, away)[55] and Luxembourg (5–0 at home),[56] helping Bosnia to the second place in their group and to qualify for play-offs.

On 2 June 2014, Medunjanin was named in the squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup.[57] He made his debut in the tournament 14 days later, playing the last 16 minutes of a 2–1 group stage loss to Argentina.[58]

On 13 October 2015, Medunjanin scored a crucial brace against Cyprus to help Bosnia and Herzegovina reach the Euro 2016 play-offs after the 3–2 away win.[59] In 2016, he captained the nation during the Kirin Cup winning campaign, the first match being against Denmark on 3 June.[60][61]

Medunjanin announced his retirement from international football on 27 March 2018, after playing in a friendly with Senegal which marked his 60th cap.[62][63]

Personal life

Medunjanin was born in Sarajevo, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After the outbreak of Bosnian War in 1992, he moved to the Netherlands at the age of seven with his mother and sister, whilst his father was unable to leave, later losing his life.[49][64] Due to living in the latter country he possessed dual citizenship, Bosnian and Dutch.

In July 2019, Medunjanin married Israeli model Moran Rahimi.[65][66]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 November 2021[67][68][69]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
AZ 2004–05 Eredivisie 3 0 0 0 0 0 — 3 0
2005–06 Eredivisie 10 3 2 0 2[a] 0 1[b] 0 15 3
2007–08 Eredivisie 12 1 1 0 2[a] 0 — 15 1
Total 25 4 3 0 4 0 1 0 33 4
Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 2006–07 Eredivisie 32 7 3 2 — 2[c] 0 37 9
Valladolid 2008–09 La Liga 18 1 3 1 — — 21 2
2009–10 La Liga 24 5 1 0 — — 25 5
Total 42 6 4 1 — — 46 7
Maccabi Tel Aviv 2010–11 Israeli Premier League 32 8 4 1 6[a] 4 — 42 13
2011–12 Israeli Premier League 14 1 3 2 9[a] 1 — 26 4
Total 46 9 7 3 15 5 — 68 17
Gaziantepspor (loan) 2012–13 Süper Lig 30 4 3 0 — — 33 4
Gaziantepspor 2013–14 Süper Lig 32 2 1 0 — — 33 2
Deportivo La Coruña 2014–15 La Liga 24 2 1 0 — — 25 2
2015–16 La Liga 0 0 2 0 — — 2 0
Total 24 2 3 0 — — 27 2
Maccabi Tel Aviv 2015–16 Israeli Premier League 15 3 4 1 — — 19 4
2016–17 Israeli Premier League 18 1 2 0 14[a] 2 — 34 3
Total 33 4 6 1 14 2 — 53 7
Philadelphia Union 2017 Major League Soccer 34 2 2 0 — — 36 2
2018 Major League Soccer 30 2 5 1 — — 35 3
2019 Major League Soccer 34 1 1 0 — 2[d] 0 37 1
Total 98 5 8 1 — 2 0 108 6
FC Cincinnati 2020 Major League Soccer 22 1 0 0 — — 22 1
2021 Major League Soccer 29 3 0 0 — — 29 3
Total 51 4 0 0 — — 51 4
Career total 413 47 38 8 33 7 5 0 489 62
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearance in 2005–06 Eredivisie Europa League play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in 2006–07 Eredivisie play-offs for UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Bosnia and Herzegovina[70] 2009 1 0
2010 6 1
2011 11 3
2012 6 0
2013 9 1
2014 9 0
2015 6 2
2016 6 1
2017 2 1
2018 4 0
Total 60 9
Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Medunjanin goal.
List of international goals scored by Haris Medunjanin[70]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 November 2010 Štadión Pasienky, Bratislava, Slovakia  Slovakia 1–1 3–2 Friendly
2 7 June 2011 Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Albania 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
3 2 September 2011 Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus  Belarus 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
4 7 October 2011 Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Luxembourg 5–0 5–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
5 7 June 2013 Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia  Latvia 3–0 5–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 13 October 2015 GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus  Cyprus 1–0 3–2 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
7 2−2
8 6 September 2016 Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Estonia 3–0 5–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 7 October 2017 Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina  Belgium 1–1 3–4 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Netherlands U21

References

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External links

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