Biography
Who is Sergej Barbarez?
Early life and background
Born in Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sergej Barbarez grew up in a multi-ethnic family. His father Ljubo was a Bosnian Serb, while his mother Zlata was a handball player from Ljubuški. His maternal grandmother Ruža was a Croat from Trilj, and his grandfather Omer Košarić was Bosniak. As a child, Sergej focused on track and field, specifically the 400-meter dash. However, due to limited resources in Yugoslavia, he switched his focus to football.
In late 1991, as the Yugoslav Wars began, his father sent him to live with an uncle in Hanover, Germany. While the move was initially intended to be temporary, the escalation of the Bosnian War meant he remained in Germany long-term. His father and sister eventually fled to Hanover as well, though his mother remained in Mostar throughout the conflict.
Club football career
Sergej began his youth career at Velež Mostar in 1984. He signed with their first team at age 19. After serving in the Yugoslav People's Army in 1991, he returned to Mostar briefly before his move to Germany. An impromptu two-week trial with Hannover 96 led to his first professional contract. He played for Hannover from 1991 to 1993. Following this, he spent time at Union Berlin from 1993 to 1996, and then Hansa Rostock until 1998.
He joined Borussia Dortmund in 1998, where he played until moving to Hamburger SV in July 2000. It was at Hamburg that he achieved his greatest success. In the 2000-01 season, he scored 22 goals, becoming joint top scorer in the Bundesliga. He left Hamburg in 2006 to join Bayer Leverkusen, where he played until his retirement in 2008.
International play and coaching
Sergej made his senior international debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 14, 1998, against Argentina. Over his international career, he earned 47 caps and scored 17 goals. He served as the team captain between 2004 and 2006. He temporarily retired in 2005 but returned for Euro 2008 qualifiers before stepping down in October 2006.
In April 2024, the Bosnian FA appointed him as the head coach of the national team. He led the squad through a successful 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Under his leadership, the team defeated Italy in the play-off final on March 31, 2026, securing their second appearance at a World Cup finals.
Personal life and activities
Sergej is married to Ana, his high school sweetheart from Mostar. They have two sons, Filip-André, born in 1994, and Sergio-Luis, born in 1999. Beyond football, he has explored other professional interests. He served on the board of directors for Hamburger SV from January 2009 to May 2010.
Also, he spent a decade playing professional poker following his retirement from the pitch. He also earned his UEFA Pro Licence in 2011 at the educational facility in Jablanica.
Birthday and age
Sergej Barbarez was born on September 17, 1971, which makes Sergej 55 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Sergej shares the date with 51 other famous people.
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