Biography
Who is Vladimir Petković?
Origins and early background
Vladimir Petković was born in Sarajevo, which was part of the former Yugoslavia, on August 15, 1963. His parents were both employed within the education sector. Because of their frequent job-related relocations, he spent his childhood attending different schools. During his early years, the family resided in Vrelo Bosne before moving to Hadžići near Sarajevo when he reached age five.
He developed an interest in association football at a young age, beginning his playing path in Ilidža when he was eleven years old. By the time he turned fifteen, he had joined the youth academy of his local club, FK Sarajevo.
Professional playing career
Vladimir started his professional career with FK Sarajevo during the early 1980s. While with the team, he contributed to their 1984–85 Yugoslav First League title win, although he only made two league appearances that season. His time there included loan periods at Rudar Prijedor and a stint with NK Koper.
In 1987, he moved to Switzerland to join the second division team Chur 97. Throughout his time in Switzerland, he played for several clubs including Sion, Bellinzona, and Lugano. He often performed as a goalscoring midfielder in the Swiss second division. He eventually ended his playing days while acting as a player-manager for Bellinzona and Malcantone Agno.
Coaching and management
After retiring from play, Vladimir became a manager. His first role was as a player-manager at Bellinzona in 1997. He later took charge of Lugano in 2004 before returning to Bellinzona, where he helped secure promotion to the Swiss Super League and guided them to the 2008 Swiss Cup final. He managed Young Boys starting in 2008, where he implemented a 3–4–3 formation and achieved a second-place league finish. In 2011, he moved to the Turkish club Samsunspor for a short period. He returned to Switzerland briefly to manage Sion in 2012 before moving to Italy.
Success in Italy and with national teams
In June 2012, he took over the Italian club Lazio. During his tenure, he achieved success by winning the 2012–13 Coppa Italia. A goal by Senad Lulić against Roma secured that victory. In December 2013, it was announced he would become the manager of the Switzerland national team. This appointment led to a contract dispute with Lazio, resulting in his departure from the Italian club in early 2014.
He led the Swiss national team to the knockout stages of UEFA Euro 2016, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2020. In 2021, he became the manager of Bordeaux in France. In 2024, he took over as the head coach of the Algeria national team.
Personal details and charitable service
Vladimir holds citizenship in Bosnia, Switzerland, and Croatia. Standing at 190 centimeters tall, he has maintained a diverse professional life. While living in Switzerland, he spent five years working for Caritas Ticino. This organization provides social services and charitable relief. He has navigated various challenges throughout his career, including legal disputes regarding contract terminations and periods of intense competition in different leagues across Europe and Africa.
Birthday and age
Vladimir Petković was born on August 15, 1963, which makes Vladimir 63 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Vladimir shares the date with 56 other famous people.
Explore more
