Sead Hajrović (born 4 June 1993) is a professional footballer who plays for Swiss club Xamax.[1] Born in Switzerland, he represented it internationally on junior levels, before switching to representing Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sead Hajrović
Hajrović with Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-06-04) 4 June 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Brugg, Switzerland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
Xamax
Number 4
Youth career
Grasshoppers
2009–2011 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Arsenal 0 (0)
2012Barnet (loan) 10 (0)
2013–2014 Grasshoppers 2 (0)
2014–2016 FC Winterthur 67 (0)
2016–2018 FC Wohlen 58 (3)
2018–2020 FC Winterthur 45 (2)
2020–2021 Viktoria Köln 34 (0)
2021–2023 Yverdon-Sport 57 (0)
2023– Xamax 33 (0)
International career
2008 Switzerland U15 6 (0)
2009 Switzerland U17 8 (0)
2010–2011 Switzerland U18 11 (0)
2011–2012 Switzerland U19 6 (0)
2013–2014 Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 November 2024

Club career

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Arsenal

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Hajrović officially signed professional terms on 7 July 2011 after signing for Arsenal as a scholar in the summer of 2009, arriving from Grasshoppers in his home country.

He went on loan to Barnet and made his debut on 28 January 2012 against Crewe Alexandra, coming on as a substitute.[2] Although his spell with Barnet was hampered somewhat by injury, he made 10 appearances as the Bees avoided relegation from League Two.

In an interview with Mugais Jahangir, the Editor of The Gooner Thoughts, Hajrović talked about his time at Arsenal and Arsene Wenger as his coach, who he describes as 'motivating'.

He [Arsene Wenger] is a great coach and he definitely knows what he is doing. He also gives a lot of young players chances to be involved with the first team and if you would have the chance to speak to him for a few minutes, you would never forget that conversation. He would motivate you in every possible way and tell you exactly what is good and where you have to improve.

[3]

On 4 December 2012, Hajrović was included in Arsenal's trip to Olympiacos as an unused substitute.

In May 2013, Hajrović was released by Arsenal to look for a different team where he plans to start regularly.

Grasshopper

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On 5 August 2013, Hajrović signed a two-year contract with Grasshopper Club Zürich.[4]

Winterthur

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On 1 July 2014, Hajrović signed another two-year contract with FC Winterthur after terminating his previous contract with Grasshopper.[5]

Wohlen

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On 14 June 2016, Hajrović joined FC Wohlen, signing a three-year contract.[6]

Viktoria Koln

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On 16 January 2020, Hajrović joined German side Viktoria Köln.[7]

Xamax

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On 26 June 2023, Hajrović joined Challenge League side Xamax.[8]

International career

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Hajrović was part of the Swiss side that won the under-17 World Cup in 2009, before going on to captain the under-18s.

At the start of 2013, Hajrović, after expressing desire to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina, was invited by the Bosnian FA as a special guest for Bosnia's friendly against Slovenia. In May 2013, FIFA allowed Hajrović to switch national teams, after which he elected to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally.

He made his debut for Bosnian U-21 team on 31 May 2013. in a friendly match between Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Personal life

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His parents are Bosniaks from Bijelo Polje, Montenegro, but they relocated to Sarajevo in 1980. They moved to Switzerland in 1987.[9][10] His older brother, Izet is also a footballer.

Hajrović is fluent in German, English and Bosnian.[11]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 27 September 2024[12]
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barnet (loan) 2011-12 League Two 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Arsenal 2012-13 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Grasshopper 2013-14 Swiss Super League 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Winterthur 2014-15 Swiss Challenge League 33 0 1 0 34 0
2015-16 Swiss Challenge League 34 0 2 0 36 0
Total 67 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 70 0
Wohlen 2016-17 Swiss Challenge League 29 2 1 0 30 2
2017-18 Swiss Challenge League 29 1 0 0 29 1
Total 58 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 59 3
Winterthur 2018-19 Swiss Challenge League 32 2 2 0 34 2
2019-20 Swiss Challenge League 13 0 2 0 15 0
Total 45 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 49 2
Viktoria Köln 2019-20 3. Liga 14 0 14 0
2020-21 3. Liga 20 0 20 0
Total 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 0
Yverdon-Sport 2021-22 Swiss Challenge League 29 0 4 0 33 0
2022-23 Swiss Challenge League 28 0 1 0 29 0
Total 57 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 62 0
Xamax 2023-24 Swiss Challenge League 28 0 1 0 29 0
2024-25 Swiss Challenge League 4 0 0 0 4 0
Total 32 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0
Career total 305 5 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 319 5
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Swiss Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup

References

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  1. ^ Sead Hajrović at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ "Barnet vs Crewe". Barnet F.C. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Sead Hajrovic' Interview". Gooner Thoughts.com.
  4. ^ "Sead Hajrović signs Grasshopper Club Zürich". reprezentacija.ba.
  5. ^ "Sead Hajrović plays for FC Winterthur". Watson.
  6. ^ Fuss, Dean (14 June 2016). "Challenge League - Noch ein U17-Weltmeister für den FC Wohlen: Sead Hajrovic unterschreibt für drei Jahre". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Viktoria holt Ex-Arsenal-Talent Sead Hajrović" (in German). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  8. ^ Ryser, Florent (26 June 2023). "Sead Hajrovic rejoint les Rouge et Noir". Neuchâtel Xamax (in French). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  9. ^ http://www.sport.ba/istaknuto/proglasavali-su-izdajnikom-ja-sam-uvijek-znao-da-cu-igrati-za-bih/][dead link]
  10. ^ "Naš dragulj Sead Hajrović: Još nisam shvatio koliko je Arsenal veliki klub". bhfanaticos.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  11. ^ Al Jazeera (12 February 2013). "Borba za igrače iz dijaspore - Al Jazeera Balkans" – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Sead Hajrović at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
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