Elvir Baljić

2.1. Development in Turkish Football

In 1995, Baljić made a significant move to Turkey, signing with Bursaspor. He quickly established himself as one of the club's top players, maintaining this status for several seasons. His consistent and impactful performances at Bursaspor drew considerable attention from prominent Turkish clubs, making him a highly sought-after target in the Turkish league.

3.1. Fenerbahçe (first stint)

In the summer of 1998, Baljić's strong form at Bursaspor led to a transfer to Turkish football giants Fenerbahçe. The move commanded a transfer fee of approximately 9.30 M EUR. He spent a single season at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, during which he demonstrated his prolific goal-scoring ability, netting 18 goals in 30 league appearances. Fenerbahçe concluded the 1998-99 season in third place, largely owing to Baljić's significant contributions. His exceptional performances during this period made him a prime target for major European clubs.

3.2. Real Madrid

Baljić's outstanding form at Fenerbahçe captured the attention of various European clubs, culminating in a surprising high-profile transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 1999. The transfer fee paid to Fenerbahçe was 26.00 M EUR, which, for more than a decade, stood as the highest sum ever paid for a player from the ex-Yugoslavia region. This record was eventually surpassed by Edin Džeko's move to Manchester City in January 2011. The signing was reportedly initiated by Real Madrid's then-head coach, John Toshack, who was familiar with Baljić's talent from his time coaching Beşiktaş in Istanbul.



However, Baljić's tenure at Real Madrid was plagued by misfortune. Just before the start of the 1999-2000 La Liga season, he suffered a severe injury, rupturing both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in his left knee. This injury necessitated surgery and a prolonged period of rehabilitation, causing him to lose his form almost immediately. Throughout the 1999-00 season, he struggled to regain his fitness and impact, making only 11 league appearances (8 as a substitute) and scoring just 1 goal. The situation worsened with the sacking of coach Toshack in November 1999 and the arrival of Vicente del Bosque, who further marginalized Baljić. Despite the challenges, del Bosque included Baljić in the 18-man squad for the 2000 UEFA Champions League Final in Paris, where Real Madrid defeated compatriots Valencia CF. Although Baljić did not play in the final, he was officially part of the squad that won the prestigious European title.

The substantial transfer fee combined with his limited impact and injury struggles led to his acquisition by Real Madrid being widely regarded as a significant failure. His name consistently appears on various "worst-ever signing" lists for the club due to the high price tag and subsequent lack of return on investment.

3.3. Loan Spells and Later Career

Following his difficult period at Real Madrid, Baljić was sent on loan back to his former club, Fenerbahçe, for the entire 2000-01 season. During this return, he began to recover some of his previous form, scoring 5 goals in 27 league appearances and playing a part as Fenerbahçe won the Turkish Süper Lig, the only league title of his career.

In the 2001-02 season, Baljić was loaned to Rayo Vallecano, a La Liga club also based in Madrid. He reportedly insisted on joining Rayo due to its proximity to Real Madrid, hoping to demonstrate his abilities and earn a fresh opportunity with the larger club. During his time at Rayo, he reunited with countrymen and friends Elvir Bolić and Emir Granov, and at times, they formed a notable forward line alongside a Basque player named Bolo, leading to the moniker "Baljić, Bolić and Bolo". However, this spell was also hindered by further injuries, poor form, and disciplinary issues, resulting in just one league goal from 10 appearances. The move ultimately did little to improve his standing at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

In the summer of 2002, Baljić's contract with Real Madrid was terminated. He then made another return to Turkish football, signing with Galatasaray. Although he was only 28 years old at this point, it became evident that his peak playing days were largely behind him. His performances for Galatasaray were inconsistent, and he scored 3 goals in 34 appearances. Reports at the time suggested a decreasing overall interest in football, and he contemplated retirement on several occasions.

After leaving Galatasaray in December 2004, Baljić signed with Konyaspor in January 2005. He played for half a season, scoring 2 goals in 14 appearances, before taking a break from the sport at the age of 31. He briefly returned to professional football in January 2006, joining Turkish side MKE Ankaragücü, where he scored 2 goals in 15 appearances. His final club spell was with İstanbulspor, where he played from the 2006-07 season until the 2007-08 season, making 25 appearances and scoring 9 goals. Elvir Baljić officially concluded his playing career in July 2008 at the age of 34.

5.1. Assistant Coach

In February 2010, almost two years after retiring as a player, Baljić was appointed as an assistant coach for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team under head coach Safet Sušić. During his tenure as an assistant, he was part of a landmark achievement for Bosnian football: the national team's historic qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, marking their first appearance at a major international tournament. Baljić departed the national team setup in 2014 following Sušić's departure. He later rejoined Sušić as an assistant manager, first at Süper Lig club Konyaspor in 2017 and then at Akhisarspor in 2018.

5.2. Head Coach

Baljić's first role as a head coach came on October 2, 2015, when he took charge of Turkish TFF First League club Karabükspor. However, his tenure was short-lived; he resigned less than three months later, on December 21, 2015, following a 3-0 loss against Adanaspor. This defeat marked Karabükspor's third consecutive loss across all competitions and their second straight league defeat.

On October 1, 2019, Baljić was named the new manager of Bosnian Premier League club Tuzla City, officially taking over the position the following day with a three-year contract. His debut match as Tuzla City manager on October 5, 2019, saw his team secure a decisive 3-0 home victory against Zvijezda 09 in a league fixture. However, his first loss came on October 19, 2019, when Tuzla City suffered a 0-3 home defeat to Radnik Bijeljina. In his first Tuzla derby on November 30, 2019, his team drew 1-1 against city rivals Sloboda Tuzla. Ultimately, Baljić decided to terminate his contract with Tuzla City on March 9, 2020, citing poor results, which culminated in a 1-0 away league loss against Željezničar the day prior.

6.1. Player Honours

Baljić's team-based achievements include:

• UEFA Champions League: 1999-2000 (with Real Madrid)
• Süper Lig: 2000-01 (with Fenerbahçe)

His individual accolades recognize his standing as a top player in his region and in Turkey:

• Bosnian Footballer of the Year: 1998, 1999
• Turkish Footballer of the Year: 1998

7.1. Club Statistics

This table details Elvir Baljić's club playing statistics, including appearances and goals scored.

7.2. International Goals

Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Baljić goal.

7.3. Managerial Record

Managerial record by team and tenure:

8.1. Playing Career Legacy

Baljić is remembered for his dynamic attacking play and goal-scoring prowess that made him a standout in Turkish football before his move to Spain. His time at Fenerbahçe, particularly his initial stint and his return loan spell which culminated in a Süper Lig title, solidified his reputation as a key player in the Turkish league. His individual awards as Bosnian Footballer of the Year and Turkish Footballer of the Year underscore his widespread recognition and impact in both regions.

However, his high-value transfer to Real Madrid remains a defining, yet challenging, part of his legacy. Despite being part of the squad that won the UEFA Champions League, his severe injury shortly after the transfer and subsequent lack of playing time meant he never fulfilled the high expectations set by his 26.00 M EUR price tag. This period at Real Madrid is frequently cited on lists of "worst signings" in football history, highlighting the significant financial investment that did not yield equivalent on-field results. This mixed perception reflects the complexities of professional sports careers, where factors like injuries and managerial changes can dramatically alter a player's trajectory regardless of their initial talent. Despite the Real Madrid setback, Baljić's overall contribution to Bosnian football, marked by his international goal-scoring record and the unique feat of four goals in a single match, along with his success in the Turkish Süper Lig, secure his place as a significant figure in the history of both nations' football.