BH Telecom Premier League, Cup & European Qualification General Discussion

W I N T E R
​

Tl;Dr

• Borac & Čelik basically have a brand new team.
• Mladost DK bought some Africans.
• Talents left the country. A lot of them.
• Rejects/failures hoping to spark their careers again.
• Vitez for sure to relegate IMO.

BHPL - 17/18 transfer window

FK Željezničar (1st)

In:​

• Adi Mehremić - defender - (St. Polten, Austria)
• Stojan Vranješ - midfielder - (Piast Gliwice, Poland)
• Kenan Hadžić - defender - (Istra 1961, Croatia)
• Andrej Modić - midfielder - (Milan, Italy)

Out:​

• Adnan Bobić - goalkeeper - FK Velež Mostar
• Srđan Stanić - defender - HŠK Zrinjski Mostar
• Aldin Hrvanović - midfielder - FK Sloboda Tuzla
• Stevo Nikolić - forward - NK Čelik Zenica
• Dino Hasanović - midfielder - GOŠK Gabela
• Dženis Beganović - forward - N/A
• Rok Elsner - midfielder - N/A
• Samir Bekrić - midfielder - N/A
• Darko Marković - midfielder - N/A

HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (2nd)

In:​

• Srđan Stanić - defender - FK Željezničar
• Advan Kadušić - defender - FK Sarajevo
• Ismar Hairlahović - midfielder - FK Sloboda Tuzla
• Hrvoje Džijan - defender - NK Dinamo Zagreb II
• Antonio Soldo - goalkeeper - NK Široki Brijeg

Out:​

• Marijan Ćavar - midfielder - (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany)
• Tonči Kukoč - defender - (Honvéd, Hungary)
• Salko Jazvin - forward - Sloga Simin Han
• Momčilo Mrkaić - forward - (Javor Ivanjica, Serbia)
• Krešimir Bandić - goalkeeper - NK Široki Brijeg
• Matija Katanec - defender - (Mezőkövesdi SE, Hungary)
• So Hyon-Uk - forward - GOŠK Gabela (loan)
• Nardin Mulahusejinović - forward - GOŠK Gabela (loan)

FK Sarajevo (3rd)

In:​

• Ljuban Crepulja - midfielder - (Mechelen, Belgium)
• Emir Halilović - midfielder - (BW Linz, Austria)
• Aleksandar Šofranac - defender - (Cercle Brugge, Belgium)
• Marjan Altiparmakovski - forward - (FK Sūduva, Lithuania)

Out:​

• Marko Mihojević - defender - (PAOK, Greece)
• Nedim Hadžić - forward - (Leixões SC, Portugal)
• Demirel Veladžić - midfielder - (Leixões SC, Portugal)
• Rijad Sadiku - defender - (Mouscron, Belgium)
• Frank Liivak - forward - (Flora Tallinn, Estonia)
• Perica Ivetić - defender - FK Sloboda Tuzla
• Selmir Pidro - defender - NK Bosna Visoko (loan)
• Nemanja Anđušić - midfielder - NK Čelik Zenica (loan)

NK Široki Brijeg (4th)

In:​

• Josip Kvesić - defender - (HNK Hajduk Split, Croatia)
• Krešimir Bandić - goalkeeper - HŠK Zrinjski Mostar
• Ivan Peko - forward - NK Vitez
• Damir Zlomislić - midfielder - (Shakhtyor Soligorsk , Belarus)
• Marko Perković - defender - (RNK Split, Croatia)

Out:​

• Toni Nikić - defender - (Virtus Entella, Italy) (loan)
• Ivan Milićević - defender - Dugopolje, Croatia) (loan)

FK Krupa na Vrbasu (5th)

In:​

• Goran Galešić - midfielder - FK Borac Banja Luka
• Aleksa Matić - midfielder - (FK Spišská, Slovakia)
• Nemanja Mirosavljević - midfielder - (FK Radnik Surdulica, Serbia)

Out:​

• Irfan Jašarević - defender - (Dalkurd FF, Sweden)
• Elvir Koljić - forward - (Lech Poznań, Poland)
• Stefan Barić - midfielder - GOŠK Gabela
• Nemanja Vidović - defender - NK Travnik
• Mladen Ilić - goalkeeper - FK Kozara Gradiška (loan)

FK Mladost Doboj-Kakanj (6th)

In:​

• Lamin Diallo - defender - (ND Ilirija, Slovenia)
• Maharta Tandina - forward - (NK Šampion Celje, Slovenia)
• Damir Sadiković - midfielder - FK Željezničar
• Dalibor Pandža - forward - (Santarcangelo, Italy)

Out:​

• Mirza Rizanović - defender - NK Vitez
• Vedin Kulović - forward - FK Velež Mostar
• Anes Vazda - midfielder - NK Travnik

FK Borac Banja Luka (7th)

In:​

• Armin Mahović - forward - FK Olimpik Sarajevo
• Mahir Karić - forward - FK Olimpik Sarajevo
• Milan Žeravica - midfielder - (Grindavíkur, Iceland)
• Stefan Dujaković - forward - FK Jedinstvo Zeravica
• Danijel Majkić - defender - (Sandviken IF, Sweden)
• Petar Ilić - forward - (FK Inđija, Serbia)
• Marko Savatović - goalkeeper - (Catania, Italy)

Out:​

• Boris Raspudić - defender - FK Kozara Gradiška
• Asmir Avdukić - goalkeeper - FK Željezničar Banja Luka
• Mahir Karić - forward - FK Olimpik Sarajevo
• Goran Galešić - midfielder - FK Borac Banja Luka
• Miloš Kukić - forward - N/A
• Ivan Delić - midfielder - N/A
• Borislav Erić - defender - N/A
• Rio Suzuki - midfielder - N/A
• Uroš Marković - midfielder - N/A
• Miloš Đorđević - forward - N/A

FK Radnik Bijeljina (8th)

In:​

• Andrej Đurić - defender - FK Podrinje
• Darko Zec - defender - (NK Triglav, Slovenia)
• Strahinja Macanović - forward - (FK Bačka, Serbia)

Out:​

• Besim Šerbečić - defender - (Rosenborg BK, Norway)
• Davor Arnautović - midfielder - FK Zvijezda 09

NK GOŠK Gabela (9th)

In:​

• Stefan Barić - midfielder - FK Krupa na Vrbasu
• Mario Marić - forward - (NK Neretvanac, Croatia)
• So Hyon-Uk - forward - HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (loan)
• Nardin Mulahusejinović - forward - HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (loan)

Out:​

• Mile Pehar - midfielder - FK Olimpik Sarajevo
• Miljenko Bošnjak - midfielder - Sloga Simin Han
• Pavle Sušić - midfielder - N/A

FK Sloboda Tuzla (10th)

In:​

• Igor Marković - goalkeeper - (FK Partizan, Serbia)
• Perica Ivetić - defender - FK Sarajevo
• Amer Bekić - forward - (Tobol, Kazahkstan)
• Edin Rustemović - midfielder - (Adana Demirspor, Turkey)
• Miloš Mijić - forward - (FK Radnik Surdulica, Serbia)

Out:​

• Sulejman Krpić - forward - (Tractor Sazi FC, Iran)
• Amer Ordagić - midfielder - (SK Brann, Norway)
• Miloš Kalezić - midfielder - (OFK Petrovac, Montenegro)
• Almedin Ziljkić - midfielder - Sloga Simin Han
• Filip Erić - goalkeeper - FK Zvijezda 09
• Ismar Hairlahović - midfielder - HŠK Zrinjski Mostar
• Milan Ćulum - midfielder - N/A
• Ismar Tandir - forward - N/A

NK Čelik Zenica (11th)

In:​

• Dino Bevab - defender - FK Olimpik Sarajevo
• Toni Livančić - defender - (NK Rudeš, Croatia)
• Marin Jurina - forward - (NK Krško, Slovenia)
• Enes Akgün - forward - (Eskişehirspor, Turkey)
• Ognjen Đelmić - midfielder - (FK Vojvodina, Serbia)
• Nemanja Anđušić - midfielder - FK Sarajevo (loan)
• Stevo Nikolić - forward - FK Željezničar
• Boris Pandža - defender - NK Široki Brijeg
• Tin Karamatić - defender - (NK Ankaran Hrvatini, Slovenia)
• Cihat Çelik - forward - (Gaziantep FK, Turkey) (loan)
• Josip Šantić - midfielder - NK Vitez

Out:​

• Aidin Mahmutović - forward - Sloga Simin Han
• Emrah Hasanhodžić - defender - N/A

NK Vitez (last place)

In:​

• Mirza Rizanović - defender - FK Mladost Doboj-Kakanj
• Adis Hadžanović - midfielder - (FK Iskra Danilovgrad, Montenegro)
• Amer Halilić - forward - (Korona Kielce, Poland)
• Vedran Vrhovac - defender - (NK Novigrad, Croatia)

Out:​

• Ivan Peko - forward - NK Široki Brijeg
• Boban Đerić - forward - (FK Javor Ivanjica, Serbia)
• Seid Zukić - forward - (Tours FC, France)
• Josip Šantić - midfielder - NK Čelik Zenica
• Ivan Mamić - midfielder - HNK Cibalia
• Elvis Bibić - midfielder - N/A
• Marko Vranjić - midfielder - N/A
• Josip Vuković - midfielder - N/A

 

Zrinjski with two young RBs in their squad. Hopefully one of them turns out good.

 

Here are Bosnia & Herzegovina Youth Premier League U-19 TOP PLAYERS after 18 played games!
What do you think?@footwonderkids @FootYouthTalent @FTalentScout @ScoutedFtbl @fkzeljeznicar @FK_Sarajevo @BosniaFooty @BiHFootball @SidelineScouted pic.twitter.com/O5ouqYGxpr

— Total4Football (@fudbalsketeme) April 11, 2018

 

If Olimpija get the point they need this weekend to clinch the title in Slovenia, then Zrinjski will be seeded in the 1st qualifying round of the Champions League next season. Last time a BiH champion was seeded for a UCL round was Modrica at the same stage 10 years ago.

Below the line are Zrinjski's potential unseeded opponents (got this via the SS.ba boards).

Ludogorets Razgrad
Celtic
APOEL Nicosia
Legia Warsaw
FK Astana
Garabag Agdam
Sheriff Tiraspol
Malmö FF
Red Star Belgrade
Hapoel Beer-Sheva
Rosenborg BK
HJK Helsinki
The New Saints
Videoton Fehérvár
FK Kukësi
Zrinjski Mostar
---------------------
Shkendija Tetovo
F91 Dudelange
Spartak Trnava
Valletta FC
Crusaders Belfast
Víkingur
Olimpija Ljubljana
FC Santa Coloma
Sutjeska Niksic
Alashkert FC
Suduva Marijampole
Cork City
Spartaks Jurmala
Valur Reykjavik
Flora Tallinn

FK Sarajevo are also guaranteed to be seeded in the Europa League 1st qualifying round while Siroki Brijeg are guaranteed to be unseeded. Zeljeznicar's seeding is still undetermined and depends on what happens with the remaining participants to be decided over the next week around Europe.

 

Borac failed to get a license to compete in the Premijer Liga next season and will be demoted to a league even lower than the 2nd division. Meanwhile, Celik managed to get a license and thus will stay in the PL next year, despite actually getting relegated.

Sucks for Borac, but great news if you're a Zenican like me.

 

Only in Bosnia does a team get kicked out for failing to file yearly paperwork.

It's the equivalent of forgetting to file your taxes. Lol

 

To be fair, I'm fairly certain that every European league has these licensing standards where all teams have to submit formal paperwork to determine the financial volatility of the club. I know Germany has it for sure and I read on Twitter last week that something like five clubs in the Russian 3rd Division who won promotion to the 2nd division couldn't obtain a license thus all the relegated 2nd division teams stayed.

 

True, but that's still their lower tiers. Just poor admin skills.

 

Sloga Simin Han got promoted to the BiHPL on the final day of the Prva Liga FBiH today. Their owner Azmir Husic, who used to be Sloboda's president, said afterwards that their goal is to finish ahead of Zrinjski because that way they can't be anything but 1st. Ambitious.

 

Tbf, it's a hell of a lot more marketable than Sloga Simin Han and Husic is all about business. But yeah, not a fan of the name, and I feel Husic is just being childish because things didn't go the way he wanted at Sloboda. Now he's using another club in Tuzla just to prove a point.

At the very least we got a real rivalry brewing up between them and Sloboda, until Husic gets bored or ran out again. Then Sloga will just go back to where they came from or worse.

 

CL (1st qual. round):
Spartak Trnava (SVK) - Zrinjski

EL (1st qual. round):
Banants (ARM) - Sarajevo
Zeljeznicar - Flora Tallinn (EST)
Siroki Brijeg - Domzale (SVN)

50/50 tie for Zrinjski, pretty much got the worst option from the group they were in for the draw but still decent chances to go through. They'll play Legia most likely if they advance, if not then it's Kukesi/Valletta in the Europa 2QR for them. I could see them extending their European adventure beyond 4 games with these draws, but then again it's Zrinjski so no guarantees on that.

Sarajevo should progress (although they have developed somewhat of a track record of embarrassing European eliminations lately and aren't exactly trustworthy themselves) but they have Atalanta in the next round awaiting them so doubt they'll go far. Siroki have a tricky tie with Domzale and an even trickier one with Ufa from Russia if they get through. Zeljo got the best draw of all clubs I feel, should beat Flora and Apollon in the next round would be tough but not out of the question for them. Depends on how they set up and go about it whether they could win that or not.

Games start the week of July 9th. Good luck to all the clubs!

 

If this pair would actually be true i'd put my life savings against our defending champions considering Flora's astonishing record in european competions ...
You've mistaken Flora with Trans btw.
And considering how recent football(and handball) games have been between estonia and bosnia i suspect that your club might actually get big win here lol ...

 

Trans Narva, not Flora, you're right. Thanks for the correction.

Don't rule yourselves out yet, our clubs have a knack of mucking up ties against teams they should be beating. I expect Zeljo to get it done against Trans, but nothing is decided until the games are played out.

 

CL:
Spartak Trnava 1-0 Zrinjski

EL:
Banants 1-2 Sarajevo
Trans Narva 0-2 Zeljeznicar
Siroki Brijeg 2-2 Domzale


Coefficient update for 2017/18:

ZRINJSKI
Spartak Trnava (SVK): 0, -

SARAJEVO
Banants (ARM): 1.0, -

ZELJEZNICAR
Trans Narva (EST): 1.0, -

SIROKI BRIJEG
Domzale (SVN): 0.5, -

2.5/4 = 0.625


Sarajevo and Zeljo with nice away wins although their performances weren't anything special, Siroki came from 0-2 down at home to get a draw to keep their chances alive, and Zrinjski lost in a 50-50 game but still have hopes of progressing at home next week.

 

Pretty good results for BiHPL tbh. Sarajevo and Želno should go through, Zrinjski goes to EL 2nd Qualifying Round if they lose to Spartak.

 

CL:
Zrinjski 1-1 Spartak Trnava (Agg: 1-2)

EL:
Zeljeznicar 3-1 Trans Narva (Agg: 5-1)
Sarajevo 3-0 Banants (Agg: 5-1)
Domzale 1-1 Siroki Brijeg (Agg: 3-3, Domzale through on away goals)

Zeljo and Sarajevo followed up on first leg away wins with comfortable home successes. The former play against Apollon from Cyprus now which is a tricky tie against a team with 3 EL group stage appearances in the last 5 seasons. Not sure how good they are now but they barely got past Stumbras from Lithuania so there may be a chance for Zeljo there, but they'll need to get a good result at home first leg. Sarajevo have Fiorentina or Atalanta depending on UEFA's decision tomorrow, hard to expect much but with the adrenaline of a (hopefully) packed Kosevo behind them, I'm hoping for a performance like the Gladbach one there 4 years ago.

Siroki did pretty well to get two draws against a more talented Domzale team and almost snuck through. Zrinjski ultimately the biggest disappointment by losing their tie as a seed and without a win which means the BiH champions still haven't progressed past a single round since 2008 or won a single game since 2011. Pretty awful record. At least they have a chance to redeem themselves in the EL with the new format, they play Valletta from Malta in the next round.

Coefficient update for 2018/19:

ZRINJSKI
Spartak Trnava (SVK): 0.5
Valletta (MLT): -, -

SARAJEVO
Banants (ARM): 2.0
Fiorentina/Atalanta (ITA): -, -

ZELJEZNICAR
Trans Narva (EST): 2.0
Apollon Limassol (CYP): -, -

SIROKI BRIJEG
Domzale (SVN): 1.0

5.5/4 = 1.375

 

The current coefficient tally for 2018/19 of 1.375 points equals last year's tally already and beats the horrendous 2016/17 season when none of our clubs recorded a single win, but is still lower than our clubs' efforts in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons which are the last two years included in UEFA's 5-year coefficient ranking system.

2014/15: 1.750
2015/16: 1.500
2016/17: 0.500
2017/18: 1.375
2018/19: 1.375

Currently we'll remain in 40th position in the league rankings for 2019/20, but we've closed the distance a bit on Iceland who's the closest to us while we've actually scored more points this season so far than any country in the top 30 with the exception of Slovakia.

38. MOLDOVA - 7.125
39. ICELAND - 6.625
40. BiH - 6.500
41. LITHUANIA - 5.750
42. LATVIA - 5.000

 

Zrinjski will also likely progress to the next round in EL, and Željo has a chance too, so this season could contribute to our coefficient nicely.