Nijaz Merdanović (born 15 January 1957) is a Bosnian retired professional

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

and current marketing director of the

Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Nogometni/Fudbalski Savez Bosne i Hercegovine (N/FSBiH); Ногометни/Фудбалски Савез Босне и Херцеговине (Н/ФСБиХ), (FSBiH); unified abbreviation N/FS ...

Playing career

At the time considered one of

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

's biggest footballing talents, Merdanić debuted for

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...

at the age of 16, becoming the youngest player in the history of the club to appear in a senior league game. A chronic knee injury that resulted in three separate operations would end his playing career at the age of only 27.

Administrative career

After retiring from football, Merdanić was named as

's General Secretary, and would eventually go on to become the 33rd President of the club Assembly, staying on that position from September 2005 until June 2010. He is the current marketing director of the

Personal life

Nijaz's younger brother Senad also played for

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merdanovic, Nijaz 1957 births Living people People from Kakanj Footballers from Zenica-Doboj Canton Bosniaks of Bosnia and Herzegovina Men's association football wingers Yugoslav men's footballers FK Sarajevo players Yugoslav First League players FK Sarajevo presidents of the assembly