Ervin Zukanović

Ervin Zukanović (Bosnian pronunciation: [ěrʋin zukâːnoʋitɕ]; born 11 February 1987) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Serie A club SPAL and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Ervin Zukanović

Zukanović with Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Ervin Zukanović
Date of birth	(1987-02-11) 11 February 1987
Place of birth	Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position(s)	Centre back
Club information
Current team	SPAL
Number	87
Youth career
	Željezničar
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2006	Željezničar	7	(0)
2006–2007	Austria Lustenau II	20	(0)
2008	Sulzberg	5	(0)
2008	Uerdingen 05	9	(0)
2009–2010	Dender	53	(2)
2010–2011	Eupen	36	(3)
2011–2013	Kortrijk	56	(8)
2013–2015	Gent	34	(2)
2014–2015	→ Chievo (loan)	29	(2)
2015–2016	Sampdoria	16	(3)
2016–2018	Roma	9	(0)
2016–2017	→ Atalanta (loan)	19	(0)
2017–2018	→ Genoa (loan)	31	(0)
2018–2019	Genoa	25	(0)
2019–2020	Al-Ahli	3	(0)
2020–	SPAL	3	(0)
National team^‡
2012–2020	Bosnia and Herzegovina	38	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 February 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 September 2019

Zukanović started his professional career at Željezničar. After leaving the club, he had short spells with Austria Lustenau II, Velež, Sulzberg and Uerdingen 05, before settling in Belgium, where he played for Dender, Eupen, Kortrijk and Gent. In 2014, he was loaned to Chievo. The following year, he signed with Sampdoria. One year after, he moved to Roma, who loaned him to Atalanta in 2016 and to Genoa in 2017. In 2018, he joined Genoa permanently. A year later, Zukanović joined Al-Ahli. The following year, he signed with SPAL.

Zukanović made his senior international debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2012, earning over 30 caps since.

Club career

Early career

Zukanović came through youth academy of his hometown club Željezničar. He made his professional debut in 2005.[1] After leaving Željezničar, he had short spells with mostly lower-league teams like Austria Lustenau II, Velež, FC Sulzberg and Uerdingen.[2]

In January 2009, he joined Belgian side Dender.[3] On 7 March, he scored his first professional goal against Genk.[4]

In July 2010, he went to Eupen.[3]

In June 2011, he was transferred to Kortrijk.[5]

In January 2013, he moved to Gent.[6]

Chievo

On 20 June 2014, Zukanović was sent on a season-long loan to Italian team Chievo, with an option to make the transfer permanent.[7] He made his official debut for the club on 24 September.[8] On 26 October, he scored his first goal for Chievo in an away loss to Genoa.[9]

On 12 June 2015, Chievo exercised their buy option and signed Zukanović permanently.[10]

Sampdoria

Just a month later, Zukanović was transferred to Sampdoria for a fee of €3 million plus Fabrizio Cacciatore.[11] He made his competitive debut for the club in UEFA Europa League qualifier against Vojvodina on 30 July.[12] A month later, he made his league debut against Napoli.[13] On 25 October, Zukanović netted his first goal for Sampdoria.[14]

Roma

On 29 January 2016, Zukanović completed his move to Roma, who paid €1.5 million for the initial loan, with buy option set at €2.5 million. He joined fellow Bosnian internationals Edin Džeko and Miralem Pjanić, who were at the time playing for Roman club.[15] The following day, he debuted for Roma, providing an assist in a win over Frosinone.[16] A month later, Roma effectuated their buy clause and signed Zukanović on a contract expiring in June 2019.[17] On 8 March, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, in a loss to Real Madrid.[18]

In July 2016, Zukanović was loaned to Atalanta until the end of season.[19]

Genoa

On 12 July 2017, Zukanović joined Genoa on loan, with an obligation to buy after certain conditions are met.[20] He debuted in a home loss to Lazio on 17 September, and provided an assist for one of the goals.[21]

In June 2018, Genoa signed Zukanović on a three-year contract.[22]

Al-Ahli

In August 2019, Zukanović signed a two-year contract with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli.[23] He made his official debut for the team against Al-Adalah on 22 August.[24]

SPAL

On 31 January 2020, Zukanović signed a contract with SPAL until the end of season, with an option to extend it for another year.[25] Two days later, he debuted for the club in a loss to Lazio.[26]

International career

In October 2012, Zukanović received his first senior call-up to Bosnia and Herzegovina, for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Lithuania.[27] He debuted in a home win over latter on 16 October.[28]

Zukanović was selected in Bosnia and Herzegovina's preliminary squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He failed to join the team, which had a training camp in the United States, due to visa problems. However, Zukanović later blamed the Bosnian FA, which subsequently got him dropped from the squad.[29]

After the firing of Safet Sušić, Zukanović was re-selected by new coach Mehmed Baždarević in March 2015. He made his return in UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Andorra on 28 March.[30]

Personal life

Zukanović married his long-time girlfriend Emina in July 2011. They have three children, a girl named Alin and two boys named Armin and Din.[31]

He possesses Belgian passport since 2015.[32]

Zukanović is a practicing Muslim; along with international teammates Ibrahim Šehić, Muhamed Bešić, Armin Hodžić, Izet Hajrović, Sead Kolašinac and Edin Višća he visited a mosque in Zenica during national team concentration.[33]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 February 2020[34]

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Željezničar	2005–06	Bosnian Premier League	7	0	0	0	–		7	0
Austria Lustenau II	2006–07	Austrian Regionalliga West	20	0	–		–		20	0
Sulzberg	2007–08	Vorarlbergliga	5	0	–		–		5	0
Uerdingen 05	2008–09	Oberliga Niederrhein	9	0	–		–		9	0
Dender	2008–09	Belgian First Division A	20	1	0	0	–		20	1
	2009–10	Belgian First Division B	33	1	2	0	–		35	1
	Total		53	2	2	0	–		55	2
Eupen	2010–11	Belgian First Division A	36	3	1	0	–		37	3
Kortrijk	2011–12	Belgian First Division A	35	3	7	1	–		42	4
	2012–13	Belgian First Division A	21	5	2	0	–		23	5
	Total		56	8	9	1	–		65	9
Gent	2012–13	Belgian First Division A	15	0	1	0	–		16	0
	2013–14	Belgian First Division A	19	2	3	0	–		22	2
	Total		34	2	4	0	–		38	2
Chievo (loan)	2014–15	Serie A	29	2	0	0	–		29	2
Sampdoria	2015–16	Serie A	16	3	1	0	2	0	19	3
Roma	2015–16	Serie A	9	0	–		1	0	10	0
Atalanta (loan)	2016–17	Serie A	19	0	0	0	–		19	0
Genoa (loan)	2017–18	Serie A	31	0	0	0	–		31	0
Genoa	2018–19	Serie A	25	0	2	0	–		27	0
	Total		56	0	2	0	–		58	0
Al-Ahli	2019–20	Saudi Professional League	3	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
SPAL	2019–20	Serie A	3	0	–		–		3	0
Career total			355	20	20	1	3	0	378	21

International

As of match played 8 September 2019[35]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
	2012	2	0
	2013	4	0
	2014	0	0
	2015	6	0
	2016	6	0
	2017	5	0
	2018	9	0
	2019	6	0
Total		38	0

References

1. "Šest reprezentativaca prošlo Željin omladinski pogon". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 20 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
2. "Ervin Zukanović bi se mogao vratiti u Chievo". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 4 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
3. "Tri reprezentativca BiH promijenila 36 klubova". fokus.ba (in Bosnian). 5 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
4. "Pogodili Aganović i Zukanović". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 7 March 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
5. "Zukanović karijeru nastavlja u Kortrijku". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 29 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
6. "Ervin Zukanović potpisao za Gent". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 24 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
7. "Gent Ervina Zukanovića posudio Chievu". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 19 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
8. "Zukanović debitirao u porazu Chieva od Sampdorije". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 24 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
9. "Zukanovićev prvijenac nedovoljan Chievu, Juventus siguran". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 26 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
10. "Chievo otkupio Zukanovićev ugovor od Genta". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 12 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
11. "Ervin Zukanović novi igrač Sampdorije". fokus.ba (in Italian). 10 July 2015. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
12. "Vojvodina ponizila Sampdoriju u Italiji, Zukanoviću 90 minuta u debiju". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 30 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
13. "Napoli jači od Zukanovićeve Sampdorije, Lulić požutio u pobjedi Lazia". fokus.ba (in Bosnian). 30 August 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
14. "Ervin Zukanović postigao prvi gol u dresu Sampdorije". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 25 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
15. "Zukanović novi igrač Rome: Pridružio se Pjaniću i Džeki". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 28 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
16. "Roma konačno pobijedila: Sjajan debi Zukanovića, Pjanić strijelac". fokus.ba (in Bosnian). 30 January 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
17. "Više nije posuđen igrač: Roma otkupila Zukanovićev ugovor". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 29 February 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
18. "Festival promašaja koštao Romu na Bernabéu". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 8 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
19. "Zvanično: Zukanović novi član Atalante". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 21 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
20. "Posudba iz Rome: Zukanović će naredne sezone igrati za Genou". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 12 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
21. "Prelijepa asistencija Zukanovića na debiju za Genou". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 17 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
22. "Zukanović produžio sa Genovom". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 12 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
23. "Pridružio se kolegi iz reprezentacije: Zukanović napustio Evropu i potpisao za novi klub". scsport.ba (in Bosnian). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
24. "Zukanović i Sarić debitovali za Al-Ahli". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
25. "Zukanović potpisao ugovor, vraća se u Italiju". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
26. "Lazio zabio pet golova SPAL-u, Lulić asistirao, Zukanović debitovao za šesti klub u Italiji". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 2 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
27. "Sušić objavio spisak za Grčku i Litvaniju". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 1 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
28. "Uvjerljiva pobjeda nad Litvanijom za korak bliže Brazilu". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 16 October 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
29. "Ervin Zukanović se neće pridružiti Zmajevima u Brazilu". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 30 May 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
30. "Tri asistencije Lulića i tri gola Džeke za prva tri boda". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 28 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
31. "Ervin Zukanović dobio treće dijete". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 11 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
32. "Ervin Zukanović dobio belgijski pasoš". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 2 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
33. "Reprezentativci u zeničkoj džamiji klanjali džumu". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 11 October 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
34. "E. Zukanović". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
35. "Ervin Zukanović". eu-football.info. Retrieved 8 September 2019.

External links

• Ervin Zukanović at National-Football-Teams.com
• Ervin Zukanović – FIFA competition record
• Ervin Zukanović – UEFA competition record