Meho Kodro
{{Short description|Bosnian footballer (born 1967)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Meho Kodro
| image = Meho Kodro (cropped).png
| caption = Kodro as Bosnia and Herzegovina manager in 2023
| fullname = Mehmed Kodro
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|01|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia
| height = 1.88 m
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 1980–1985 | youthclubs1 = Velež Mostar
| years1 = 1985–1991 | clubs1 = Velež Mostar | caps1 = 122 | goals1 = 45
| years2 = 1991–1995 | clubs2 = Real Sociedad | caps2 = 129 | goals2 = 73
| years3 = 1995–1996 | clubs3 = Barcelona | caps3 = 32 | goals3 = 9
| years4 = 1996–2000 | clubs4 = Tenerife | caps4 = 72 | goals4 = 18
| years5 = 1999–2000 | clubs5 = → Alavés (loan) | caps5 = 30 | goals5 = 5
| years6 = 2000–2001 | clubs6 = Maccabi Tel Aviv | caps6 = 6 | goals6 = 1
| totalcaps = 391 | totalgoals = 151
| nationalyears1 = 1991–1992 | nationalteam1 = Yugoslavia | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1996–2000 | nationalteam2 = Bosnia and Herzegovina | nationalcaps2 = 13 | nationalgoals2 = 3
| manageryears1 = 2008 | managerclubs1 = Bosnia and Herzegovina
| manageryears2 = 2008–2010 | managerclubs2 = Real Sociedad (youth)
| manageryears3 = 2010–2013 | managerclubs3 = Real Sociedad B
| manageryears4 = 2014–2015 | managerclubs4 = Sarajevo
| manageryears5 = 2016–2018 | managerclubs5 = Servette
| manageryears6 = 2020–2022 | managerclubs6 = Stade Lausanne Ouchy
| manageryears7 = 2023 | managerclubs7 = Bosnia and Herzegovina
}}
Mehmed "Meho" Kodro (born 12 January 1967) is a Bosnian professional football manager and former player who played as a forward.
Kodro started playing professionally at Velež Mostar, making his first team debut in 1985. He spent most of his 16-year senior career in Spain, playing for Real Sociedad, Barcelona, Tenerife and Alavés, amassing La Liga totals of 263 matches and 105 goals. Kodro finished his career at Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2001. He possessed good technical skills, and was equally adept in the air.{{cite news|url=http://real-sociedad.diariovasco.com/leyendas/kodro.html|title=Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Kodro|trans-title=Real Sociedad legends – Kodro|newspaper=El Diario Vasco|language=es|access-date=25 April 2017}}
After retiring, Kodro started a managerial career. He had a short stint as manager of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team in 2008. He then worked as a youth coach at Real Sociedad, before managing Real Sociedad B. Kodro managed Bosnian Premier League side Sarajevo, and later also managed Swiss clubs Servette and Stade Lausanne Ouchy. In August 2023, he again took over as manager of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but was sacked by the end of September.
Club career
Born in Mostar, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia, Kodro's professional debut occurred in 1985 at the age of 18 with hometown club Velež. He appeared in only 14 Yugoslav First League games in his first two years but eventually became a starter, scoring a total of 31 goals in his last two full seasons and helping his team win the 1986 edition of the Yugoslav Cup – he did not play in the final against Dinamo Zagreb however – and three consecutive top-three finishes.
When the Yugoslav Wars began, Kodro migrated to Spain – after scoring five goals in only five matches in the last edition of the Yugoslavian championship – where he spent the vast majority of his remaining career. He first played with Real Sociedad of San Sebastián, always netting in double digits for the Basques, including 23 in the 1993–94 season and a career-best 25 in the following year (including a hat-trick in the Basque derby){{cite web|url=http://www.gipuzkoasport.com/2013/09/real-sociedad-5-0-athletic/|title=Real Sociedad 5–0 Athletic, Temporada 1994–1995|trans-title=Real Sociedad 5–0 Athletic, 1994–1995 Season|publisher=Gipuzkoa Sport|language=es|date=4 September 2013|access-date=14 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208204334/http://www.gipuzkoasport.com/2013/09/real-sociedad-5-0-athletic/|archive-date=8 February 2019}} and finishing second in the Pichichi Trophy race to Real Madrid's Iván Zamorano.{{cite web|url=http://cadenaser.com/ser/2009/02/13/deportes/1234484891_850215.html|title=Qué fue de... Kodro|trans-title=What happened to... Kodro|publisher=Cadena SER|first=Beatriz|last=Ortiz|language=es|date=13 February 2009|access-date=15 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/real-sociedad/232675-yo-jugue-en-la-real-meho-kodro.html|title=Yo jugué en la Real: Meho Kodro|trans-title=I played with Real: Meho Kodro|publisher=Vavel|first=Lander|last=Tamés Ibáñez|language=es|date=24 April 2013|access-date=15 June 2016}}
Kodro was purchased by Barcelona in the 1995 off-season,{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1995/06/24/pagina-5/1315728/pdf.html|title=Kodro – Goles por la paz|trans-title=Kodro – Goals for peace|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Cristina|last=Cubero|language=es|date=24 June 1995|access-date=3 January 2013}} starting throughout most of the campaign but only managing nine La Liga goals for the Catalans, including two in the El Clásico against Real Madrid (3–0 home win).{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1996/02/11/pagina-2/1332208/pdf.html|title=Para "Brujo" Cruyff|trans-title=To "Wizard" Cruyff|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo |first=Andrés|last=Astruells|language=es|date=11 February 1996|access-date=3 January 2013}} After Barça came out empty in silverware, manager Johan Cruyff – who insisted on his signing – was dismissed and the player also left Camp Nou, signing with Tenerife where he played three seasons, notably contributing two goals from eight appearances in the side's semi-final run in the UEFA Cup.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/02/17/futbol/futbol_internacional/1392654534.html|title=El día que el 'EuroTete' goleó a la Lazio|trans-title=The day 'EuroTete' routed Lazio|newspaper=Marca|first=Jaime|last=Rincón|language=es|date=18 February 2014|access-date=19 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spherasports.com/que-fue-tenerife-semifinalista-uefa-116746/|title=¿Qué fue del CD Tenerife semifinalista de la UEFA?|trans-title=What happened to UEFA semi-finalists CD Tenerife?|publisher=Sphera Sports|first=Juanma|last=Perera|language=es|date=18 January 2017|access-date=21 September 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921144142/http://www.spherasports.com/que-fue-tenerife-semifinalista-uefa-116746/|archive-date=21 September 2017}} In the 1998–99 season, for the only time in his career, he failed to find the net and his team suffered top-flight relegation.
Kodro returned to the Basque region in the summer of 1999, joining Alavés on loan for the 1999–2000 campaign.{{cite news|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1999/07/18/deportes/932248817_850215.html|title=El Málaga ficha a Contreras y Edgar|trans-title=Málaga sign Contreras and Edgar|newspaper=El País|language=es|date=18 July 1999|access-date=15 June 2016}} He retired from football the following year after one year in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
International career
Kodro earned two caps for Yugoslavia, his debut coming on 4 September 1991 in a 4–3 friendly loss against Sweden. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he played 13 times with Bosnia and Herzegovina,{{cite news|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/mundial/2017/09/07/59b14c1f22601d663f8b4629.html|title=Kenan Kodro: "Estoy feliz de haber visto a mi padre marcar con Bosnia y ahora hacerlo yo"|trans-title=Kenan Kodro: "I'm happy to have seen my father score with Bosnia and now do it myself"|newspaper=Marca|first=Alberto|last=Rubio|language=es|date=7 September 2017|access-date=29 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/double-caps.html|title=Players appearing for two or more countries|first=Roberto|last=Mamrud|access-date=27 June 2006|url-status=live|website=RSSSF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803173844/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/double-caps.html|archive-date=3 August 2008}} appearing in six 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification games{{FIFA player|154345}} and scoring in a 2–1 away victory over Slovenia.{{cite web|url=https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/bih-kot-prirocen-test-za-obrambo/125768|title=BiH kot priročen test za obrambo|trans-title=BiH a tough defensive test|publisher=Radiotelevizija Slovenija|language=sl|date=11 November 2008|access-date=29 March 2021}}
Managerial career
Kodro started working as a manager in 2006, being assistant to José Mari Bakero at former club Real Sociedad.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2006/10/26/actualidad/1161847325_850215.html|title=La Real Sociedad destituye a José Mari Bakero|trans-title=Real Sociedad dismiss José Mari Bakero|newspaper=El País|language=es|date=26 October 2006|access-date=12 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.elfutbolin.com/noticias/real-sociedad-cesado-entrenador-jose-mari-bakero|title=Real Sociedad: Cesado el entrenador José Mari Bakero|trans-title=Real Sociedad: Coach José Mari Bakero fired|publisher=El Futbolín|language=es|date=October 2006|access-date=7 October 2011}} On 5 January 2008, he was appointed head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina, accepting the job after the Football Association met his conditions, which were to allow him to continue living in San Sebastián and to guarantee him full independence in football matters.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jul/01/bosniaherzogovina.worldcup2010|title=Vogts add the finishing touches to Bosnia's footballing farce|newspaper=The Guardian|first=Jonathan|last=Wilson|date=1 July 2008|access-date=15 November 2009}} However, things quickly went sour; Kodro led the side in two friendlies before refusing to take charge of the team for a game against Iran scheduled for 26 May in Tehran, arranged by the Association without his knowledge; as a result, he was sacked on 17 May.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=697282.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204132323/http://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=697282.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2012|title=Kodro fired as Bosnia-Herzegovina boss|publisher=UEFA|date=17 May 2008|access-date=10 March 2020}}
In the summer of 2008, Kodro was appointed manager of the Real Sociedad Cantera youth sides. He remained in the post for two years when he was promoted to B-team duties, as they competed in Segunda División B.{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/gen/20100603/53939017596/noticia/kodro-se-hace-cargo-del-sanse.html|title=Kodro se hace cargo del Sanse|trans-title=Kodro takes over at Sanse|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Karmelo|last=Anabitarte|language=es|date=6 June 2010|access-date=7 October 2011}}
In the following years, Kodro was in charge of Sarajevo in the Bosnian Premier League and Swiss Super League club Servette.{{cite news|url=http://www.20min.ch/ro/sports/football/story/Meho-Kodro-vire-par-le-Servette-FC-15729949|title=Meho Kodro viré par le Servette FC|trans-title=Servette FC show Meho Kodro the door|newspaper=20 Minuten|language=fr|date=8 March 2018|access-date=16 May 2018}} On 4 June 2020, he signed as the new manager of Stade Lausanne Ouchy in the latter country's Challenge League.{{cite web|url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/meho-kodro-pronasao-novi-trenerski-angazman/363993|title=Meho Kodro pronašao novi trenerski angažman|trans-title=Meho Kodro found a new coaching job|publisher=Sport Sport|first=E.|last=Čaušević|language=bs|date=4 June 2020|access-date=6 August 2020}}
In August 2023, Kodro returned to managing the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/meho-kodro-je-novi-selektor-reprezentacije-bosne-i-hercegovine/230802057|title=Meho Kodro je novi selektor reprezentacije Bosne i Hercegovine|date=3 August 2023|access-date=3 August 2023|language=bs|author=E.B.|publisher=Klix.ba}} He was victorious in his first game back as the team beat Liechtenstein in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match on 8 September 2023.{{cite web|url=https://sport1.oslobodjenje.ba/s1/fudbal/reprezentacija/kodro-debitovao-pobjedom-utakmica-sa-lihtenstajnom-donijela-vise-pitanja-nego-odgovora-891079|title=Kodro debitovao pobjedom, utakmica sa Lihtenštajnom donijela više pitanja nego odgovora|date=8 September 2023|access-date=8 September 2023|language=bs|author=K.K.|publisher=Sport1.ba}} Following a defeat to Iceland three days later however, greatly limiting Bosnia and Herzegovina's chances to qualify directly for UEFA Euro 2024, Kodro was sacked as manager on 21 September.{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/meho-kodro-vise-nije-selektor-nogometne-reprezentacije-bosne-i-hercegovine/230921156|title=Meho Kodro više nije selektor nogometne reprezentacije Bosne i Hercegovine|date=21 September 2023|access-date=21 September 2023|language=bs|author=K.H.|publisher=Klix.ba}}
Personal life
Kodro's son, Kenan, is also a professional footballer and a forward. He was coached by his father at Real Sociedad B for two years.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2014/08/13/segunda/1407946557_749775.html|title=Kenan Kodro: "Espero poder aportar lo que aportó mi padre"|trans-title=Kenan Kodro: "I hope to bring to the game the same as my father"|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=13 August 2014|access-date=29 September 2014}} They became the first son and father to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally.{{cite web|url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/kodre-za-historiju-bh-fudbala/230515|title=Kodre za historiju bh fudbala|trans-title=Kodros make BH football history|publisher=Sport Sport|language=bs|date=28 March 2017|access-date=23 December 2020}}
Career statistics
=International goals=
:Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kodro goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Meho Kodro{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=10824|title=Meho Kodro|publisher=European Football|access-date=10 March 2020}} | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"|1 | 10 November 1996 | Bežigrad, Ljubljana, Slovenia | {{fb|SVN}} | align="center"|2–0 | align="center"|2–1 | 1998 World Cup qualification |
| align="center"|2 | 10 March 1999 | Üllői úti, Budapest, Hungary | {{fb|HUN}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|1–1 | Friendly |
| align="center"|3 | 5 June 1999 | Koševo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | {{fb|LTU}} | align="center"|1–0 | align="center"|2–0 | Euro 2000 qualifying |
Managerial statistics
{{updated|11 September 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sofascore.com/hr/trener/meho-kodro/787967|title=Meho Kodro|publisher=Sofa Score|language=hr|access-date=11 September 2023}}{{Soccerway coach|meho-kodro/226877}}
| class="wikitable" tyle="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure !rowspan="2"|Team !rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="5"|Record | ||||
| G | W | D | L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="left"|Bosnia and Herzegovina
|align="left"|5 January 2008 |align="left"|17 May 2008 {{WDL|2|0|1|1}} | ||||
| align=left|Real Sociedad B
|align=left|1 July 2010 |align=left|30 June 2013 {{WDL|114|36|37|41}} | ||||
| align=left|Sarajevo
|align=left|26 September 2014 |align=left|21 April 2015 {{WDL|17|11|4|2}} | ||||
| align=left|Servette
|align=left|30 December 2016 |align=left|8 March 2018 {{WDL|42|24|11|7}} | ||||
| align=left|Stade Lausanne Ouchy
|align=left|4 June 2020 |align=left|30 June 2022 {{WDL|76|29|21|26}} | ||||
| align=left|Bosnia and Herzegovina
|align=left|3 August 2023 |align=left|21 September 2023 {{WDL|2|1|0|1}} | ||||
| colspan="3"|Total
{{WDLtot|253|101|74|78}} |
Honours
=Player=
Velež Mostar
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Individual
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commonscat}}
- {{BDFutbol|1964}}
- {{BDFutbol manager|1964}}
- [http://reprezentacija.rs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1180&Itemid=12 National team data] {{in lang|sr}}
- {{NFT player|13635}}
{{Idol Nacije}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Managerial positions
|list1=
{{Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team managers}}
{{Real Sociedad B managers}}
{{FK Sarajevo managers}}
{{Servette FC managers}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kodro, Meho}}
Category:Bosniaks of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Category:Footballers from Mostar
Category:Yugoslav men's footballers
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Yugoslav First League players
Category:FK Velež Mostar players
Category:Real Sociedad footballers
Category:Deportivo Alavés players
Category:Israeli Premier League players
Category:Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. players
Category:Yugoslavia men's international footballers
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina men's international footballers
Category:Dual internationalists (men's football)
Category:Yugoslav expatriate men's footballers
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Israel
Category:Yugoslav expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Israel
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina football managers
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team managers
Category:Real Sociedad B managers
Category:FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy managers
Category:Segunda División B managers
Category:Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina managers
Category:Swiss Super League managers
Category:Swiss Challenge League managers
Category:Expatriate football managers in Spain
Category:Expatriate football managers in Switzerland
Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland