The leaders of the Public Association spoke to summarize the year that is coming to an end, as well as to announce what awaits us in the new year 2026, when Bosnian and Herzegovina football, both representative and club, is at stake.
President Zeljković spoke first.
“The year behind us was not easy, there were many challenges, and by bringing in Barbarez and Spahić, we clearly defined our goals and vision. We decided to build a new identity and achieve the desired results. The coach and the coaching staff have our trust and we are entering the new year steadily. Our main goal is to qualify for the World Cup. We need to be aware of the situation, we are developing faster than planned and we are happy about that. In addition, we pay special attention to the younger selections who are the foundation of the senior team” – he said is Zeljković.
He also referred to the fact that Darko Čeferin became the head of the judges’ organization.
“We also have a new head referee and we expect improvement. We have reformed the refereeing. We have used good contacts with UEFA. We do not want to remove responsibility from ourselves, but with additional work we will get even greater satisfaction from the team. We have had different views until now, which is normal. Football is like that and everyone has the right to comment,” he said.
At the same time, he congratulated Zrinjski on their placement in the knockout phase, which, as he says, shows that everything the Association did was not accidental and that it was the success of Bosnia and Herzegovina. football.
He further announced new investments in infrastructure.
“We will build 18 new fields with artificial grass. We will work on the expansion of the training camp in Zenica. And of course the main project is the National Stadium. The contract has been signed and the conceptual solution will be finished soon” – he is clear and adds that the documentation will be ready in the spring.
We are in the process of building the old federation building and we want to generate income and invest that money in the development of the training camp in Zenica, where we have ready projects. We have already completed the project and everything needed for the hotel. It would be a special comfort for the national team with everything the complex should have. These are things that would be visible, that are clear and that we want to do.
Then the director of the national team Emir Spahić got the floor.
“I will be very brief. Last year was very challenging for us, full of emotions, demanding in terms of human relations… It has become a big problem on a global level. Not all of you who were present here were ok with us, but that’s how it is. This job brings both beautiful and ugly moments. We all experienced some ugly moments last year from individuals, and thank God there are those who are always on the positive side and look at it differently,” said Spahić.
Nevertheless, he thanked everyone and said that everything was forgiven.
“I want to thank you all for the good moments, we forgive you for the ugly ones and we hope that you will do it a little differently in the future. Everything we do, we do with the aim of strengthening the national team and growing day by day. There is nothing else that concerns us. You are all forgiven,” added Spahić.
Spahić then answered the question why he thinks that the media is obliged to write only positive things, if there is a basis for criticism.
“Neither do I think you are obliged nor do I want to input such a word to someone. Looking from my position, privately, I did not ask you to stand behind me even in much worse situations. My position dictates that I ask for protection for my boys. I will always ask for that, and it is up to you whether you want to do it or not. It is ugly when I read some false allegations and fabricated things,” replied Spahić.
In the end, the selector Barbarez got the floor.
“In 2025, we had the best entry into the qualifications in the history of our country, in the qualifications we had the youngest at 17 and the oldest scorer at 39, the price jumped for half of the national team…”, said Barbarez and added what he is most proud of.
“We ran the most kilometers, almost 900, or an average of 111 kilometers per game. Against Romania and Austria, we ran 120 kilometers. What I like best is that the boys are eager and willing, the world is talking about us and this story is positive and everyone wishes us the best,” added Barbarez.
“I am very satisfied with the year 2025, in which we had six victories. We had more than 20 debutants, we started almost from scratch and we turned that spirit around and tried a new, more modern idea. We grew from game to game and we are moving forward, as much work as there was in 2025, there will be even more in 2026,” said Barbarez, and gave a concrete example of the volume of work in the year at the end.
“I watched more than 60 games live, we broke the budget as far as my travels are concerned,” said Barbarez, who then told an interesting anecdote.
“Recently, a man met me in Mostar and told me: ‘Thank you for annoying us again,’ and I am very proud of that,” said Barbarez, who emphasized that he would do everything to qualify for the World Cup in North America.
(Vijesti.ba)
