Ethnic Balkans Around the Globe

When Kosovo declares independence on Sunday, the number of countries to have risen from the ashes of the former Yugoslavia will reach seven (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia being the other six). Kosovo’s independence – supported by the US and many EU countries, but strongly opposed by Serbia, along with its ally Russia – will be a return to the international spotlight for a region whose recent time in that glare has been for all the wrong reasons. The bloody Balkan Wars of the 1990s brought about the new phrase ethnic cleansing to describe the atrocities that occurred in the former Yugoslavia.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci plays soccer with ethnic Serb boys (photo: Visar Kryeziu /AP / Christian Science Monitor)

The 1990s were a particularly bloody period in the history of the Balkans, but far from the first time the region has gone through instability. It is perhaps because of this instability that countries in the Balkans have sent so many of their people abroad. Among these Balkans living outside of their ancestral homeland are quite a number of talented soccer players. Some were born in the Balkans, others to parents who have left their homelands.

If Kosovo does become an independent nation, it will have the right to forms its own national team. As Steve Menary writes in his book Outcasts, the unofficial Kosovo FA has been fielding a team for years. One player they would hope to bring in to the team is Crystal Palace striker Shefki Kuqi. Kuqi was born in Kosovo, although he later moved to Finland, a country for which he earned 52 caps. Should the country of his birth be recognized by FIFA, Kuqi would be able to switch his allegiance to Kosovo.

Barcelona’s 17 year-old phenom Bojan Krkic was recently called up to the Spanish national team. Illness prevented him from becoming the youngest ever player to represent la Furia Roja, but it is only a matter of time before he pulls on Spain’s famous red shirt. Bojan, as he is commonly known, was born to a Serbian father, who played for Red Star Belgrade in the 1980s. Though undoubtedly talented (Bojan Jr. is considered one of Barcelona and Spain’s best young players), the call-up was seen as a way to tie the youngster’s loyalty to the country of his birth. Serbia has made inquires to the Barcelona forward, but it seems likely he will snub his father’s country in favor of Spain.

Perhaps the most talented of all players of Balkan descent is Inter’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Zlatan was born in Malmo to a Bosnian father and Croatian mother, who had left their homeland independently and met in Sweden. Zlatan began his career at Malmo FF, a club noted for its many multiethnic players (they currently have Swedish-Ghanian, Swedish-Iranian, Swedish-Greek, and a Swedish-Kosovar player on their books).

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (photo: BBC)

Sweden is a country noted for its welcoming immigration policies. The country has quite a large immigrant population today, including many from the Balkans. It is perhaps not surprising, then, that the country has had several such players represent its national team. These include center back Daniel Majstorovic, midfielder Dusan Duric, and striker Rade Prica, all of whom have families from what is now Serbia.

Australia, as I have written previously, has quite a number of ethnic Croatians in its national team, reflecting the historical connections between the two countries. Aussies of Croatian descent include Mark Viduka, Jason Culina, Tony Popovic, Josip Skoko, Ante Covic, Zeljko Kalac, and Mark Bresciano.

Argentina has traditionally been a country with a large amount of immigration, including many from the Balkans. Some fairly prominent Argentine players of Balkan descent today include Velez Sarsfield defender Mariano Uglessich, Universidad Catolica (of Chile) goalkeeper Jose Maria Buljubasich (try saying that 10 times fast), and San Lorenzo midfielder Daniel Bilos. Bilos was approached by Croatia prior to the 2006 World Cup, but turned down his ancestral homeland, preferring to represent Argentina.

There are several less well-known players internationally, but who have made their name around the world playing in smaller leagues. Former midfielder Dejan Petkovic has played for many years in Brazil and is considered a legend there (quite an achievement for a non-Brazilian). Dragan Stojkovic was revered during his time playing for Japan’s Nagoya Grampus Eight and he is now manager of that team.

Stojkovic is far from the only manager from the Balkans playing his trade outside of his homeland. Vladimir Petrovic is currently in charge of China’s national team, a position previously held by one of the most famous Balkan managers of all time, Bora Milutinovic. Bora holds the distinction of being the only coach ever to be in charge of five different teams at the World Cup (Mexico in 1986, Costa Rica in 1990, the United States in 1994, Nigeria in 1998, and China in 2002).

The latest stop on Bora’s coaching tour of the world is Jamaica (photo: TheReggaeBoyz.com)

Know other famous soccer exports from the Balkans? Post them in the comments below.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 16th, 2008 at 7:56 pm and is filed under Asia, Ethnicity/Race, Europe, Immigration, Latin America, Nationalism/Identity, North America. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.