From Poker Pro To World Cup Coach: Sergej Barbarez 'all In' With Bosnia-herzegovina

Imagine it. A neophyte coach, starring a squad for nan first clip astatine immoderate competitory level, and it being a high-profile duty connected nan biggest of large stages.

A self-assured broadcaster, captious and competitive, having his bluff called, being invited to not conscionable talk astir it, but to beryllium astir it: Walk nan walk, why don’t you?

A erstwhile subordinate — scorer, shooter — being challenged to measurement up and correct a listing vessel while navigating authorities and nan push and propulsion of history and precocious hopes.

Imagine that feline going: “Bet.”

As in, you betcha. As in, I’d stake connected me.

Lakers fans, you’ve seen JJ Redick tally this play successful nan NBA.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s religious — who comprised nan vocal mostly amidst nan afloat location for Thursday’s 4-1 Group B nonaccomplishment to Switzerland astatine SoFi Stadium — are seeing head Sergej Barbarez propulsion nan aforesaid improbable stunt.

The 54-year-old Barbarez is Bosnia’s nationalist shot team’s 5th head since 2022. He’s besides a erstwhile nationalist squad skipper turned master poker subordinate turned broadcaster whose move coaching this squad came arsenic a complete shock.

He mightiness beryllium nan astir absorbing man amidst a wide of astir absorbing men astatine nan World Cup, and he has Bosnia backmost connected 2 feet.

And he had them connected adjacent footing Thursday until Switzerland scored nan match’s first extremity successful nan 74th minute.

“Maybe our commencement wasn’t that good,” Barbarez said done an interpreter. “But from nan first cooling break until nan goal, we were nan amended players, nan amended team.

“I don’t for illustration self-pity,” he added. “I entered nan dressing room and told them each that they person 1 hr to cheer up to assistance their heads up.”

The nonaccomplishment to nan 19th-ranked Swiss was nan first successful six matches for 64th-ranked Bosnia, pursuing six consecutive 1-1 aliases 0-0 draws, including their 1-1 World Cup opener against big Canada.

They cognize they’ll person to triumph their adjacent lucifer Wednesday against Qatar for an opportunity to scope nan knockout stage: “It seemed,” Barbarez said, “from nan very opening that nan past crippled would beryllium nan astir important one, and it turns retired it is.”

And they’ll beryllium ready, he said.

“It’s hurtful; it’s rather painful,” he said. “But this is my job, and spot me, I’ll make judge they will beryllium good up of nan adjacent game. We will effort to remedy what happened.”

We’d expect to perceive thing akin from Redick — whose poker look isn’t arsenic bully arsenic Barbarez’s, whose mini sigh and flimsy grin betrayed his only emotions during his postgame news convention Thursday.

(As for who wore it better: Barbarez pumping up Bosnian fans successful all-black business attire thumps Redick’s all-black athleisure.)

Ahead of schedule and happy to beryllium here, Bosnia is playing successful nan World Cup for nan first clip successful 12 years. Playing difficult pinch location money.

Barbarez spent astir of his 14-year master playing profession successful nan Bundesliga, scoring 105 goals for Borussia Dortmund, Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen. When he retired, he sewage his coaching licence but didn’t usage it until 2024, taking a bet connected a different competitory calling.

He played poker professionally successful Europe for a decade, made astatine slightest $143,000, according to Cardplayer.com, and reached 2 last tables successful nan World Series of Poker.

He besides became an unabashed professional of nan Football Assn. of Bosnia, which was churning done managers; 3 of them were hired and fired wrong months. Beyond failing to suffice for nan 2024 Euros, Barbarez admonished nan association’s activity for its 2022 determination to schedule friendlies pinch Russia soon aft it was banned by FIFA and UEFA for invading Ukraine.

And then, successful April 2024, he was introduced arsenic nan nationalist squad manager.

“His power and authority tin beryllium important factors successful getting nan nationalist squad backmost connected way for success,” nan president of nan Football Federation Vico Zeljkovic told reporters.

Also key: “Personality,” Zeljkovic said.

Barbarez maintained from nan outset that his extremity was to suffice for nan Euros successful 2028 — and for his players to consciousness proud wearing Bosnia’s blue, yellowish and white.

On Thursday, his players felt it and truthful did thousands of fans who showed up astatine SoFi Stadium wearing those colors for a World Cup match. All of them, each in.

“They support america each complete nan world,” said Ermin Mahmić, who scored his side’s only extremity successful nan 93rd minute. “It’s not normal to beryllium honest, and we’re very thankful for them.”

And surely for Barbarez, who took a way seldom traveled, consenting to stake large connected Bosnian football.