Meho Kodro

Mehmed "Meho" Kodro (born 12 January 1967) is a Bosnian professional football manager and former player who played as a forward.

Meho Kodro
Kodro as Bosnia and Herzegovina manager in 2023
Personal information
Full name Mehmed Kodro
Date of birth (1967-01-12) 12 January 1967
Place of birth Mostar, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1980–1985 Velež Mostar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1991 Velež Mostar 122 (45)
1991–1995 Real Sociedad 129 (73)
1995–1996 Barcelona 32 (9)
1996–2000 Tenerife 72 (18)
1999–2000 → Alavés (loan) 30 (5)
2000–2001 Maccabi Tel Aviv 6 (1)
Total 391 (151)
International career
1991–1992 Yugoslavia 2 (0)
1996–2000 Bosnia and Herzegovina 13 (3)
Managerial career
2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina
2008–2010 Real Sociedad (youth)
2010–2013 Real Sociedad B
2014–2015 Sarajevo
2016–2018 Servette
2020–2022 Stade Lausanne Ouchy
2023 Bosnia and Herzegovina
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.[1]

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)[2] and finishing second in the Pichichi Trophy race to Real Madrid's Iván Zamorano.[3][4]

Kodro was purchased by Barcelona in the 1995 off-season,[5] 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).[6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9] 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,[10][11] appearing in six 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification games[12] and scoring in a 2–1 away victory over Slovenia.[13]

Managerial career

Kodro started working as a manager in 2006, being assistant to José Mari Bakero at former club Real Sociedad.[14][15] 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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

In the following years, Kodro was in charge of Sarajevo in the Bosnian Premier League and Swiss Super League club Servette.[19] On 4 June 2020, he signed as the new manager of Stade Lausanne Ouchy in the latter country's Challenge League.[20]

In August 2023, Kodro returned to managing the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.[21] He was victorious in his first game back as the team beat Liechtenstein in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match on 8 September 2023.[22] 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.[23]

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.[24] They became the first son and father to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally.[25]

Career statistics

International goals
Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kodro goal.
List of international goals scored by Meho Kodro[26]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
110 November 1996Bežigrad, Ljubljana, Slovenia Slovenia2–02–11998 World Cup qualification
210 March 1999Üllői úti, Budapest, Hungary Hungary1–01–1Friendly
35 June 1999Koševo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Lithuania1–02–0Euro 2000 qualifying

Managerial statistics
As of 11 September 2023[27][28]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 January 2008 17 May 2008 2 0 1 1 000.00
Real Sociedad B 1 July 2010 30 June 2013 114 36 37 41 031.58
Sarajevo 26 September 2014 21 April 2015 17 11 4 2 064.71
Servette 30 December 2016 8 March 2018 42 24 11 7 057.14
Stade Lausanne Ouchy 4 June 2020 30 June 2022 76 29 21 26 038.16
Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 August 2023 21 September 2023 2 1 0 1 050.00
Total 253 101 74 78 039.92

Honours

Player

Velež Mostar

Maccabi Tel Aviv

Individual

References
  1. "Leyendas de la Real Sociedad – Kodro" [Real Sociedad legends – Kodro]. El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  2. "Real Sociedad 5–0 Athletic, Temporada 1994–1995" [Real Sociedad 5–0 Athletic, 1994–1995 Season] (in Spanish). Gipuzkoa Sport. 4 September 2013. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  3. Ortiz, Beatriz (13 February 2009). "Qué fue de... Kodro" [What happened to... Kodro] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  4. Tamés Ibáñez, Lander (24 April 2013). "Yo jugué en la Real: Meho Kodro" [I played with Real: Meho Kodro] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  5. Cubero, Cristina (24 June 1995). "Kodro – Goles por la paz" [Kodro – Goals for peace]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  6. Astruells, Andrés (11 February 1996). "Para "Brujo" Cruyff" [To "Wizard" Cruyff]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  7. Rincón, Jaime (18 February 2014). "El día que el 'EuroTete' goleó a la Lazio" [The day 'EuroTete' routed Lazio]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  8. Perera, Juanma (18 January 2017). "¿Qué fue del CD Tenerife semifinalista de la UEFA?" [What happened to UEFA semi-finalists CD Tenerife?] (in Spanish). Sphera Sports. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  9. "El Málaga ficha a Contreras y Edgar" [Málaga sign Contreras and Edgar]. El País (in Spanish). 18 July 1999. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  10. Rubio, Alberto (7 September 2017). "Kenan Kodro: "Estoy feliz de haber visto a mi padre marcar con Bosnia y ahora hacerlo yo"" [Kenan Kodro: "I'm happy to have seen my father score with Bosnia and now do it myself"]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  11. Mamrud, Roberto. "Players appearing for two or more countries". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2006.
  12. Meho Kodro – FIFA competition record (archived)
  13. "BiH kot priročen test za obrambo" [BiH a tough defensive test] (in Slovenian). Radiotelevizija Slovenija. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  14. "La Real Sociedad destituye a José Mari Bakero" [Real Sociedad dismiss José Mari Bakero]. El País (in Spanish). 26 October 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  15. "Real Sociedad: Cesado el entrenador José Mari Bakero" [Real Sociedad: Coach José Mari Bakero fired] (in Spanish). El Futbolín. October 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  16. Wilson, Jonathan (1 July 2008). "Vogts add the finishing touches to Bosnia's footballing farce". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  17. "Kodro fired as Bosnia-Herzegovina boss". UEFA. 17 May 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  18. Anabitarte, Karmelo (6 June 2010). "Kodro se hace cargo del Sanse" [Kodro takes over at Sanse]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  19. "Meho Kodro viré par le Servette FC" [Servette FC show Meho Kodro the door]. 20 Minuten (in French). 8 March 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  20. Čaušević, E. (4 June 2020). "Meho Kodro pronašao novi trenerski angažman" [Meho Kodro found a new coaching job] (in Bosnian). Sport Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  21. E.B. (3 August 2023). "Meho Kodro je novi selektor reprezentacije Bosne i Hercegovine" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  22. K.K. (8 September 2023). "Kodro debitovao pobjedom, utakmica sa Lihtenštajnom donijela više pitanja nego odgovora" (in Bosnian). Sport1.ba. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  23. K.H. (21 September 2023). "Meho Kodro više nije selektor nogometne reprezentacije Bosne i Hercegovine" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  24. "Kenan Kodro: "Espero poder aportar lo que aportó mi padre"" [Kenan Kodro: "I hope to bring to the game the same as my father"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 13 August 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  25. "Kodre za historiju bh fudbala" [Kodros make BH football history] (in Bosnian). Sport Sport. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  26. "Meho Kodro". European Football. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  27. "Meho Kodro" (in Croatian). Sofa Score. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  28. Meho Kodro coach profile at Soccerway
  29. "Player of the year » Bosnia-Herzegovina". Worldfootball. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
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