Riad Bajić

Riad Bajić (Bosnian pronunciation: [rǐad bâːjitɕ]; born 6 May 1994) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Süper Lig club Ankaragücü.

Riad Bajić
Personal information
Full name Riad Bajić
Date of birth (1994-05-06) 6 May 1994
Place of birth Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Ankaragücü
Number 9
Youth career
2003–2013 Željezničar
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Željezničar 48 (18)
2015–2017 Konyaspor 64 (22)
2017–2022 Udinese 5 (0)
2018–2019 → İstanbul Başakşehir (loan) 31 (9)
2019–2020 → Konyaspor (loan) 27 (4)
2020–2021 → Ascoli (loan) 34 (12)
2021–2022 → Brescia (loan) 29 (3)
2022–2023 Giresunspor 34 (14)
2023– Ankaragücü 8 (2)
International career
2013 Bosnia and Herzegovina U19 4 (5)
2014–2016 Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 7 (0)
2017–2019 Bosnia and Herzegovina 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 October 2023

Bajić started his professional career at Željezničar, before joining Konyaspor in 2015. Two years later, he signed with Udinese, who loaned him to İstanbul Başakşehir in 2018, back to Konyaspor in 2019, to Ascoli in 2020 and to Brescia in 2021. The following year, he moved to Giresunspor. In 2023, he switched to Ankaragücü.

A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bajić made his senior international debut in 2017, earning 12 caps until 2019.

Club career

Željezničar

Bajić came through the youth academy of his hometown club Željezničar, which he joined in 2003. In May 2013, he signed his first professional contract with the team.[1] He made his professional debut against Zvijezda Gradačac on 27 July at the age of 19.[2] On 19 October, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over Mladost Velika Obarska.[3]

Bajić scored his first career hat-trick on 27 September 2014.[4] With 15 goals, he finished the 2014–15 season as league's top scorer.[5]

Konyaspor

In August 2015, Bajić moved to Turkish outfit Konyaspor on a three-year deal.[6] He made his official debut for the side on 15 August against Akhisarspor.[7] On 17 October, he scored his first goal for the team in a defeat of Gaziantepspor.[8]

In January 2017, he extended his contract with the side until June 2020.[9] That season Bajić finished as team's top goalscorer. His 17 goals were most league goals scored by a Konyaspor player in a single campaign, beating the previous mark of 13 set by Theofanis Gekas.[10]

He won his first title with Konyaspor, club's first trophy ever, on 31 May, by beating İstanbul Başakşehir in the Turkish Cup final.[11]

Udinese

In August, Bajić was transferred to Italian side Udinese for an undisclosed fee.[12] He made his competitive debut for the team in a Coppa Italia game against Frosinone on 12 August.[13] Five weeks later, he made his league debut against Milan.[14]

In January 2018, he was sent on a six-month loan to İstanbul Başakşehir. In June, his loan was extended for an additional season.[15]

In June 2019, Bajić was loaned to his former team Konyaspor until the end of season.[16]

In September 2020, he was sent on a season-long loan to Ascoli.[17]

In July 2021, he was loaned to Brescia for the remainder of campaign.[18]

Later stage of career

In July 2022, Bajić joined Giresunspor.[19]

In June 2023, he switched to Ankaragücü.[20]

International career

Bajić represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at various youth levels.[21]

In March 2015, he received his first senior call-up, for a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Andorra and a friendly game against Austria,[22] but had to wait until 25 March 2017 to make his debut in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gibraltar.[23]

Personal life

Bajić married his long-time girlfriend Sanita in September 2019. Together they have a son named Dal.[24]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 22 October 2023[25]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Željezničar 2013–14 Bosnian Premier League 183522[lower-alpha 1]0255
2014–15 Bosnian Premier League 2815214[lower-alpha 2]1[lower-alpha 3]3417
2015–16 Bosnian Premier League 20006[lower-alpha 4]2[lower-alpha 5]82
Total 4818731236724
Konyaspor 2015–16 Süper Lig 325114–439
2016–17 Süper Lig 32171036[lower-alpha 6]04820
Total 6422217609129
Udinese 2017–18 Serie A 5020–70
İstanbul Başakşehir (loan) 2017–18 Süper Lig 93––93
2018–19 Süper Lig 226202[lower-alpha 7]0266
Total 3192020359
Konyaspor (loan) 2019–20 Süper Lig 27410–284
Ascoli (loan) 2020–21 Serie B 341200–3412
Brescia (loan) 2021–22 Serie B 29311–304
Giresunspor 2022–23 Süper Lig 341410–3514
Ankaragücü 2023–24 Süper Lig 8200–82
Career total 28084351120333598
  1. appearances in UEFA Champions League qualifying
  2. appearances in UEFA Europa League qualifying
  3. goal in UEFA Europa League qualifying
  4. appearances in UEFA Europa League qualifying
  5. goals in UEFA Europa League qualifying
  6. appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. appearances in UEFA Europa League qualifying

International
As of match played 15 October 2019[26]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
201730
201860
201930
Total120

Honours

Konyaspor[25]

Individual

References
  1. "Zvijezda Željezničara Riad Bajić: Od betonskog terena do najboljeg strijelca lige". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 3 June 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  2. "Željo pobjedom u Gradačcu krenuo u odbranu titule". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 27 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  3. "Željezničar razbio Mladost u Bijeljini". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 19 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  4. "Peta uzastopna pobjeda Želje, hat-trick Riada Bajića". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  5. "Bajić najbolji strijelac Premijer lige za sezonu 2014/15". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 30 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. "Riad Bajić potpisao trogodišnji ugovor s Konyasporom". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 8 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  7. "Bajić igrao kompletan meč, Konyaspor osvojio bod". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 15 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  8. "Bajić postigao prvijenac za Konyaspor". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 17 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  9. "Riad Bajić produžio ugovor sa Konyasporom". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 25 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  10. "Bajić ušao u historiju Konyaspora". fokus.ba (in Bosnian). 7 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  11. "Bajić, Milošević i Hadžiahmetović sa Konyasporom osvojili Kup Turske". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 31 May 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  12. "Zvanično: Riad Bajić potpisao za Udinese!". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 4 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  13. "Udinese prošao prvu prepreku, Bajić upisao zvanični debi". scsport.ba (in Bosnian). 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  14. "Riad Bajić debitovao za Udinese u Serie A". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 17 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  15. "Riad Bajić ostaje u İstanbul Başakşehiru". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 13 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  16. "Riad Bajić ponovo u Konyasporu". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 14 June 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  17. "Riad Bajić ima novi klub u Italiji". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 24 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  18. "Riad Bajić je novi igrač Brescie". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 5 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  19. "Riad Bajić se vratio u Tursku". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 16 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  20. "Riad Bajić promijenio klub, pridružio se dvojici bh. igrača". sportske.ba (in Bosnian). 28 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  21. "Riad Bajić: Rad, trud i pošten odnos prema treninzima se uvijek isplate". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 25 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  22. "Baždarević objavio imena Zmajeva za susrete protiv Andore i Austrije". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 16 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  23. "Lagana i očekivana pobjeda BiH nad Gibraltarom". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 25 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  24. "Oženio se bh. reprezentativac Riad Bajić". faktor.ba (in Bosnian). 11 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  25. "R. Bajić". soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  26. "Riad Bajić". eu-football.info. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
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