Velija Bećirspahić

Velija "Dedo" Bećirspahić (born 1943) was a Bosnian football player and a coach. Widely known by his nickname Dedo (grandpa) due to early hair hoariness, he spent his entire professional career with FK Željezničar.

Velija Bećirspahić
Personal information
Full name Velija Bećirspahić
Date of birth (1943-01-01)1 January 1943
Place of birth Sarajevo, Independent State of Croatia
Position(s) Leftback or Winger
Youth career
Pofalićki
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1967–1974 Željezničar 222 (12)
1975 Jedinstvo
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

He started his career in FK Pofalićki, a small club from Sarajevo. He was spotted there by coaches of FK Željezničar and in 1967 signed a contract with the club[1] in which he would spend the rest of his career. At first, this left-footed player was a winger, but later he was moved to defence. He would become one of the most recognizable left backs in Yugoslav First League with a hard-nosed, old school attitude - "ball can get through, but not the player".[2]

He played 222 league matches for FK Željezničar, scoring 12 goals. He was a member of the team that won Yugoslav championship in 1971–72 season.[3] He retired in 1975.

Managerial career

After that, he became a coach of FK Željezničar youth squad. In 1978, Ivica Osim selected him to be one of his assistant coaches in FK Željezničar.[2]

Personal life

He suffered from and then died of cancer.

References
  1. Sastavi po sezonama - FK Željezničar
  2. Iz ugla | Velija Bećirspahić - 1921 (in Bosnian)
  3. History: Željo’s Generation that won the first Championship Title - Sarajevo Times
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