Bosnian · Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina · Born 17 March 1986Powerful Bosnian striker who scored crucial goals for Manchester City and became one of Serie A's most prolific forwards at Roma.
Edin Džeko was born on 17 March 1986 in Sarajevo, in what was then Yugoslavia, and was just six years old when the Siege of Sarajevo began in 1992 — a conflict that would last nearly four years and become the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare. Džeko's family sheltered from shelling and sniper fire, often sleeping on the floor of a cramped apartment shared with fifteen others, and the young Edin played football in stairwells and basements because the streets outside were too dangerous. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Džeko later said the experience made him stronger, and he began his football career with local club Željezničar Sarajevo once the war ended. He moved to the Czech Republic in 2005, playing for Teplice before a breakthrough move to Germany's VfL Wolfsburg in 2007, where he scored 26 goals in the 2008-09 season to help the club win its only Bundesliga title, and topped the league's scoring charts himself the following season. Džeko's power, aerial ability, and clinical finishing made him one of Europe's most sought-after strikers, leading to a move to Manchester City in 2011, where he helped the club win two Premier League titles. He later enjoyed prolific spells at Roma and Inter Milan in Italy, forming a particularly potent partnership with Romelu Lukaku at Inter as the club won the Serie A title in 2021. Nicknamed "the Bosnian Diamond," Džeko became his country's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, a record he continued to extend into his forties, captaining Bosnia and Herzegovina to a rare World Cup finals appearance and knockout-stage berth at the 2026 tournament — a remarkable achievement for a nation that did not exist as an independent state until after Džeko's own childhood had already been shaped by the war that created it.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's all-time leading goalscorer
He grew up during the Siege of Sarajevo, one of the longest sieges in modern warfare, and football was his escape during those devastating years.
Did You Know?How They Played
Clinical finisher with excellent aerial ability and strong hold-up play
Lasting Impact
Most successful Bosnian footballer and leading goalscorer for club and country
Career Honours
- Premier League 2x
- Bundesliga 2009
- League Cup 2014
- Serie A 2017
- Coppa Italia 2016
- DFB-Pokal 2015
- FA Cup 2011
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Željezničar | 2003–2005 | — | 35 | 3 |
| Teplice | 2005–2007 | — | 43 | 16 |
| Ústí nad Labem | 2005–2006 | loan | 15 | 6 |
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2007–2011 | £27m | 111 | 66 |
| Manchester City | 2011–2016 | £27m | 130 | 50 |
| Roma | 2015–2016 | loan | 31 | 8 |
| Roma | 2016–2021 | — | 168 | 77 |
| Inter Milan | 2021–2023 | — | 69 | 22 |
| Fenerbahçe | 2023–2025 | — | 71 | 35 |
| Fiorentina | 2025–2026 | — | 11 | 0 |
| Schalke 04 | 2026–Present | — | 11 | 6 |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | — | — | 134 | 65 |
Bosnian Athletes