Sanel Jahić


Sanel Jahić is a Bosnian-Herzegovinian footballer. He is best known for being a utility player, capable of playing a wide number of positions. Although largely employed as a centre-back on the club level, he has also played on the side of the field as a wingback for the Bosnian national team, and has filled in as a defensive midfielder and as a right midfielder. Jahić has also had success as a striker, leading the Bosnian Premier League's scoring charts in the 2006–07 season.
Jahić began his senior career with Sochaux-Montbéliard. In 2001 he moved to Željezničar Sarajevo where stayed for two years. Later, he played for Las Palmas and Mérida UD in Spain. Then he returned to Željezničar Sarajevo and in January 2008 he moved to Aris Thessaloniki in Greece. Two years later he transferred to AEK Athens. In summer 2011 he signed with Cypriot club APOEL. With APOEL he participated in UEFA Champions League group stages for the first time in his career and he helped his team to reach the Last 16 of the competition. In January 2012, he moved to Turkish club Karabükspor.

Club career

Early career

Jahić was born in Strasbourg, France. He grew up there and started playing football also. He played for youth squads of RC Strasbourg and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard before moving to Bosnia and Željezničar Sarajevo in 2001.

Željezničar

Following two stints in Spain with Las Palmas and Mérida UD, he returned to Željezničar Sarajevo. In one year at the club he scored 19 goals in 37 matches.

Aris Salonica

In January 2008 he moved to Aris Thessaloniki in Greece signing a two-year contract.

AEK Athens

In 2009, Jahić joined league rivals AEK. After two years, the termination of his contract was agreed.

APOEL

On 22 June 2011, Jahić signed a two-year contract with Cypriot club APOEL. During his spell with APOEL, he helped his team to win the 2011 Cypriot Super Cup and reach the Quarter-finals of the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League. He appeared in four qualifying round matches and in all six group stage matches on APOEL's way to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, mainly as a substitute.

Karabükspor

In January 2012, Jahić moved to Turkish club Karabükspor for a transfer fee of €300,000. and he signed a 2.5-year contract with the club. Jahić left Karabükspor at the end of the 2012–13 season.

St Johnstone

Jahić trained with Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone in October 2013. He signed a short-term contract with the club after they lost defenders Steven Anderson and Frazer Wright to injury and suspension respectively. On 6 January 2014, Jahić left St Johnstone after his contract ended.

Grasshopper Zürich

On 6 February 2014, Jahić joined Swiss Super League side Grasshopper on a half-year deal.

Levadiakos

On 1 September 2015, Jahić joined Greek Super League side Levadiakos on a year deal for an undisclosed fee.

International career

At the time, he was a regular member of Bosnia and Herzegovina Under-21 national team. In November 2007. he was called up by Fuad Muzurović for the last game in the Euro 2008 Qualifications against Turkey. He did not field the game but the call itself was a great honour and fulfillment of his childhood dreams. Jahić is now a standard member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team. A scorer of the crucial second goal in Bosnia's great victory away at Belgium on 28 March 2009. Sanel has played against Portugal in the qualification play-offs for World Cup 2010 and got his chance once again against Portugal during qualification play-offs for Euro 2012, thanks to good form while playing in the 2011–12 Champions League season for APOEL.

International statistics

Honours

;Sochaux
;Željezničar
;AEK Athens
;APOEL