Haris Medunjanin


Haris Medunjanin is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for American club FC Cincinnati.
He started his professional career at AZ, who loaned him to Sparta Rotterdam in 2006. In 2008 he joined Valladolid, before signing with Maccabi Tel Aviv two years later. He was loaned to Gaziantepspor in 2012, signing on a permanent basis the following season; in 2016 he returned to Maccabi and, one year later, moved to Philadelphia Union.
Medunjanin represented Netherlands at under-21 level, but in 2009 he decided to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina as a senior. His international career lasted until 2018, with the highlight being appearing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

AZ

Medunjanin made his Eredivisie debut on 20 February 2005, with AZ. During his three-year spell, however, opportunities were scarce.
For the 2006–07 season, he was loaned to Sparta Rotterdam, being essential as the modest club finished 13th by scoring seven league goals.

Valladolid

After another unassuming campaign in Alkmaar, Medunjanin was acquired by Spain's Real Valladolid in August 2008, being relatively used in his first year.
In 2009–10, Medunjanin netted all of his five La Liga goals as a late substitute. In January 2010, he and other teammates were fined €6,000 for breaching club discipline by "engaging in untimely nocturnal activities", and the team was also eventually relegated.

Maccabi Tel Aviv

In June 2010, Medunjanin signed a four-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel for €1.8 million. On 15 July he made his official debut for his new team, in a UEFA Europa League second qualifying round against Mogren, and scored in a 2–0 home win.

Gaziantepspor

On 31 August 2012, Medunjanin signed with Turkish side Gaziantepspor on loan from Maccabi. The move was made permanent before the start of the following season, on a three-year deal.

Deportivo

On 12 August 2014, after a successful medical, free agent Medunjanin joined Deportivo La Coruña. On 29 January 2016, having been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Víctor Sánchez, he terminated his contract, and agreed to a one-and-a-half-year deal with his former club Maccabi Tel Aviv two days later.
Medunjanin helped Maccabi qualify to the Europa League group stage in his second season.

Philadelphia Union

On 31 January 2017, Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union signed Medunjanin to a two-year deal with an option for a third. He made his debut in the season opener, in a 0–0 away draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps. He scored his first goal for his new team on 14 May 2017, contributing to a 4–0 victory at D.C. United; on 27 November, he was named their Player of the Year after contributing with 12 assists and two goals.
Becoming one of the Union's core midfielders, Medunjanin's contract option was picked up for the 2019 campaign. He helped the side earn their best season to date by playing every minute in the league, also leading all MLS players in total passes, total completed passes, passes in the opponent’s half and completed passes in the opponent’s half according to Opta.
On 20 November 2019, Medunjanin was released. During the MLS waiver draft, his rights were selected by FC Cincinnati.

FC Cincinnati

On 5 December 2019, aged 34, Mendunjanin joined FC Cincinnati.

International career

Netherlands

Medunjanin was part of the Netherlands under-21 team that won the 2006 tournament of the UEFA European Championship. He was also called by coach Foppe de Haan for his squad in the 2007 tournament, held in the Netherlands; the nation went on to retain its title by beating Serbia 4–1 in the final, and in the process qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

In a 2009 interview, Medunjanin expressed strong desire to play for his native Bosnia and Herzegovina. In August of the same year, his paperwork for change of footballing citizenship was submitted to FIFA and, on 31 October 2009, national coach Miroslav Blažević invited the player for the 2010 FIFA World Cup playoff games against Portugal. He made his debut – as a starter – in the decisive second leg, a 0–1 loss in Zenica.
Medunjanin scored his first international goal on 17 November 2010, in a friendly against Slovakia. In the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, he contributed with three goals against Albania, Belarus and Luxembourg, helping Bosnia to the second place in their group and to qualify for play-offs.
On 2 June 2014, Medunjanin was named in the squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup. He made his debut in the tournament 14 days later, playing the last 16 minutes of a 1–2 group stage loss to Argentina.
On 13 October 2015, Medunjanin scored a crucial brace against Cyprus to help Bosnia and Herzegovina reach the Euro 2016 play-offs after the 3–2 away win. In 2016, he captained the nation during the Kirin Cup winning campaign, the first match being against Denmark on 3 June.
Medunjanin announced his retirement from international football on 27 March 2018, after playing in a friendly game against Senegal which marked his 60th cap.

Personal life

Medunjanin was born in Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia, present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. After the outbreak of Bosnian War in 1992, he moved to the Netherlands at the age of seven with his mother and sister, whilst his father was unable to leave, later losing his life. Due to living in the latter country he possesses dual citizenship, Bosnian and Dutch.
In July 2019, Medunjanin married Israeli model Moran Rahimi.

Career statistics

Club

International

International goals

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.17 November 2010Štadión Pasienky, Bratislava, Slovakia
1–1
3–2
Friendly
2.7 June 2011Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1–0
2–0
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
3.2 September 2011Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus
2–0
2–0
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
4.7 October 2011Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5–0
5–0
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
5.7 June 2013Skonto Stadium, Riga, Latvia
3–0
5–0
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.13 October 2015GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus
1–0
3–2
UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
7.13 October 2015GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus
2−2
3–2
UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying
8.6 September 2016Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3–0
5–0
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
9.7 October 2017Grbavica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1–1
3–4
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Netherlands U21