Full name Yksel Osmanovski 1982–1984 Malmo BI Position Forward Height 1.74 m | Playing position Role Footballer Name Yksel Osmanovski | |
 | ||
Date of birth (1977-02-24) 24 February 1977 (age 38) | ||
Current team Malmo FF (U21 coach) | ||
Esclusiva 'Tanto non capirai': il ritorno di Yksel Osmanovski
Yksel Osmanovski (Macedonian: Иксел Османовски) (born 24 February 1977) is a Swedish former footballer of Turkish origin who played as a striker. His ethnic Turkish parents originate from the Prespa Lake region of Macedonia and is the first Muslim as well as the first ethnic Swedish Turk (second-generation and local-born) to represent Sweden in football (excluding Erol Bekir who was a migrant from Macedonia and Emin Nouri, who was born in Bulgaria and immigrated to Sweden as a child).
Contents
- Esclusiva Tanto non capirai il ritorno di Yksel Osmanovski
- tanto non capirai yksel osmanovski promo2
- Early life
- Club career
- International career
- Coaching career
- References
tanto non capirai yksel osmanovski promo2
Early life
Born in Skrävlinge, Malmö, Osmanovski grew up in Rosengård, where fellow Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović also grew up. In an early interview, Zlatan said that "within a few years, I will play in Italy, and eventually the national team. I want to follow in Yksel's footsteps. We know each other, even if he is four years older than me. I got his autograph when he started playing for Malmö FF, when I played in Malmö BI. When he came to Rosengård and played and dribbled with us kids, we were all shouting "Yksel, Yksel, Yksel!" - Ibrahimović, in 2000.
Club career
He played for Malmö BI and IFK Malmö as a child, but joined Malmö FF in 1987 where he eventually made his debut in 1995. He gradually became a star in the Swedish league, and was bought by Italian Serie A outfit Bari. After three seasons he moved on to Torino, but struggled to capture a first team place. He therefore returned to Malmö FF in 2004 after a stint at Bordeaux. There he was part of the team that won the Allsvenskan league title, although Osmanovski himself did not receive a winner's medal, because he took part in too few matches. Still he played the crucial role, in stopping a ball on the goal line against title rivals Halmstad BK. Had it gone in, Malmö would certainly not won the league title, but thanks to a 2–2 draw, they kept themselves within a shot.
In February 2008, Osmanovski announced his retirement from professional football, having not had his contract with Malmö renewed.
International career
He has played 14 international matches for the Sweden national team, and was a squad player for the Euro 2000.
Coaching career
On 14 January 2013 it was announced that Osmanovski would return to football, working as U21 coach for his previous club Malmö FF.