From saving Mesut Ozil from armed men to captaining Bosnia at FIFA World Cup 2026: Incredible story of Sead Kolasinac
(Courtesy : Getty)
Sead Kolasinac captained Bosnia and Herzegovina in their FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Canada tonight.
Edin Dzeko is the undoubted superstar in the Bosnia and Herzegovina squad, but if there’s another name in their FIFA World Cup 2026 roster that fans will surely recognise, it is Sead Kolasinac. Much like his tiny Balkan nation, the former Arsenal man has had a storied career, full of ups and downs.
After establishing himself as one of the biggest defensive prospects in the Bundesliga with Schalke, the then-23-year-old Kolasinac was signed by the Gunners on a five-year contract. His versatility and passion made him an instant fan favourite, and he played the bulk of his side’s matches in the first three years.
Kolasinac’s bravery saved Ozil
The defender also won over Gunners fans for an incredible display of bravery off the pitch. While travelling in a car with teammate Mesut Ozil and his wife Amine, Kolasinac and his teammate were attacked by knife-wielding thieves on motorbikes.
CCTV footage showed Kolasinac bravely stepping out of the car and confronting the attackers. Even though the thieves chased the car for more than a mile, they were eventually scared off in no small part due to Kolasinac’s bravery.
While this endeared him to Arsenal fans, his inconsistent form saw him fall out of favour with the first team, making just three appearances over the next season and a half before moving to Schalke on loan.
Back at his old club, Kolasinac rebuilt his career before moving to Marseille on a free transfer. After a season in Ligue 1, he moved to Italian team Atalanta, and that is where he enjoyed a career renaissance.
Rise at Atalanta
Under Gian Piero Gasperini, Kolasinac excelled as a left-sided centre-back. His physically aggressive style of play suited La Dea, which rose up the ranks steadily. It culminated in a brilliant win over an unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen side in the UEFA Europa League final in 2024, with Kolasinac starring for his side.
He has also been superb for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, and played a big part in the minnows eliminating four-time champions Italy in the qualification play-off final. With 66 caps to his name, he is one of the senior-most members of the Bosnia side, and will be key for the Dragons if they want to improve upon their group-stage exit in the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Which clubs has Sead Kolasinac played for?
He has played for Schalke (twice), Arsenal, Marseille, and Atalanta.
What heroic act made Sead Kolasinac famous?
Kolasinac bravely fought off armed men attacking Mesut Ozil and his wife Amine during a robbery attempt in London.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.