Bosnian acclaim for Džeko and Blažević

VfL Wolfsburg striker Edin Džeko beat off competition from the likes of team-mate Zvjezdan Misimović to be named as the best Bosnia-Herzegovnian player of 2009 with Miroslav Blažević claiming the top coach honour.

Ambassador role
Džeko won the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg last season and scored 26 league goals, bettered only by the 28 of strike partner Grafite, while he was also on target four times in six UEFA Champions League appearances this term. The former FK Željezničar and FK Teplice forward played in all ten FIFA World Cup qualifiers plus both play-off legs against Portugal and was the top scorer for his country, led to the brink of a first major finals by Blažević, with nine goals. Two months ago, Džeko was announced as the first Bosnia-Herzegovnian to be an ambassador of UNICEF.

Former winner
Those achievements secured the award at a ceremony in Sarajevo ahead of Misimović and the other nominees: 2008 winner Vedad Ibišević (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Emir Spahić (Montpellier Hérault SC), Saša Papac (Rangers FC), Zlatan Bajramović (Eintracht Frankfurt), Miralem Pjanić (Olympique Lyonnais), Sejad Salihović (Hoffenheim), Elvir Rahimić (PFC CSKA Moskva ) and Alen Škoro (FK Sarajevo).

'Very successful'
"I'm happy for this award, especially for receiving it in my home town," said the 23-year-old. "This was one very successful season both for club and country. I became a champion of Germany with my club and although we didn't manage to reach the World Cup in a play-off against Portugal, we hope to qualify for the European Championship. There are many people to thank for this success; my team-mates from club and country, coaches, but also the great support of fans and family. I'm grateful to all of them and will share this happiness with them."