Nemanja Bilbija
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 2 November 1990 | ||
Place of birth | Banja Luka, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Zrinjski Mostar | ||
Number | 99 | ||
Youth career | |||
2000–2008 | Borac Banja Luka | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2008–2010 | Borac Banja Luka | 30 | (11) |
2010–2013 | Vojvodina | 43 | (2) |
2012–2013 | → Borac Banja Luka (loan) | 23 | (14) |
2013–2015 | Sarajevo | 30 | (6) |
2015–2016 | Split | 9 | (0) |
2016–2018 | Zrinjski Mostar | 86 | (40) |
2019 | Gangwon | 6 | (2) |
2019– | Zrinjski Mostar | 127 | (100) |
International career‡ | |||
2009–2012 | Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 | 22 | (9) |
2018– | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 6 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2023 |
Nemanja Bilbija (Serbian Cyrillic: Немања Билбија, pronounced [němaɲa bîlbija]; born 2 November 1990) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bosnian Premier League club Zrinjski Mostar and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bilbija made his senior international debut in 2018. He is the Bosnian Premier League's record goalscorer.
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Bilbija started his career with his hometown club Borac Banja Luka, whose academy he joined in 2000.[1] He made his professional debut on 8 November 2008 against Posušje at the age of 18.[2] He scored his first goal as a professional against Orašje on 7 March 2009.[3]
On 29 January 2010 Bilbija moved to Serbian side Vojvodina signing a four-year contract.[4] During his time at the club, he was sent on two loans to his former club, Borac Banja Luka.[5]
In August 2013, Bilbija signed a two-year deal with Sarajevo.[6]
In July 2015, he joined Split on a two-year contract.[7]
Zrinjski Mostar
[edit]On 11 February 2016, Bilbija signed with Zrinjski Mostar on free transfer.[8] He scored on his competitive debut for the club against his former team Sarajevo on 28 February.[9]
In August 2017, Bilbija signed a new two-year deal with Zrinjski Mostar.[10] In a game against Vitez on 26 August, Bilbija scored his first hat-trick for the team.[11] A year later, he scored four goals in a convincing triumph over Zvijezda 09.[12]
On 10 November 2018, Bilbija scored a brace on his 100th appearance for the club.[13]
Gangwon
[edit]On 23 December 2018, Bilbija joined South Korean side Gangwon for an undisclosed transfer fee.[14] On 4 January 2019, Bilbija officially joined Gangwon after signing a contract with the club.[15]
He made his debut for Gangwon on 2 March 2019, in a 2–0 away loss against Sangju Sangmu coming in as a substitute in the 71st minute.[16]
Bilbija scored his first goal for Gangwon on 15 May 2019, in a 2–0 home win against Paju Citizen in the round of 16 of the 2019 Korean FA Cup.[17]
Return to Zrinjski Mostar
[edit]On 24 December 2019, Bilbija came back to Zrinjski almost a year after joining Gangwon, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract which will last until the summer of 2023 with the Mostar based club.[18] In his first game back, Bilbija scored a goal in a 2–0 league win against Čelik Zenica on 23 February 2020.[19]
On 31 October 2020, he scored a hat-trick against Velež in the Mostar derby.[20]
Bilbija finished the 2020–21 season as the league's top goalscorer with 17 goals.[21]
In a league game against Sarajevo on 23 October 2021, Bilbija scored his 76th goal for Zrinjski, making him the club's highest goalscorer of all time.[22] Following a 4–0 over Sarajevo on 16 April 2022, the club was crowned league champions, with Bilbija winning his fourth league title with Zrinjski.[23] He finished the 2021–22 season again as the league's top goalscorer with a record-breaking 33 goals.[24]
On 4 September 2022, Bilbija scored two goals in a 4–1 league win against Sarajevo, overtaking Wagner as the Bosnian Premier League's record goalscorer.[25] He finished the 2022–23 season as the league's top goalscorer for a third time in a row, as well as winning the double with Zrinjski, the first in the club's history.[26]
In August 2023, Zrinjski became the first ever club from Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the group stages of a European club competition after eliminating Icelandic club Breiðablik in the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round, which assured Zrinjski of a group stage spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League as a minimum.[27]
International career
[edit]Bilbija was a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-21 team. He was also captain of the under-21 side and is the highest goalscorer in the team's history with 9 goals.[28]
In August 2017, Bilbija received his first senior call-up, for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Cyprus and Gibraltar.[29] He debuted in a friendly game against United States on 28 January 2018.[30]
Personal life
[edit]Bilbija's father Milorad Bilbija was also a professional footballer who currently works as a football manager.[31]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 11 November 2024[32]
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Borac Banja Luka | 2008–09 | Bosnian Premier League | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 | 5 | |
2009–10 | Bosnian Premier League | 13 | 6 | 3 | 1 | – | 16 | 8 | ||
Total | 30 | 11 | 3 | 1 | – | 33 | 12 | |||
Vojvodina | 2009–10 | Serbian SuperLiga | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | 1 | |
2010–11 | Serbian SuperLiga | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | 21 | 1 | ||
2011–12 | Serbian SuperLiga | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
2012–13 | Serbian SuperLiga | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
2013–14 | Serbian SuperLiga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
Total | 43 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 55 | 3 | ||
Borac Banja Luka (loan) | 2011–12 | Bosnian Premier League | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | – | 12 | 6 | |
2012–13 | Bosnian Premier League | 12 | 8 | – | – | 12 | 8 | |||
Total | 23 | 14 | 1 | 0 | – | 24 | 14 | |||
Sarajevo | 2013–14 | Bosnian Premier League | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | – | 16 | 4 | |
2014–15 | Bosnian Premier League | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 27 | 6 | |
Total | 30 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 43 | 10 | ||
Split | 2015–16 | 1. HNL | 9 | 0 | – | – | 9 | 0 | ||
Zrinjski Mostar | 2015–16 | Bosnian Premier League | 9 | 4 | – | – | 9 | 4 | ||
2016–17 | Bosnian Premier League | 31 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 12 | |
2017–18 | Bosnian Premier League | 30 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 12 | |
2018–19 | Bosnian Premier League | 16 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 16 | |
Total | 86 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 100 | 44 | ||
Gangwon | 2019 | K League 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | |
Zrinjski Mostar | 2019–20 | Bosnian Premier League | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | 2 | |
2020–21 | Bosnian Premier League | 28 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 21 | |
2021–22 | Bosnian Premier League | 32 | 33 | 1 | 1 | – | 33 | 34 | ||
2022–23 | Bosnian Premier League | 30 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 42 | 31 | |
2023–24 | Bosnian Premier League | 29 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 5 | 47 | 29 | |
2024–25 | Bosnian Premier League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
Total | 127 | 100 | 11 | 6 | 25 | 11 | 163 | 117 | ||
Career total | 354 | 175 | 33 | 12 | 48 | 16 | 435 | 203 |
International
[edit]- As of match played 19 November 2023.[33]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||
2018 | 1 | 0 | |
2023 | 5 | 0 | |
Total | 6 | 0 |
Honours
[edit]Sarajevo[32]
Zrinjski Mostar[32]
Individual
- Bosnian Premier League Player of the Season: 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Bosnian Premier League top goalscorer: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
References
[edit]- ^ "Bilbija ponovo u Borcu?". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 23 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ^ "Travničani prekinuli post". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 8 November 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
- ^ "Dvije pobjede i tri remija". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 7 March 2009. Retrieved 9 March 2009.
- ^ "Službeno: Bilbija četiri godine u Vojvodini". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 29 January 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ "Nemanja Bilbija se nakon posudbe iz Borca vratio u Vojvodinu". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 17 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ "Službeno: Bilbija potpisao za Sarajevo!". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 29 August 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
- ^ "Nemanja Bilbija potpisao za Split". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 4 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ^ "Službeno: Bilbija potpisao za Zrinjski". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 11 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
- ^ "Čudo neviđeno: Otpisani obilježili derbi u Mostaru". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 28 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ^ "Bilbija i Jakovljević produžili ugovore sa Zrinjskim". scsport.ba (in Bosnian). 2 August 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
- ^ "Super Nemanja: Hat-trick Bilbije za pobjedu Plemića u Vitezu". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 26 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- ^ "Nemanja Bilbija četiri puta pogađao mrežu Zvijezde 09". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 29 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ "Nemanja Bilbija novi rekorder Zrinjskog". faktor.ba (in Bosnian). 13 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ^ "Nemanja Bilbija napustio Zrinjski i potpisao za Gangwon". bih.ba (in Bosnian). 23 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
- ^ Nemanja Bilbija potpisao za Gangwon: Sretan sam što sam došao u ovu ligu at klix.ba, 4 January 2019
- ^ "Sangju Sangmu vs Gangwon". Soccerway.com. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
- ^ S. Mlaćo (15 May 2019). "Zaboravljeni Nemanja Bilbija konačno se upisao u listu strijelaca" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
- ^ E.B. (24 December 2019). "Zvanično: Nemanja Bilbija u Zrinjskom do ljeta 2023. godine" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "NK ČELIK - HŠK ZRINJSKI (0 : 1) 0 : 2". nfsbih.ba (in Bosnian). 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
- ^ K.H. (31 October 2020). "Bilbija razbio Velež u mostarskom derbiju i donio Zrinjskom veliku pobjedu" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ E.B. (30 May 2021). "Nemanja Bilbija ponio titulu najboljeg strijelca Premijer lige BiH" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ E. Čaušević (23 October 2021). "Bilbija srušio Sarajevo, a onda uzeo megafon i baklju u ruke" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "Zrinjski deklasirao Sarajevo i osvojio titulu prvaka Bosne i Hercegovine" (in Bosnian). Sport1.ba. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ K.H. (28 May 2022). "Zrinjski i Bilbija stavili tačku na najbolju sezonu jednog kluba u historiji Premijer lige BiH" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ A.J. (6 September 2022). "Bilbija oborio njegov rekord: Oglasio se legendarni Wagner Santos Lago" (in Bosnian). sportske.ba. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
- ^ S. Mlaćo (29 May 2023). "Bilbiji laskavo priznanje, sezona za pamćenje Ramića, Santos i Amoah izjednačeni" (in Bosnian). sportsport.ba. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- ^ H.H. (17 August 2023). "Zrinjski postao prvi klub iz BiH koji se plasirao u grupnu fazu evropskih takmičenja" (in Bosnian). Klix.ba. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Najbolji premijerligaški igrač: Od toga neće biti ništa, nemojte mene pitati zašto me nema u reprezentaciji". sport1.ba (in Bosnian). 2 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "Baždarević otkrio karte za Kipar i Gibraltar". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 16 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Prosinečki debitovao remijem: Zmajevi bez golova protiv SAD". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 29 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Tamara Bilbija: Otac je "krivac" što Nemanja i ja volimo Borac, Velikan iz Platonove će biti hit". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 5 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ a b c "N. Bilbija: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Nemanja Bilbija". eu-football.info. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
External links
[edit]- Nemanja Bilbija at National-Football-Teams.com
- Nemanja Bilbija – UEFA competition record (archive)
- 1990 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Banja Luka
- Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bosnia and Herzegovina men's footballers
- Bosnia and Herzegovina men's youth international footballers
- Bosnia and Herzegovina men's under-21 international footballers
- Bosnia and Herzegovina men's international footballers
- Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate men's footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- FK Borac Banja Luka players
- FK Vojvodina players
- FK Sarajevo players
- RNK Split players
- HŠK Zrinjski Mostar players
- Gangwon FC players
- Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina players
- Serbian SuperLiga players
- Croatian Football League players
- K League 1 players
- Expatriate men's footballers in Serbia
- Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia
- Expatriate men's footballers in South Korea
- Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Serbia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in South Korea