When Bosnia and Herzegovina arrived in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup, the staff and players cemented themselves as national heroes. 

Their legacy? 

“For younger generations of players, that team changed the way people think about what is possible,” said the country’s former under-21 manager, Slobodan Starčević said. 

“In a nation that is often divided in many ways, the national team became a symbol of what Bosnia and Herzegovina can achieve when united behind a common goal.  

“Before 2014, qualifying for the World Cup felt like a distant dream. After Brazil, it became an achievable objective. Many of today's Bosnian internationals grew up watching and admiring that generation,” added Starčević. 

And many of those past greats have called time on their international playing career but two get to witness their impact 12 years on, in the same competition. 

Former Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac has been a constant for his national team, but Edin Dzeko was the face of the country in South America and he remains the key in North America. 

Starčević said: “Younger players now carry more of the physical burden, Džeko remains one of the key figures within the team because of his authority, experience, and leadership qualities.  

“His importance goes far beyond the number of goals he scores. Even at his age, he remains capable of scoring goals and making the difference on the pitch.” 

Throughout his long-spanning career, there aren’t many who have topped his 387 club career goals but when you look at the suffering and fear that persisted through the early years of his life, his journey becomes even more impressive. 

At six-years-old, the Bosnian War began in 1992 after the fall of Yugoslavia, and for nearly four years a bloody, ruthless war took place with roughly 80,000 Bosnian Muslims, of which Dzeko and his family identified as, being killed. 

The former youth team manager said: “It (the war) brought enormous destruction, and many young people grew up in extremely difficult circumstances.  

“Opportunities were limited, infrastructure was damaged, and sport developed under very modest conditions.  

“The consequences of the war can still be felt today, but they were especially visible in the years immediately following the Dayton Peace Agreement.” 

The effect of war and the stark, constant reminds of Bosnia’s troubled past are still clear on the streets of Sarajevo and beyond but many of this new generation of Bosnian footballers haven’t had to live directly through the war, although still affected. 

It is with this that Dzeko’s life on and off the pitch has yielded such respect by his fellow countrymen.  

When managing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s under-21 side, Starčević coached six of the players who are part of the country’s 2026 World Cup squad, and witnessed how much Dzeko is idolised. 

The coach said: “He gave young people belief that they can achieve great dreams. 
 
“Sometimes I compare his story to "The Ugly Duckling." As a young and undeveloped player, many people doubted and mocked him.  

“But as he matured and became a swan, everyone began to admire his quality, elegance, and the impression he left wherever he went. 

“Young players can learn a great deal from Džeko, especially during difficult moments. For many, he was the first genuine football superstar from Bosnia and Herzegovina.” 

As Bosnia and Herzegovina embark on their second World Cup, facing one of the hosts Canada, Dzeko’s legacy on Bosnian football and the country itself has become clear, he has represented the country immaculately and now can try to help the players he has inspired on one last global stage. 

Starčević said: “He was once seen simply as an outstanding striker, but today people view him as a leader, a role model, and an ambassador for our country. 

“Youth development is now at a significantly higher level. We have more educated coaches, better access to modern training methods, and more opportunities for talented players to be noticed by foreign clubs. 

“The biggest difference today is that young players have a much clearer pathway to elite football, and players like Džeko have played a major role in creating that belief.”