One year since the death of Željo legend Josip Bukal

Exactly one year ago, legendary Željezničar footballer Josip Bukal passed away in Sarajevo at the age of 71, reports Patria News Agency.

Josip was born in Okešinac between Kutina and Ivanić Grad in 1945. However, after finishing primary school, he moved to Sarajevo where he started training at Željezničar. After completing his youth career, he moved to the first team, for which he debuted in the 1963/1964 season. He stayed at the Club for ten full seasons before moving to Belgian Standard in 1973.

He played a total of 290 official matches for Željezničar, including regular appearances in the championship generation in the 1971/1972 season. He also scored 128 goals and is the second-highest scorer in the Club's history. He ended his playing career in 1977 after another half-season at Željo.

He was also a representative of the former Yugoslavia. He made 24 appearances for the national team, scoring ten goals. In his long and successful career, he stood out as a great athlete, extremely strong and mobile, a fantastic goalscorer. Even as a youth player, he stood out as a phenomenal scorer.

However, when he joined the first team, he was experimented with in the half-back line. Nevertheless, coaches soon recognized his potential as an excellent forward. Due to his powerful shot, he often scored from long distances, and when combined with his excellent heading ability, it is clear why he is one of the best scorers in the club's history.

He was known for his powerful shot. Experts believed that Bukal's shot was the strongest in the world at the time. On one occasion, while playing for Belgian Standard, the ball speed was measured at an incredible 142 km/h after Bukal's shot, which was an absolute world record at the time.

Once at Koševo, Željezničar was playing against Rijeka. From 40 meters from the goal, Bukal took a run-up and, to everyone's surprise, shot from that distance. The ball found the net of the Rijeka team at high speed. Afterwards, the fans in the stadium sang: “Mujo hammers, Bukal demolishes”.

Modest and reserved off the field, he was a nightmare for the goalkeepers of every opposing team. During the time he played, he was considered one of the best center forwards in the world. He spent a good part of his career in Belgium playing for Standard Liège. There too, he gained the status of a true legend. In 1974, he was the top scorer of the UEFA Cup with 12 goals.

Later, he worked as a coach at Željezničar, and even for a short period in the 1988/1989 season, he was the head of the first team's professional staff.

He is one of the most responsible for Željezničar's survival during the aggression. Along with a few other enthusiasts, he maintained the Club's operations during its most difficult moments.