Osman Hadžikić: From Laziness to One of the Most Talented Goalkeepers in Europe

It is the sixtieth minute. Spaniard Soriano, who came through Barcelona's academy, with an impressive record of 100 goals in 113 matches, was almost celebrating after an "unstoppable" shot towards the goal of Vienna Austria. That shot was supposed to double the visitors' lead and nullify the points advantage in the table. And then came the miraculous intervention of Osman Hadžikić. The Bosnian and Herzegovinian is the youngest participant in the derby and one of the most promising goalkeepers, not only in Austria but in Europe, reports the Patria news agency.

At nineteen, he is the standard goalkeeper for Vienna Austria. He is most responsible for the draw in the derby against the "bulls". The sixtieth minute is not the only successful intervention by our goalkeeper. With several other miraculous saves, he repeatedly drew applause and chants of "Osman Hadžikić"...

Which, as we have seen in previous years in Bayern matches, is the hardest thing for home fans. Even the Bavarians found it difficult, but sweet, to chant Salihamidžić. Just like the fans of Vienna and Osman's violets.

Osman Hadžikić talked about his ambitions, beginnings, and how he ended up in goal by chance... We also spoke with Hadžikić's first coach from the Austria Academy...

- I ended up in goal by chance... Honestly, I was eight years old, a bit chubby, and I didn't feel like running, so I decided to stand between the posts - Osman recalls his first steps. What was hardest for his father, who had to buy a complete set of goalkeeper equipment. Later, when the sons showed exceptional talent, the father quit his job as an international carrier and switched to a "side job" to have more time to take his sons to training and matches - Hadžikić says.

Osman's parents are his most important support.

- I knew he wouldn't play; it was a cup quarterfinal match against Kapfenberg, so I didn't even go to the game. However, in the second half, the first goalkeeper Lindner got injured, and Osman came on. That was one of the hardest moments in my life - says Osman's father, friend, manager, advisor...

Osman's mother Mirzeta adds that she couldn't endure any of her son's matches without pills, and she doesn't have the strength to go to the stadium.

Nevertheless, Osman's success should not come as a surprise, especially since he was already sitting on Austria's bench in the Europa League at 15 and a half years old.

- That was a huge experience for me. It was against Malmö, Kharkiv, and Alkmaar. It's a big thing for a young goalkeeper - says Osman.

Osman also won the Austrian Bundesliga with Austria's youth team. It was in the cadets, and he is the only one from that generation to make the jump to the first team. He also has an incredible story from that period. Namely, in two matches against Mattersburg, he managed to score two goals from goal to goal against the opposing goalkeeper!

- I am happy about those goals, but I put myself in the position of my colleagues, so I no longer try that...

He is currently on the list of the Austrian U-21 national team. However, he is not too worried about his status in that team because since he was little, he has dreamed of wearing the jersey of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

ONLY WORDS OF PRAISE

Herbert Gager, an Austrian expert and Osman's coach from the youth league, has only words of praise for the young goalkeeper.

- Already at the first training session, I saw that he was an exceptional talent. He loves to train, more than the others. Although he is already at an enviable level, he still has room to improve. I am sure that he will soon play in a top-five league - says Gager.