Abdulah Gegić Explained

Abdulah Gegić
Birth Date:19 March 1924
Birth Place:Novi Pazar, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes
Death Place:Novi Sad, Serbia
Position:Defender
Years1:1947
Clubs1:Metalac Beograd
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:1948–1952
Clubs2:Mačva Šabac
Caps2:58
Goals2:1
Years3:1953
Clubs3:Sarajevo
Caps3:8
Goals3:0
Totalcaps:68
Totalgoals:1
Manageryears1:1961–1963
Managerclubs1:Bor
Manageryears2:1963
Managerclubs2:Radnički Niš
Manageryears3:1963–1965
Managerclubs3:Sarajevo
Manageryears4:1965
Managerclubs4:Yugoslavia (co-manager)
Manageryears5:1965–1966
Managerclubs5:Partizan
Manageryears6:1966–1967
Managerclubs6:Fenerbahçe
Manageryears7:1967–1971
Managerclubs7:Eskişehirspor
Manageryears8:1969
Managerclubs8:Turkey
Manageryears9:1971–1972
Managerclubs9:Sarajevo
Manageryears10:1972–1973
Managerclubs10:Beşiktaş
Manageryears11:1973–1974
Managerclubs11:Adana Demirspor
Manageryears12:1974–1975
Managerclubs12:Bursaspor
Manageryears13:1975–1976
Managerclubs13:Fenerbahçe
Manageryears14:1976
Managerclubs14:Adanaspor
Manageryears15:1977–1978
Managerclubs15:Eskişehirspor
Manageryears16:1978–1979
Managerclubs16:Samsunspor
Manageryears17:1979
Managerclubs17:Diyarbakırspor
Manageryears18:1980–1981
Managerclubs18:Sloga Kraljevo
Manageryears20:1983
Managerclubs20:Eskişehirspor
Manageryears21:1984–1985
Managerclubs21:Novi Sad

Abdulah Gegić (; 19 March 1924 – 21 June 2008) was a Yugoslav football manager and player.[1]

Playing career

Following World War II, Gegić played for Metalac Beograd in the inaugural Yugoslav First League season. He later spent four years with Mačva Šabac (initially known as Podrinje), helping the club earn promotion to the top flight for the first time ever. Before retiring, Gegić also briefly played for Sarajevo.[2]

Managerial career

After hanging up his boots, Gegić started his managerial career at Deževa. He spent several years as manager of his hometown club before joining Bor in the summer of 1961. Gegić later took charge of Yugoslav First League side Radnički Niš in the second part of the 1962–63 season.[3] He left the club over the summer and took charge of league rivals Sarajevo. During his two years at Koševo, Gegić enjoyed success with the team in the top flight, leading them to a runner-up finish in 1964–65.[4]

Following his breakthrough season at Sarajevo, Gegić was appointed as manager of Partizan, the reigning Yugoslav champions. He guided them to the 1965–66 European Cup final, eventually losing 2–1 to Real Madrid.[5] Shortly following the loss, Gegić left the club and went to Turkey, becoming manager of Fenerbahçe.[6]

Between 1967 and 1971, Gegić served as manager of Eskişehirspor, finishing as runners-up in two consecutive seasons (1968–69 and 1969–70) and winning the Turkish Cup in 1970–71.[7] He subsequently returned to Yugoslavia for his second stint as manager of Sarajevo, but went back to Turkey the following year and took charge of Beşiktaş. Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Gegić was also manager of Adana Demirspor, Bursaspor, Adanaspor, Samsunspor, and Diyarbakırspor.[8]

Personal life

Gegić and his wife welcomed their first son the day before the 1966 European Cup final and named him Brisel in honor of the event's host city.[9]

In January 1977, Gegić was granted Turkish citizenship together with his wife.[10]

Gegić died on 21 June 2008, at the age of 84, 17 days after suffering a stroke.[11]

Career statistics

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeague
DivisionAppsGoals
Metalac Beograd1946–47Yugoslav First League20
Mačva Šabac1948–49[12] Yugoslav Second League161
1950Yugoslav Second League140
1951Yugoslav First League180
1952Yugoslav First League100
Total581
Sarajevo1953–54Yugoslav First League80
Career total681

Honours

Partizan

Fenerbahçe

Eskişehirspor

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fudbalska gromada Novog Pazara . sr . danas.rs . 6 August 2017 . 27 January 2024.
  2. Web site: Abdulah Gegić . bs . bordovremeplov.ba . 27 January 2024.
  3. Web site: 1962/63: ПОМРАЧЕЊЕ СВЕСТИ ДРАГОСЛАВА ШЕКУЛАРЦА НА ЧАИРУ! . sr . gacikdesign.com . 27 January 2024.
  4. Web site: Abdulah Gegić . bs . bordovremeplov.ba . 27 January 2024.
  5. Web site: Pre tačno 55 godina odigrano finale KEŠ Real – Partizan (VIDEO) . sr . zurnal.rs . 11 May 2021 . 27 January 2024.
  6. Web site: Abdullah Gegic . tr . mackolik.com . 27 January 2024.
  7. Web site: Altın yıllar ve kupalar . tr . anadolugazetesi.com . 2 July 2015 . 27 January 2024.
  8. Web site: Diyarbakırspor'un Başında Bir Efsane . tr . diyarbakirsoz.com . 15 April 2020 . 27 January 2024.
  9. Web site: NOVOSAĐANI: Čovek koji je dobio ime po fudbalskoj utakmici . sr . mojnovisad.com . 23 May 2018 . 27 January 2024.
  10. Web site: Milliyet - 13 Ocak 1977 . tr . milliyet.com.tr . 13 January 1977 . 27 January 2024.
  11. Web site: IN MEMORIAM: Abdulah Gegić . sr . mondo.rs . 21 June 2008 . 27 January 2024.
  12. Web site: 1948-49 . historical-lineups.com . 27 January 2024.