Riad Bajić Explained

Riad Bajić
Birth Date:6 May 1994
Birth Place:Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height:1.89 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Ankaragücü
Clubnumber:9
Youthyears1:2003–2013
Youthclubs1:Željezničar
Years1:2013–2015
Clubs1:Željezničar
Caps1:48
Goals1:18
Years2:2015–2017
Clubs2:Konyaspor
Caps2:64
Goals2:22
Years3:2017–2022
Clubs3:Udinese
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:2018–2019
Clubs4:İstanbul Başakşehir (loan)
Caps4:31
Goals4:9
Years5:2019–2020
Clubs5:Konyaspor (loan)
Caps5:27
Goals5:4
Years6:2020–2021
Clubs6:Ascoli (loan)
Caps6:34
Goals6:12
Years7:2021–2022
Clubs7:Brescia (loan)
Caps7:29
Goals7:3
Years8:2022–2023
Clubs8:Giresunspor
Caps8:34
Goals8:14
Years9:2023–
Clubs9:Ankaragücü
Caps9:26
Goals9:5
Nationalyears1:2013
Nationalteam1:Bosnia and Herzegovina U19
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:5
Nationalyears2:2014–2016
Nationalteam2:Bosnia and Herzegovina U21
Nationalcaps2:7
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2017–2019
Nationalteam3:Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nationalcaps3:12
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:17 August 2024

Riad Bajić (pronounced as /bs/; born 6 May 1994) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a forward for 1. Lig club Ankaragücü.

Bajić started his professional career at Željezničar, before joining Konyaspor in 2015. Two years later, he signed with Udinese, who loaned him to İstanbul Başakşehir in 2018, back to Konyaspor in 2019, to Ascoli in 2020 and to Brescia in 2021. The following year, he moved to Giresunspor. In 2023, he switched to Ankaragücü.

A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bajić made his senior international debut in 2017, earning 12 caps until 2019.

Club career

Željezničar

Bajić came through the youth academy of his hometown club Željezničar, which he joined in 2003. In May 2013, he signed his first professional contract with the team.[1] He made his professional debut against Zvijezda Gradačac on 27 July at the age of 19.[2] On 19 October, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over Mladost Velika Obarska.[3]

Bajić scored his first career hat-trick in a defeat of Zvijezda Gradačac on 27 September 2014.[4]

With 15 goals, he finished the 2014–15 season as Bosnian Premier League top scorer.[5]

Konyaspor

In August 2015, Bajić moved to Turkish outfit Konyaspor on a three-year deal.[6] He made his official debut for the side on 15 August against Akhisarspor.[7] On 17 October, he scored his first goal for the club in a victory over Gaziantepspor.[8]

In January 2017, he prolonged his contract with the squad until June 2020.[9] That season Bajić finished as team top scorer. His 17 goals were the most league goals scored by a Konyaspor player in a single campaign, beating the previous mark of 13 set by Theofanis Gekas.[10]

He won his first title with Konyaspor, club's first trophy ever, on 31 May, by beating İstanbul Başakşehir in the Turkish Cup final.[11]

Udinese

In August, Bajić was transferred to Italian side Udinese for an undisclosed fee.[12] He made his competitive debut for the squad in a Coppa Italia game against Frosinone on 12 August.[13] Five weeks later, he made his league debut against Milan.[14]

In January 2018, he was sent on a six-month loan to İstanbul Başakşehir. In June, his loan was extended for an additional season.[15]

In June 2019, Bajić was loaned to his former team Konyaspor until the end of the season.[16]

In September 2020, he was sent on a season-long loan to Ascoli.[17]

In July 2021, he was loaned to Brescia for the remainder of the campaign.[18]

Later stage of career

In July 2022, Bajić joined Giresunspor.[19]

In June 2023, he switched to Ankaragücü.[20]

International career

Bajić represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at various youth levels.[21]

In March 2015, he received his first senior call-up, for a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Andorra and a friendly game against Austria,[22] but had to wait until 25 March 2017 to make his debut in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gibraltar.[23]

Personal life

Bajić married his long-time girlfriend Sanita in September 2019. Together they have a son named Dal.[24]

Career statistics

Club

[25]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Željezničar2013–14Bosnian Premier League1835220255
2014–15Bosnian Premier League281521413417
2015–16Bosnian Premier League20006282
Total4818731236724
Konyaspor2015–16Süper Lig325114439
2016–17Süper Lig3217103604820
Total6422217609129
Udinese2017–18Serie A502070
İstanbul Başakşehir (loan)2017–18Süper Lig9393
2018–19Süper Lig2262020266
Total3192020359
Konyaspor (loan)2019–20Süper Lig27410284
Ascoli (loan)2020–21Serie B3412003412
Brescia (loan)2021–22Serie B29311304
Giresunspor2022–23Süper Lig3414103514
Ankaragücü2023–24Süper Lig24431275
2024–251. Lig210021
Total26531296
Career total298873812203356102

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[26]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
201730
201860
201930
Total120

Honours

Konyaspor[25]

2016–17

Individual

2014–15

Notes and References

  1. News: Zvijezda Željezničara Riad Bajić: Od betonskog terena do najboljeg strijelca lige. klix.ba. 3 June 2015. 3 June 2015. Bosnian.
  2. News: Željo pobjedom u Gradačcu krenuo u odbranu titule. sportsport.ba. 27 July 2013. 27 July 2013. Bosnian.
  3. News: Željezničar razbio Mladost u Bijeljini. sportsport.ba. 19 October 2013. 19 October 2013. Bosnian.
  4. News: Peta uzastopna pobjeda Želje, hat-trick Riada Bajića. sportsport.ba. 27 September 2014. 27 September 2014. Bosnian.
  5. News: Bajić najbolji strijelac Premijer lige za sezonu 2014/15. sportsport.ba. 30 May 2015. 1 June 2015. Bosnian.
  6. News: Riad Bajić potpisao trogodišnji ugovor s Konyasporom. radiosarajevo.ba. 8 August 2015. 9 August 2015. Bosnian.
  7. News: Bajić igrao kompletan meč, Konyaspor osvojio bod. sportsport.ba. 15 August 2015. 18 August 2015. Bosnian.
  8. News: Bajić postigao prvijenac za Konyaspor. sportsport.ba. 17 October 2015. 18 October 2015. Bosnian.
  9. News: Riad Bajić produžio ugovor sa Konyasporom. avaz.ba. 25 January 2017. 27 January 2017. Bosnian.
  10. News: Bajić ušao u historiju Konyaspora. fokus.ba. 7 May 2017. 9 May 2017. Bosnian.
  11. News: Bajić, Milošević i Hadžiahmetović sa Konyasporom osvojili Kup Turske. reprezentacija.ba. 31 May 2017. 1 June 2017. Bosnian.
  12. News: Zvanično: Riad Bajić potpisao za Udinese!. sportsport.ba. 4 August 2017. 6 August 2017. Bosnian.
  13. News: Udinese prošao prvu prepreku, Bajić upisao zvanični debi. scsport.ba. 12 August 2017. 12 August 2017. Bosnian.
  14. News: Riad Bajić debitovao za Udinese u Serie A. reprezentacija.ba. 17 September 2017. 18 September 2017. Bosnian.
  15. News: Riad Bajić ostaje u İstanbul Başakşehiru. radiosarajevo.ba. 13 June 2018. 15 June 2018. Bosnian.
  16. News: Riad Bajić ponovo u Konyasporu. reprezentacija.ba. 14 June 2019. 15 June 2019. Bosnian.
  17. News: Riad Bajić ima novi klub u Italiji. avaz.ba. 24 September 2020. 27 September 2020. Bosnian.
  18. News: Riad Bajić je novi igrač Brescie. klix.ba. 5 July 2021. 6 July 2021. Bosnian.
  19. News: Riad Bajić se vratio u Tursku. reprezentacija.ba. 16 July 2022. 18 July 2022. Bosnian.
  20. News: Riad Bajić promijenio klub, pridružio se dvojici bh. igrača. sportske.ba. 28 June 2023. 1 July 2023. Bosnian.
  21. News: Riad Bajić: Rad, trud i pošten odnos prema treninzima se uvijek isplate. reprezentacija.ba. 25 March 2015. 27 March 2015. Bosnian.
  22. News: Baždarević objavio imena Zmajeva za susrete protiv Andore i Austrije. klix.ba. 16 March 2015. 18 March 2015. Bosnian.
  23. News: Lagana i očekivana pobjeda BiH nad Gibraltarom. sportsport.ba. 25 March 2017. 27 March 2017. Bosnian.
  24. News: Oženio se bh. reprezentativac Riad Bajić. faktor.ba. 11 September 2019. 12 September 2019. Bosnian.
  25. Web site: R. Bajić. soccerway.com. 18 August 2024.
  26. Web site: Riad Bajić. eu-football.info. 15 October 2019.