Ermin Bičakčić

Ermin Bičakčić (born 24 January 1990) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for 2. Bundesliga club Eintracht Braunschweig.
Bičakčić started his professional career at VfB Stuttgart, playing mainly in its reserve team, before joining Eintracht Braunschweig in 2012. Two years later, he moved to TSG Hoffenheim. In 2023, he returned to Eintracht Braunschweig.
Bičakčić represented Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina at youth levels, but decided to represent the latter at the senior level. He made his senior international debut in 2013, earning over 30 caps since. Bičakčić represented the nation at their first major championship, the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Club career
Early career
Because of the outbreak of the Bosnian War, Bičakčić's family fled from his native Bosnia and Herzegovina and moved to Germany, where he started playing football at local clubs, before joining VfB Stuttgart's youth academy in 2005. He made his professional debut against Chemnitzer FC on 27 October 2010 at the age of 20. On 29 July 2011, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over Wehen Wiesbaden.
In January 2012, he switched to Eintracht Braunschweig.
TSG Hoffenheim
In May 2014, Bičakčić was transferred to TSG Hoffenheim for an undisclosed fee. He made his official debut for the team in a DFB-Pokal game against USC Paloma on 17 August and managed to score a goal. A week later, he made his league debut against FC Augsburg. On 4 February 2015, he scored his first league goal against Werder Bremen.
In September 2016, he extended his deal with the side until June 2020.
Bičakčić helped TSG Hoffenheim make their first historical UEFA Champions League appearance in the 2018–19 season. On 23 October 2018, he debuted in the competition against Lyon.
He played his 100th match for the club on 19 December.
Bičakčić put pen to paper on a new three-year contract with TSG Hoffenheim in May 2019.
In September 2020, he suffered a severe knee injury, which was diagnosed as an anterior cruciate ligament tear and was ruled out for at least six months. He returned to the pitch on 14 May 2022, over 19 months after the injury.
In June, he signed a new one-year deal with the team.
Return to Eintracht Braunschweig
In October 2023, Bičakčić returned to Eintracht Braunschweig on a contract until June 2024. He played his first competitive game for the side since coming back on 27 October against Fortuna Düsseldorf.
International career
Despite representing Germany at the under-18 level, Bičakčić decided to play for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the senior level. He was first part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina under-19 team.
In August 2013, his request to change sports citizenship from German to Bosnian was approved by FIFA. Later that month, he received his first senior call-up, for a friendly game against the United States, and debuted in that game on 14 August.
On 10 September, in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, Bičakčić scored his first senior international goal.
In June 2014, Bičakčić was named in Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup, country's first major competition. He made his tournament debut in the opening group match against Argentina on 15 June.
Career statistics
Club
International
Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bičakčić goal.
References
External links
1990 births
Living people
People from Zvornik
Sportspeople from Vlasenica Region
Bosniaks of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina Muslims
Bosnia and Herzegovina refugees
Bosnia and Herzegovina emigrants to Germany
Naturalized citizens of Germany
German men's footballers
Germany men's youth international footballers
Bosnia and Herzegovina men's footballers
Bosnia and Herzegovina men's youth international footballers
Bosnia and Herzegovina men's international footballers
Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate men's footballers
Men's association football central defenders
VfB Stuttgart II players
VfB Stuttgart players
Eintracht Braunschweig players
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim players
3. Liga players
Bundesliga players
2. Bundesliga players
Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Germany
2014 FIFA World Cup players