Goal.com 50: Zvjezdan Misimovic (32)

33. Kaka (Milan & Brazil)

32. ZVJEZDAN MISIMOVIC (VfL Wolfsburg & Bosnia)

31. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea & France)

There were not too many Munich natives celebrating at the end of the Bundesliga season, but for one Munich-born individual, Wolfsburg’s title triumph was a joy to behold.  Zvjezdan Misimovic’s parents are Bosnian Serb gastarbeiters who came to West Germany from Gradiska during the late 1970’s, and he was born in the Bavarian capital on June 5 1982. 

VfL Wolfsburg’s surprise Bundesliga title win caused extra joy for ‘Zwetschge’ Misimovic considering the fact that he was deemed surplus to requirements at Bayern Munich having started his footballing career with the Bavarian giants in 2002. 

He made only three Bundesliga appearances for the Reds before being shipped off to Bochum.  Having impressed there, he then spent a season with Nuernberg where his reputation increased further and Wolfsburg trainer Felix Magath signed him for £3.9 million in 2008.

The Bosnian midfielder had big boots to fill at the Volkswagen Arena replacing crowd favourite Marcelinho, but the Wolves fans quickly forgot about their Brazilian favourite when seeing the performances displayed by Misimovic. 

He scored in the first game of the season- a 2-1 victory over newly promoted Koln, and also in Wolfsburg’s last game of the season- a 5-1 trouncing of Werder Bremen, which clinched the club’s first title. 

Most of the headlines in Wolfsburg’s title winning season were grabbed by strike duo Grafite and Edin Dzeko who scored 54 goals between them.  However, the man behind the headlines was definitely Misimovic, who pulled all the strings from midfield and was the conductor for the Wolfsburg orchestra.

Reputed German football newspaper Kicker only began recording assists in 1988, and until this season the record was held jointly by Uwe Bein (1992-93), Andreas Herzog (1994-95) and Dariusz Wosz (1996-97) with 17 assists in a single season.  Misimovic however smashed the record last season with a stunning 20 assists.  He also chipped in with seven goals of his own.

He saved his best performance of the season however for the final game of the campaign as Wolfsburg thrashed Werder Bremen 5-1 at the Volkswagen Arena to clinch their first ever Bundesliga title.  He put in a ‘Man of the Match’ display, scoring the opener and setting up one for Grafite. 

Misimovic also enjoyed a good season internationally with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the former Yugoslav state well-placed in World Cup qualifying Group 5.   The midfielder scored a hat trick for his country back in September during a World Cup qualifier with Estonia.  Bosnia won the match 7-0, with Misimovic scoring the first three goals of the game within the first 56 minutes. 

Bosnia are well placed in Group 5 ahead of both Turkey and Belgium in the race for second spot in the group behind favourites Spain.  Next season will see Bosnia looking for their first ever World Cup qualification, while Wolfsburg will enter the Champions League for the first time in their history as well as attempting to defend their Bundesliga crown. 

Pulling the strings for both sides will be Zvejezdan Misimovic- a rising star in European football.      

2008-09 HONOURS

Mathew Burt, Goal.com

33. Kaka (Milan & Brazil)

32. ZVJEZDAN MISIMOVIC (VfL Wolfsburg & Bosnia)

31. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea & France)