Mario Božić

Mario Božić (Serbian Cyrillic: Марио Божић, pronounced [mâːrio bǒːʒitɕ];[1][2] 25 May 1983 – 3 April 2023)[3][4] was a Bosnian Serb professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Mario Božić
Božić with Újpest in 2008
Personal information
Date of birth (1983-05-25)25 May 1983
Place of birth Tuzla, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Date of death 3 April 2023(2023-04-03) (aged 39)
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2002 Loznica 34 (3)
2003 Radnički Stobex 12 (2)
2003–2004 Beograd 27 (1)
2004–2007 Videoton Fehérvár 86 (11)
2008–2009 Újpest 40 (4)
2009–2011 Slovan Bratislava 50 (3)
2011 Ashdod 0 (0)
2012 Borac Čačak 0 (0)
2012 Shanghai Shenhua 13 (0)
2012–2013 Simurq 25 (6)
2013 Panachaiki 10 (3)
2014 Voždovac 11 (1)
2014–2015 Borac Čačak 15 (1)
2015–2016 Loznica 13 (0)
International career
2007–2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

At international level, Božić made two appearances for Bosnia and Herzegovina between 2007 and 2008.

Club career

Born in Tuzla, Božić moved to Serbia at an early age and started his senior career with Loznica. He also played for Radnički Stobex and Beograd, before moving to Hungarian club Fehérvár in the summer of 2004. As a regular member of the first team, Božić helped them win the 2005–06 Magyar Kupa. He also made over 100 appearances for the club in all competitions. In the 2008 winter transfer window, Božić was transferred to Újpest. He spent a total of five years in the country, amassing 126 league appearances and scoring 15 goals.

In the summer of 2009, Božić moved to Slovakia and signed with Slovan Bratislava. He spent two seasons in the country and won four major trophies with the club.

In June 2011, Božić signed with Israeli club Ashdod,[5] but failed to make any appearance for the club. He returned to Serbia in the 2012 winter transfer window and surprisingly signed with Borac Čačak. However, after only a few weeks, Božić left the club without making his debut and moved to Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua.

In August 2012, Božić joined Azerbaijani club Simurq, becoming the club's top scorer with six goals in the 2012–13 season.

Božić ended his career by playing with FK Loznica in Serbian second league.[6]

International career

In March 2007, Božić received his first call-up for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.[7] He made his international debut on 8 September 2007, coming on as a substitute for Darko Maletić in a 1–0 loss to Hungary. His second and final international was an August 2008 friendly match against Bulgaria.[8]

Post-playing career

On 9 February 2017, Božić was appointed director of football at Loznica.[9]

Death

Božić died on 3 April 2023 from a brain tumor. He was 39 years old. [10]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[11]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fehérvár 2004–05 NB I 20000200
2005–06 NB I 28600286
2006–07 NB I 24240282
2007–08 NB I 14300143
Total 8611409011
Újpest 2007–08 NB I 13000130
2008–09 NB I 27400274
Total 40400404
Slovan Bratislava 2009–10 Slovak Super Liga 2605150361
2010–11 Slovak Super Liga 2434030313
Total 5039180674
Shanghai Shenhua 2012 Chinese Super League 1301000140
Simurq 2012–13 Azerbaijan Premier League 2563000286
Career total 2142413112023925
  1. Includes Magyar Kupa, Slovak Cup, FA Cup, Azerbaijan Cup

Honours

Fehérvár

Slovan Bratislava

References
  1. "Màrija". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 17 March 2018. Mȃrio
  2. "Bȏg". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Serbo-Croatian). Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2018. Bóžić
  3. TUGA DO NEBA... Preminulo nesuđeno ZVEZDINO POJAČANJE! Srpski fudbaler izgubio borbu sa OPAKOM BOLEŠĆU! 3 April 2023. Serbian
  4. TUGA DO NEBA: Preminuo Mario Božić, imao je samo 39 godina 3 April 2023. Serbian
  5. "Mario Božič prestupuje zo Slovanu Bratislava do tímu najvyššej izraelskej súťaže" (in Slovak). sport.aktuality.sk. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  6. Mario Božić at srbijafudbal.com
  7. "'New team' set for Oslo trip". uefa.com. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  8. "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  9. "Mario Božić postavljen za sportskog direktora" (in Serbian). loznicainfo.com. 9 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  10. "UŽASNE vesti stigle su ovo ponedeljka. U 40. godini je preminuo fudbaler Mario Božić". novosti.rs. Novosti a.d. 3 April 2023.
  11. Single source here, if player is inactive. If player has not retired, move source next to "Updated" template.
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