Ivan Sesar (born 29 August 1989) is a Bosnian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Ivan Sesar
Sesar playing for Inter Turku in 2018
Personal information
Full name Ivan Sesar
Date of birth (1989-08-29) 29 August 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Mostar, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
0000–2006 Široki Brijeg
2006–2008 Zagreb
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Zagreb 1 (0)
2009–2010 Koper 26 (0)
2010–2011 Lokomotiva Zagreb 23 (1)
2011–2013 Sarajevo 34 (0)
2013Elazığspor (loan) 14 (0)
2013–2014 Akhisar Belediyespor 12 (0)
2015 Dunajská Streda 8 (0)
2015–2017 Široki Brijeg 48 (1)
2017 Juventus București 16 (0)
2018 Inter Turku 13 (0)
2018 Voluntari 6 (0)
2019–2020 Tuzla City 28 (0)
2020 Solin 8 (1)
2020 Rudeš 4 (0)
2021 Kvik Halden
International career
2009–2010 Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 6 (1)
2012 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 (0)
2011 Bosnia and Herzegovina XI 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 May 2024

Club career

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NK Zagreb

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Sesar made his senior debut for NK Zagreb on 31 August 2008 in a 1–1 draw against HNK Sibenik[1] He would only play one match for the club before joining FC Koper.

FC Koper

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After being released by NK Zagreb, Ivan Sesar signed for FC Koper in the Slovenian Prva Liga on 1 July 2009 as a free agent. It wouldn't be until 8 August 2009 that he would be substituted in the 77th minute in a 2–1 win against ND Gorica. Sesar also bagged his first assist for an equalising goal in a 1–1 draw against NK Domzale. Koper would win the league by 9 points with Sesar making 23 league appearances. In the subsequent season, he faced his old rivals Dinamo Zagreb in a Champions League Qualifying match losing 5–4 on aggregate.[2]

Lokomotiva Zagreb

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Sesar returned to Croatia joining Lokomotiva Zagreb on a free transfer on 1 August 2010. He netted his first career goal with Lokomotiva in a league match against Hrvatski Dragovoljac in the form of an equaliser. The match would end 3–2 in favor of Lokomotiva Zagreb.

Sarajevo

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Ivan Sesar joined Premijer Liga side FK Sarajevo for free exactly a year after joining Lokomotiva Zagreb. Sesar played 34 league matches for the side in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons bagging six assists. Sesko also participated in Sarajevo's UEFA Europa League qualification run making it to the third round of the tournament where he would assist another two times.

Elazığspor

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About a year and a half into his time with Sarajevo, he was sent out on loan to Turkish side Elazığspor. He contributed two assists to the side in 14 appearances.

Akhisar Belediyespor

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Shortly after returning from his loan spell, Ivan Sesar remained in Croatia for Akhisarspor. He assisted two more goals in Turkey before leaving the club on a free transfer.

Dunajská Streda

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Sesar joined Dunajská Streda on a free transfer. He would play eight games for the side in a campaign that saw Dunajska finish in 7th.

Široki Brijeg

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Sesar returned to Široki Brijeg, a club where he had spent most of his youth career. He would net a goal in a 3–0 win against relegation-battling Velez Mostar. Although having zero goal contributions in 22 league appearance in the subsequent season, Široki Brijeg would end up winning the Primijer Liga in the 2016-17 campaign.

Juventus București

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He joined the newly promoted, second division side Juventus București for free on 25 July 2017. He made 16 league appearances for the club in Liga II.

Inter Turku

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After a season in Romania, Sesar joined Inter Turku for an undisclosed amount. He won the 2018 Finnish Cup and finished mid-table in the 2018 campaign.

Voluntari

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Ivan Sesar returned to Romania a year later, this time for first division side FC Voluntari. Voluntari would see themselves in a relegation battle in a campaign where Sesar played seven matches.

Tuzla City

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Sesar then joined Bosnian side Tuzla City. He scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win versus Velez Mostar in the Kup BiH in match that would see them avoid relegation by 3 points. He also bagged four assists in the 19/20 campaign.

NK Solin

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Sesar joined Croatian side NK Solin in 2020. He would assist and score against NK Croatia Zmijavci to win the game 3–1 away from home. He played eight matches in a campaign where the side would finish four points above relegation.

Rudeš

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After playing only eight matches for Solin, Sesar would join NK Rudeš making four appearances.

Kvik Halden

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He joined Kvik Halden in 2021 making 2 appearances.[3] Ivan Sesar retired at the end of the 2021 campaign.

International career

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Sesar made his international debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team in an unofficial friendly against Poland in Antalya on 16 December 2011.[4] His official debut came on 15 August 2012 against Wales.[5]

International appearances

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# Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 16 December 2011 Mardan Sports Complex, Antalya   Poland 0–1 Friendly
2 15 August 2012 Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli   Wales 2–0 Friendly
3. 14 November 2012 Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers   Algeria 1–0 Friendly

Career statistics

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Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
NK Zagreb 2008-09 Prva HNL 1 1
Total 1 1
FC Koper 2009-10 Prva Liga 23 3 2 28
2010-11 3 3
Total 26 3 2 31
Lokomotiva Zagreb 2010-11 Prva HNL 17 1 17 1
Total 17 1 17 1
FK Sarajevo 2011-12 Premijer Liga 23 23
2012-13 11 3 6 20
Total 34 3 6 43
Elazigspor 2012-13 Süper Lig 14 14
Akhisarspor 2013-14 12 8 20
Total 26 8 6 34
Dunajská Streda 2014-15 Fortuna Liga 8 2 10
Total 8 2 10
Siroki Brijeg 2015-16 Premijer Liga 25 1 4 29 1
2016-17 22 4 2 28
Total 47 1 2 2 57 1
FC Juventus Bucharest 2017-18 Liga II 16 2 18
Total 16 2 18
FC Inter Turku 2018 Veikkausliiga 13 8 21
Total 13 8 21
FC Voluntari 2018-19 Liga I 6 1 7
Total 6 1 7
FK Tuzla City 2018-19 Premijer Liga 7 2 1 7 1
2019-20 21 21
Total 28 2 1 28 1
NK Solin 2020-21 2. HNL 8 1 8 1
NK Rudes 2020-21 4 4
Total 12 12 1
Kvik Halden 2021 Norsk Tipping-Ligaen 1 1 2
Total 1 1 2
Career Total 235 32 1 16 283 4

Source: [citation needed]

Honours

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Koper

Široki Brijeg

FC Inter Turku

References

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  1. ^ "Sibenik 1-1 NK Zagreb Prva NHL 2008/2009 Live". Whoscored. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Koper 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb Champions League 2010/11 Head to Head Statistics". Whoscored. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Ivan Sesar er klar for klubbens a-lag" (in Norwegian). Kvik Halden FK. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Poland vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina - 16 December 2011 - Soccerway".
  5. ^ "Player Database". eu-football.info. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
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