Edin Dzeko, the captain of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team, announced his retirement from international football on Thursday. His final match in the Zmajevi shirt will be a Nations League fixture against Sweden on October 2.
Yahoo Sports first reported this news. Dzeko, who turned 40 in March, said the time felt right for this decision. "Now I feel the time has come to step aside," stated the legendary striker. "Nothing in my career has ever compared to the pride I have felt every single time I wore that shirt."
Edin Dzeko made his debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Turkey in June 2007. Since then, he has amassed 151 caps, making him the nation's most-capped player. He is also the all-time leading scorer with 73 goals. He took over the captain's armband in 2014 and has been the undisputed leader of the side ever since.
His club journey is equally impressive. He began his career with Zeljeznicar before playing for Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Roma, Inter Milan, and Fenerbahce. He joined Schalke on a free transfer in January and signed a one-year contract extension with the German club in August. Bosnian fans often call him 'Dijamant', meaning diamond.
Dzeko was a central figure in the recent qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup in North America. He led the team to their second-ever appearance at the global football showpiece. Bosnia and Herzegovina reached the last 32, where they were eliminated by the United States. This success added another chapter to Dzeko's rich international story, after he had already helped the team qualify for their first World Cup in 2014.
The team will also play Nations League matches against Poland and Romania in late September before the farewell match with Sweden.
Edin Dzeko's exit leaves a significant void to fill. His goals and experience have been the backbone of the national team for over a decade. The focus will now shift to the new generation of players who will carry on his legacy. The manager will face the challenge of finding a new captain and building an attack without their most prolific scorer of all time.
Dzeko leaves the team in a decent position in the Nations League, with a chance to achieve a good result in the upcoming matches. His final appearance, on October 2 against Sweden, will undoubtedly be an emotional moment for all Bosnia and Herzegovina supporters. The match will be played as part of the final round of the Nations League group stage.
