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 and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

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 went back 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.

VfB Stuttgart
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 playing for VfB Stuttgart's reserve squad against SV Sandhausen on 23 March 2010 at the age of 20. Seven months later, he made his first-team debut in a DFB-Pokal game against Chemnitzer FC. He made his league debut on 19 December against Bayern Munich. On 29 July 2011, he scored his first professional goal in a triumph over Wehen Wiesbaden.

Eintracht Braunschweig
In January 2012, Bičakčić switched to Eintracht Braunschweig on a contract until June 2013. He made his official debut for the team on 5 February against Eintracht Frankfurt. On 11 March, he scored his first goal for Eintracht Braunschweig against Energie Cottbus.

In January 2013, Bičakčić extended his deal with the side until June 2015.

He was an important piece in Eintracht Braunschweig's promotion to the Bundesliga, which was sealed on 27 April.

TSG Hoffenheim
In May 2014, Bičakčić was transferred to TSG Hoffenheim for an undisclosed fee. He made his competitive debut for the club in a DFB-Pokal tie 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 put pen to paper on a new four-year contract with the team.

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 side on 19 December against Werder Bremen.

Bičakčić signed a new three-year deal 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. Over 19 months after the injury, on 14 May 2022, he returned to the pitch.

In June, he penned a new one-year contract with the squad.

Return to Eintracht Braunschweig
In October 2023, Bičakčić returned to Eintracht Braunschweig on a deal until June 2024. He played his first official game for the outfit since coming back on 27 October against Fortuna Düsseldorf. On 11 November, he scored first goal for Eintracht Braunschweig since his comeback against VfL Osnabrück, which secured the victory for his team.

He made his 100th appearance for the squad against Hannover 96 on 14 April 2024.

In June, he prolonged his contract with the club for an additional season.

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. Earlier 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 the 2014 FIFA World Cup, country's first major competition. He made his tournament debut in the opening group match against Argentina on 15 June.

International

 * Scores and results list Bosnia and Herzegovina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bičakčić goal.