Zrinjski has made a significant impact in Europe this season. Playing in the Conference League group stage for the first time, the team from Mostar finished last in their group, behind AZ Alkmaar, Legia, and Aston Villa, according to Večernji list BiH.
Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t be unexpected for a team valued at only around 10 million euros, playing at such a high level for the first time, especially against opponents valued at 30 million (Legia), 80 million (AZ), and over 500 million euros (Aston Villa). However, Zrinjski managed to draw with the team worth over 500 million euros on their home turf.
Tough competition
The group Zrinjski found itself in looked more like a UEFA Champions League group where Zrinjski was an “outsider.” Earning 4 points in such tough competition after six matches is a remarkable achievement. Zrinjski secured an impressive 666,000 euros with these 4 points. Before that, Zrinjski’s footballers earned 3,651,000 euros just by reaching the group stage. The total earnings from Europe amount to around 4.3 million euros. In addition, ticket sales and TV rights (where the amounts are symbolic but not negligible) should be considered. Nevertheless, Zrinjski must also factor in the high fines they received or will receive for the inappropriate behavior of their fans. This UEFA-imposed amount should be reduced by at least 150,000 euros, but this doesn’t change the fact that the Mostar champion earned a small fortune by Bosnian standards this season. In practical terms, Zrinjski has earned almost two club season budgets in Europe this season.
Although this financial aspect is crucial, Zrinjski has “earned” more in the long run. Zrinjski has gained recognition far beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and there are many other benefits to playing in the group stage. Some time ago, it would have been hard to imagine that a Bundesliga club like Werder would seriously scout Zrinjski’s first-choice goalkeeper, let alone that Zrinjski would now set a million-euro transfer fee for him. Zrinjski has presented itself excellently in Europe through its performances. Except for the away game against Legia, the players from Mostar showed good football in all other matches. Simply put, Zrinjski deserves respect on a much higher level, and in the long run, if all these experiences are deposited in the right way, the club can grow. Unai Emery, a winner of European trophies, spoke respectfully about Zrinjski.
– Zrinjski was a competitive team. I respect all the clubs; they were very motivated in front of their home crowd. We wanted to win the group, and we are happy that we succeeded. Everyone in Mostar was very kind to us; they showed respect to us, and we reciprocate that – said Emery.
After the draw in Mostar, Ville’s coach touched on another important detail. Zrinjski practically determined which teams would advance to the next stage with its performances.
– I don’t know much about the Bosnian league. We scouted Zrinjski; they are currently second in the league. Zrinjski has shown that they have quality and that tactically, especially defensively, they stand very well. They showed that in Birmingham as well. They were motivated in the games against us. I know they are happy with the point. Great respect to them. Zrinjski practically determined the team that will advance to the next stage. They won against AZ Alkmaar here, and now that team probably stayed out of the next phase because of that – added the Spanish coach of the English team.
Excellent atmosphere
Another significant benefit Zrinjski gained from good results this European season is a higher club coefficient. Plemići will have a coefficient of 9500 next season, which is an improvement compared to the previous season. If they win another title this season, Zrinjski will almost certainly be a seeded team in the 1st qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is crucial in some constellations. By passing Urartu this season, Zrinjski paved an easier path to the group stage for themselves, with more opportunities to achieve that goal. This detail can be crucial.
The atmosphere in the Zrinjski camp after another earned point was truly excellent. The players from the Mostar team celebrated the new earned point with their fans for a long time. Fans knew how to appreciate their achievement against the English club. In the end, one fact remains – Tottenham, City, and Arsenal couldn’t beat Aston Villa; these are the opponents in the strongest league in the world who lost to this club, a club that is currently fighting for the title in England. Zrinjski ended this streak of good results. Because of this result alone, and after that epic victory over AZ Alkmaar, Zrinjski deserves great respect from many foreign football enthusiasts, which may be, in the long run, actually the greatest gain for the Mostar club.