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Haris Tabakovic talks to SRF about his Hertha adventure, unusual nicknames and advances from the Bosnian national team.
“Only 2 goals in 34 games: GC sells off bad purchase Tabakovic,” was the headline View in the summer of 2017. The Bernese wanted to prove himself with the Zurich team after he never really had a breakthrough at youth club YB. But the experiment failed, the then GC coach Carlos Bernegger no longer planned with the tall striker, who often acted too hectically in front of the goal.
Tabakovic still made his way. Instead of burying his head in the sand, he took the plunge abroad at the age of 23. After stints in Hungary with Debrecen and in Austria with Austria Lustenau and Austria Wien, the move to Hertha Berlin catapulted the now 29-year-old back into a broader spotlight this summer.
Hit the jackpot in Berlin
The Swiss with Bosnian roots immediately gained a foothold in the relegated team from the Bundesliga and earned a regular place. Coach Pal Dardai is not only excited about Tabakovic’s 8 goals in 9 competitive games, but also because of his impeccable work ethic.
“After me, he is one of the first to arrive on site in the morning. “He then goes to the weight room alone and does his program,” said Dardai after his commitment to the team ARD impressed.
“I’ve always been a worker,” says Tabakovic when asked about it to SRF. There was something missing elsewhere, he approached the matter too doggedly, he wanted too much. Today things are completely different; the necessary relaxedness has come with experience. “There are moments when the ball goes in and others when it doesn’t go in.”
I was mainly mentally standing in my way.
The injury-prone knee contributed to the fact that Tabakovic, who was considered a great talent, was not always able to fulfill his potential. He doesn’t want to use this as an excuse. “I was mainly mentally standing in my way.”
Tobacco(ovic) becomes “Fluppe”
Tempi passati. At Hertha, the 1.94 m tall storm tank wants to become an important piece of the puzzle on the way to immediate promotion. His goal is the 1st Bundesliga. «I don’t set any limits for myself. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to achieve anything,” he explains confidently.
I had no contact with Murat Yakin.
Tabakovic has already become a fan favorite with the “Old Lady”. Based on his last name, fans sing of him as “Fluppe”.
“At first I thought: ‘Fluppe’, what is that exactly? But if I played badly, they would hardly give me a nickname. Or it would be someone else,” laughs Tabakovic. In Vienna he was once nicknamed “Jesus” because he scored a hat trick in the derby against Rapid. “That was rather unpleasant for me.”
No call from Yakin
His performances have brought the 15-time Swiss U21 international into the orbit of the national team. However, he recently flirted with a move to Bosnia-Herzegovina. «I can’t say anything about the current status yet. But I’m open to Bosnia.” An exchange is also taking place with the SFV, but national team coach Murat Yakin has not reported. “I had no contact with him.”
One thing is clear, even without a national team: Today, hardly anyone would describe Tabakovic as a “bad purchase”.