Name: Abid Kovačević
Nickname: "Bida"; "Zuti"



Country: Yugoslavia | Bosnia and Herzegovina
Club: FK Borac Banja Luka
Number: 11
Position: ★WF, SS
Side: LF/LS
Age: 22-27 years (01/07/1952)

Height: 178 cm*
Weight: 76 kg*

Attack: 81
Defence: 43
Balance: 77
Stamina: 81
Top Speed: 84
Acceleration: 80
Response: 77
Agility: 83
Dribble Accuracy: 86
Dribble Speed: 83
Short Pass Accuracy: 80
Short Pass Speed: 78
Long Pass Accuracy: 86
Long Pass Speed: 81
Shot Accuracy: 80
Shot Power: 85
Shot Technique: 83
Free Kick Accuracy: 87
Curling: 87
Header: 72
Jump: 74
Technique: 85
Aggression: 82
Mentality: 79
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 81

Injury Tolerance: B
Condition: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 8
Weak Foot Frequency: 8
Consistency: 7
Growth Type: Standard/Lasting


CARDS:
P03 - Trickster
P05 - Mazing Run
P07 - Early Cross
P10 - Incisive Run
S15 - Shoulder Feint Skills
S18 - Turning Skills
S21 - Step On Skills

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Dribbling - Tactical Dribble - Passing - Side

Attack/Defence Awareness: Attack-Minded


INFO:
Blond-haired left winger from Borac Banja Luka, with ideal crosses, a refined technician with a thousand "tricks" who knew how to drive opposing defenders to madness, a player with a strong and accurate shot, a leader and a captain. Played equally well with left and right foot, took all free kicks and set pieces. Very difficult to guard because he could enter the 16m both ways. A great player with a precise shot, good dribbling, the main player and supplier of balls for the robust goalscorer Ibrahimbegovic. A great left winger who had the misfortune to spend most of his career in a club that was fighting for survival in the first league, which is why he did not realize his full playing potential and convinced both the public and the selectors that he is a player for great deeds. Had the misfortune, like many at that time, that he played in Dzajic's place. In many acclaimed polls, among the best wingers in Yugoslavia and along with Husnija Fazlić and Tomislav Knez, the best footballer in the history of the Banja Luka club.

He started his career in FK Borac Banjaluka and even as a junior, his games hinted that Banjaluka, and the country at that time, would get a football wizard. He played in the position of left wing or, according to today's terminology, "offensive left winger". He knew everything with the ball. He played and shot with both his left and right foot, so even to this day, many would not be able to tell whether he was born left-footed or right-footed. Fast, but not a sprinter, he brilliantly passed all his defenders on the left side, who were amazed by his feints and dribbling. The opposing defense panicked from his crosses, and the goalkeepers despaired when he took free kicks in the 20-25m zone from the goal. It didn't matter from which side and with which foot he did it, the nets often shook. With lucid passes, he often threw the entire opposing defense out of the game. A packer and shooter, he was very often the target of rough and dangerous attacks from opposing players. He rarely, almost never, reacted unsportsmanlike to all that. His answer was always dribbling, crossing or passing as if by hand, precise, technically executed shot...Always in a mood to play and outplay, and almost always among the best on the field.

For many years, he refused invitations to move to the big four clubs, but in his mature playing years, he nevertheless went to Dinamo from Zagreb and charmed the fans of the Zagreb Blues with his brilliant games. With a great season in Dinamo in 1980/81 he confirmed his quality and reputation, drew attention to himself, and in 1981 even played a trial match for Inter Milan, to continue his career in the Greek Etnikos. After three seasons of successful playing, he returns to Borac again. He takes over the captain's armband and plays for Banja Luka in the then strong II Federal League. After a year and a half at the match against Greek Etnikos, he says goodbye to his loyal fans and the sports public of the Bosnian Krajina. The icon of Borac, the favorite of Banja Luka, but from the point of view of the rest of Yugoslavia, only one in a series of great footballers, who were in almost every first league club.

He made two appearances for the national team of the former state in 1977, although, for sure, his quality deserved more appearances. He also played for the youth national team of the former country 30 times.

And finally, an anecdote: in 1975 Borac beat Anderlecht 1:0. Rensenbrink approached him after the match and said that he had not seen a better player in a long time. At Euro 1976, Rensenbrink asked at the end of the match with Yugoslavia: "where is that blonde Kovacevic?". When he received a negative answer, he could not be more surprised. "What kind of national team did Yugoslavia have when there was no place for Kovacevic in it.."
In the end of the rematch (Anderlecht won 3:0 at home and eventually won the CWC that year), Anderlecht's president offered him a check to fill out himself...