Late‑starter Haris “Jesus” Tabaković poised to spark Salzburg’s revival
Spätstarter Haris Jesus Tabaković, the 32‑year‑old Bosnier, has arrived at Red Bull Salzburg for €5 million and is billed as the Schlüssel for the Salzburger Auferstehung, with the club hoping his arrival will steer them back to the Spitze and a possible Meistertitel.
From Lustenau breakthrough to Salzburg
Tabaković’s Durchbruch came at age 27 with Austria Lustenau, where he scored 18 goals in 23 games and then 27 in the promotion season. After that he geigte in the German Bundesliga, proving himself a Schlüssel in the Spiel and earning a reputation that KOLANOVIC described as a special Geschichte for Österreich.
European impact with hat‑trick
Last week he needed only 16 minutes to deliver a Führungstreffer hat‑trick against Pafos, sending Salzburg into the Europa League Play‑off and guaranteeing a European league phase in the autumn. The same goal had almost sent Bosnien‑Herzegowina past the ÖFB‑Elf in the WM‑Qualifikation, a Playoff that Michael Gregoritsch later decided.
Career shaped by humble roots
Born to Bosnier parents who fled in 1994, Tabaković grew up in Switzerland where his father worked as an Allrounder and his mother as a cleaner; Seine and Sein early life taught him that “mental work and hard work count more than talent”. Die lessons learned Im childhood stay with him Für every match Bei training Auf and off the pitch.
As a teenager he completed a banking apprenticeship and played for a local club in Grenchen before joining the youth set‑up of Young Boys Bern, balancing morning work with evening training. After passing his final exam, his father finally said, “Okay, now you can be a footballer”, even though he already had a professional contract.
Tabaković was once a top Swiss U21 talent and later played for Debreceni Vasutas SC, scoring twelve Treffer in twenty Liga matches before a knee injury. He also featured for Diósgyőr SC, where he managed only two goals, and later for Borussia Mönchengladbach, netting thirteen times in the German Bundesliga.
In Germany he earned the nickname “Fluppe” at Hertha BSC, a term that sparked fans lighting cigarettes in the stands whenever he scored. He finished a season as the 2. Bundesliga top scorer with twenty‑two Treffer, before a stint at TSG Hoffenheim and a loan back to Mönchengladbach.
This summer Salzburg paid five million Euro for Tabaković – an untypical investment for the club, which usually focuses on younger talent. Sport director Marcus Mann said the signing is meant to give the young squad the needed Impulse.
Beyond his goal‑scoring, Tabaković brings leadership, the ability to hold up the ball, create space and press aggressively. At 1.96 m he combines aerial strength with technical skill, and his work ethic – giving 130 % rather than 100 % – could be exactly what the Salzburger team has missed.