View source for Vahid Halilhodžić

{{Short description|Bosnian football manager (born 1952)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Vahid Halilhodžić
| image = Algérie - Arménie - 20140531 - Vahid Halilodzic 1 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Halilhodžić as head coach of [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] in 2014
| full_name = Vahid Halilhodžić<ref name="Legion">{{cite journal |date=14 July 2004 |title=Décret du 13 juillet 2004 portant promotion et nomination |trans-title=Decree of 13 July 2004 on promotion and appointment |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000441435 |journal=Official Journal of the French Republic |volume=2004 |issue=162 |id=PREX0407466D |access-date=15 March 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|5|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Jablanica]], [[PR Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Yugoslavia]]
| height = 1.82 m
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1968
| youthclubs1 = [[FK Turbina Jablanica|Turbina Jablanica]]
| youthyears2 = 1968–1971
| youthclubs2 = [[FK Velež Mostar|Velež Mostar]]
| years1 = 1971–1981
| clubs1 = [[FK Velež Mostar|Velež Mostar]]
| caps1 = 207
| goals1 = 103
| years2 = 1971–1972
| clubs2 = → [[NK Neretva|Neretva]] (loan)
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 8
| years3 = 1981–1986
| clubs3 = [[FC Nantes|Nantes]]
| caps3 = 163
| goals3 = 93
| years4 = 1986–1987
| clubs4 = [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
| caps4 = 18
| goals4 = 8
| totalcaps = 406
| totalgoals = 211
| nationalyears1 = 1975–1978
| nationalteam1 = [[Yugoslavia national under-21 football team|Yugoslavia U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 12
| nationalgoals1 = 12
| nationalyears2 = 1976–1985
| nationalteam2 = [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]]
| nationalcaps2 = 15
| nationalgoals2 = 8
| manageryears1 = 1993–1994
| managerclubs1 = [[AS Beauvais Oise|Beauvais]]
| manageryears2 = 1997–1998
| managerclubs2 = [[Raja Casablanca]]
| manageryears3 = 1998–2002
| managerclubs3 = [[Lille OSC|Lille]]
| manageryears4 = 2002–2003
| managerclubs4 = [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]]
| manageryears5 = 2003–2005
| managerclubs5 = [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
| manageryears6 = 2005–2006
| managerclubs6 = [[Trabzonspor]]
| manageryears7 = 2006
| managerclubs7 = [[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]]
| manageryears8 = 2008–2010
| managerclubs8 = [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]]
| manageryears9 = 2010–2011
| managerclubs9 = [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]
| manageryears10 = 2011–2014
| managerclubs10 = [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]]
| manageryears11 = 2014
| managerclubs11 = [[Trabzonspor]]
| manageryears12 = 2015–2018
| managerclubs12 = [[Japan national football team|Japan]]
| manageryears13 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs13 = [[FC Nantes|Nantes]]
| manageryears14 = 2019–2022
| managerclubs14 = [[Morocco national football team|Morocco]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCompetition|Competitor for {{fbu|21|YUG}}}}
{{MedalGold|[[UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship|UEFA U-21 Euro]]|[[1978 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship|1978]]}}
}}
'''Vahid Halilhodžić''' ({{IPA|bs|ʋȃ:xid xǎlilxodʒitɕ}}; born 15 May 1952) is a Bosnian professional [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and former [[Football player|player]]. He is regarded as one of the most controversially successful Bosnian football managers, due to his successful tenure in coaching various national teams yet having problematic relations with his teams and players due to different approaches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportske.ba/ko-su-najtrofejniji-trener-iz-bih/|title=Ko su najtrofejniji treneri iz BiH?|date=1 December 2017|access-date=1 December 2017|language=bs|author=E.K.|website=sportske.ba|archive-date=12 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212221038/https://sportske.ba/ko-su-najtrofejniji-trener-iz-bih/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Regarded as one of the best Yugoslav players, Halilhodžić had successful playing spells with [[FK Velež Mostar|Velež Mostar]] and French clubs [[FC Nantes|Nantes]] and [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] before retiring in 1987. During that time, he earned 15 full international caps for [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] and was part of national squads who won the [[1978 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|1978 European Under-21 Championship]] and played at the [[1982 FIFA World Cup]]. He was top scorer of the [[Ligue 1|French league]] in 1983 and 1985.

In the early 1990s, Halilhodžić turned to coaching and, after a short stint as a sporting director at Velež, permanently moved to France in 1993 after fleeing [[Bosnian War|war-torn Bosnia]] with his family. Since then, he managed a number of teams in French-speaking countries and his achievements include winning the [[1997 CAF Champions League]] with Moroccan side [[Raja CA|Raja Casablanca]], leading French side [[Lille OSC|Lille]] from second level to third place in Ligue 1 in less than three years, winning the [[2003–04 Coupe de France]] with Paris Saint-Germain, and winning the [[Croatian First Football League|Croatian league]] in 2011 with [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]].

Halilhodžić also qualified for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] with [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]] (although he was sacked only months before the final tournament) and the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]] with [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]], with whom he reached the round of 16, Algeria's best result in history. Later, he qualified for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]] with [[Japan national football team|Japan]], but again was fired just prior to the tournament. After a short stint with Nantes in 2018, where he helped avoid relegation to [[Ligue 2]], Halilhodžić became head coach of the [[Morocco national football team|Morocco national team]], whom he qualified for the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022 World Cup]]. Like with Ivory Coast and Japan, he was sacked by the [[Royal Moroccan Football Federation]] in August 2022, after Morocco's poor performance at the [[2021 Africa Cup of Nations]] and his fallout with star player [[Hakim Ziyech]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/morocco-fire-coach-three-months-before-world-cup-kickoff-101660233993821.html | title=Morocco fire coach three months before World Cup kick-off | work=Hindustan Times | date=11 August 2022 }}</ref>

==Playing career==
===Early life and Velež===
Born in [[Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Jablanica]], Halilhodžić started playing football in his early teens at local minnows [[FK Turbina Jablanica|Turbina Jablanica]], as the club's ground was located some 100 metres from his family home.<ref name="bhdan1">{{cite news|url=http://www.bhdani.com/arhiva/258/t25811.shtml|title=Vahid Halilhodžić: Moja životna priča (I)|last=Burić|first=Ahmed|date=24 May 2002|work=[[BH Dani]]|language=bs|access-date=19 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817063909/http://www.bhdani.com/arhiva/258/t25811.shtml|archive-date=17 August 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref> According to his admission, he did not consider becoming a professional footballer at the time and instead chose to continue his formal education, moving to the nearby city of [[Mostar]] at age 14 to study at the local [[Electrical engineering|electrotechnical]] high school, without ever appearing for Turbina in an official match.<ref name="bhdan1"/> Nevertheless, it was in Mostar that he first started taking football seriously as he went on to join [[Yugoslav First League]] side [[FK Velež Mostar|Velež Mostar]] academy at age 16, in part on the insistence of his brother Salem, who at the time played for the club as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]].<ref name="bhdan1"/> Halilhodžić then went on to play there at youth levels for the next two and a half years, and, upon signing a professional contract with the club, was sent on a six-month loan to second-level side [[NK Neretva|Neretva Metković]] to gain some experience.<ref name="bhdan1"/>

Upon his return from loan, he quickly broke into the first-team squad in the [[1972–73 Yugoslav First League|1972–73 season]], forming a successful attacking partnership with [[Dušan Bajević]] and helping Velež finish the season as league runners-up behind [[Red Star Belgrade]]. Halilhodžić then went on to become one of the club's key players throughout the 1970s, appearing in a total of 376 matches and scoring 253 goals for the club (including 207 appearances and 103 goals in the Yugoslav First League) before leaving the country in September 1981 to join French side [[FC Nantes|Nantes]]. Earlier that year, he was instrumental in winning the club's first major silverware, scoring two goals in their 3–2 [[Yugoslav Cup]] final win against [[FK Željezničar Sarajevo|Željezničar]].

===Nantes and PSG===
At Nantes, he struggled in his first year although he quickly became a first-team regular, scoring 7 goals in 28 appearances in the [[1981–82 French Division 1|1981–82 season]]. He also got sent off in the first round of the UEFA Cup vs. Lokeren and received a 4 matches suspension from UEFA. The [[1982–83 French Division 1|following season]], he helped Nantes win their sixth French championship title and was the league's top scorer with 27 goals in 36 appearances. Halilhodžić went on to spend five years at [[Stade de la Beaujoire|La Beaujoire]], appearing in a total of 163 league matches and scoring 92 goals for the club, also becoming league top scorer in the [[1984–85 French Division 1|1984–85 season]] with 28 goals.

In 1986, Halilhodžić decided to return to Mostar so he could spend more time with his father, who in the meantime fell seriously ill.<ref name="bhdan1"/> While negotiating a new contract with Nantes, he intentionally asked for a salary bigger than anything the club could afford so that he could be released and return home.<ref name="bhdan1"/> However, Francis Borelli, chairman of [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]], stepped in and made him a "fantastic offer" to sign a one-year contract, with the intention of bringing Halilhodžić to [[Parc des Princes]] in order to strengthen the team for their upcoming [[1986–87 European Cup]] campaign.<ref name="bhdan1"/>

Halilhodžić accepted the offer and went on to appear for the club in the first 18 games of the [[1986–87 French Division 1|1986–87 season]], scoring eight goals. However, his mother back home died during the season, and it was then that Halilhodžić decided to finally retire from active football.<ref name="bhdan1"/>

==International career==
Halilhodžić was capped 15 times for the [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia national team]], scoring eight goals. After debuting as a full international in June 1976,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=7654|title=Player Database|website=eu-football.info|access-date=2021-03-06}}</ref> he also appeared in a few matches for [[Yugoslavia national under-21 football team|Yugoslavia under-21 team]] in 1978, helping them win the [[1978 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship|1978 European Under-21 Championship]] where he claimed the Golden Player award for the best player in the tournament. Halilhodžić, who was 26 at the time, took advantage of the rule that allowed two players over the age of 21 to participate – hence him and [[Velimir Zajec]] (who had also already debuted for Yugoslavia full squad in 1977) were the two senior players brought in to strengthen the under-21 squad.

Spanning nine years, Halilhodžić's time with the national team was marked by frequently alternating ups and downs, periods of automatic inclusion followed by years-long omissions and frustrating substitute stints.

He made his debut as a substitute at [[UEFA Euro 1976]] under head coach [[Ante Mladinić|Biće Mladinić]] during the third place match versus Holland that Yugoslavia lost 2–3 at [[Zagreb]]'s [[Maksimir Stadium]]. The 23-year-old Halilhodžić came on for [[Slaviša Žungul]].

Over the next couple of years, he recorded two more substitute appearances – first in September 1976 in a friendly against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in [[Rome]] and in November 1977 at home against [[Spain national football team|Spain]] (the infamously violent [[1978 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualifying]] home loss at [[Belgrade]]'s [[Marakana]] that ended Yugoslavia's chances of going to the [[1978 FIFA World Cup|1978 World Cup]]).

===Euro 80 qualifying===
It was not until October 1978 that now 26-year-old Halilhodžić (riding high from his under-21 European championship win) got his first national team start – the opening [[UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying Group 3|Euro 80 qualifying]] clash versus Spain at home in Maksimir. With his first inclusion in the starting lineup by returning coach Mladinić also came his first goal – Yugoslavia was down 0–2 in the first half when Halilhodžić pulled one back in the 44th minute for 1–2, which ended up being the final score as Yugoslavia again lost at home to Spain. With his performance versus Spain, Halilhodžić's stock was somewhat raised and as a result he got to start the next qualifier away at Romania that Yugoslavia also lost, this time 2–3. The second consecutive qualifier loss prompted the end of Biće Mladinić's time as head coach – he got replaced by interim coach [[Dražan Jerković]]. Halilhodžić played the next friendly match under Jerković, scoring a hat-trick against [[Greece national football team|Greece]].

The resumption of Euro 1980 qualifying five months later in April 1979 saw the return of [[Miljan Miljanić]] to the Yugoslav bench as the FA's permanent solution at the head coaching position. Miljanić made major changes to the team he inherited from Mladinić with Halilhodžić one of the many casualties. The changes worked as Yugoslavia won its remaining four qualifiers (including a win away at Spain) as well as its two friendlies versus Italy and Argentina (none of the six matches featured Halilhodžić), but the opening two losses still proved too much to overcome as ''Plavi'' finished a point behind Spain in the group and did not progress to Euro 1980.

===1982 World Cup===
Halilhodžić made two substitute appearances at the [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982 World Cup]]: playing the last 15 minutes of the [[1982 FIFA World Cup Group 5#Spain vs Yugoslavia|controversial group match]] versus Spain as well as the [[1982 FIFA World Cup Group 5#Honduras vs Yugoslavia|entire second half]] against [[Honduras national football team|Honduras]]. For the position of forward at the tournament, Miljanić preferred [[Safet Sušić]], and in his later interviews, Halilhodžić often expressed dismay and disappointment with head coach Miljanić for not giving him a more prominent role in the Yugoslav team at the 1982 World Cup.

On multiple occasions in the 2000s and 2010s, looking back on his playing days, retired-from-playing-football Halilhodžić expressed bitterness over not getting a bigger part in the national team during the 1970s and 1980s, sarcastically citing his surname being "too long for Belgrade scoreboards" as the reason, thus insinuating that [[discrimination against Muslims]] was behind his lack of playing time in the Yugoslavia national team.<ref>[http://www.mondo.rs/s196970/Fudbal/Vahin_rat_i_dalje_traje.html Vahin rat i dalje traje];mondo.rs, 7 February 2011</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Topalbećirević |first=Sabahudin |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFluOTrIusE&t=336s |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514073101/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFluOTrIusE&t=336s |archive-date=14 May 2023 |url-status=bot: unknown |title=Vahid Halilhodžić (timestamp 05:38) |publisher=[[TV1 (Bosnia and Herzegovina)|tv1]] |agency=Treće poluvrijeme |date=17 September 2010 |access-date=14 May 2023 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.vesti-online.com/Sport/Fudbal/115547/Robi-ce-imati-problem-zato-sto-je-Hrvat Halilhodžić: Robi će imati problem zato što je Hrvat];''Press'', 6 February 2011</ref> In a 2023 interview, Halilhodžić claimed that Yugoslav politics had a strong influence on the country's 1982 World Cup squad selection, adding non-specifically that "certain players had to make that team" and that "[[NK Hajduk Split|Hajduk Split]] and [[Red Star Belgrade]] players were privileged" over those from comparatively smaller sides.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.b92.net/sport/fudbal/vesti.php?yyyy=2023&mm=07&dd=05&nav_id=2361024 |title="Zvezda i Hajduk su bili privilegovani" |publisher=[[Arena Sport]] |agency= |date=5 July 2023 |access-date=14 May 2023}}</ref>

==Managerial career==
===Raja Casablanca===
In July 1997, he signed with Moroccan side [[Raja Casablanca]]. In his first season with the club, he won the [[1997 CAF Champions League]] in December 1997, and the 1997–98 [[Botola|Moroccan Championship]] in May 1998. These successes raised his international profile.

===Lille===
[[File:Vahid Halilhodžić saluant les supporters lillois.jpg|thumb|upright|Halilhodžić saluting [[Lille OSC|Lille]] supporters]]

In October 1998, he returned to France to coach [[Lille OSC|Lille]], which at the time was struggling to survive in the [[Ligue 2|French Division 2]]. His first season at the club ended with Lille [[1998–99 French Division 2|finishing fourth]], missing a promotion spot on goal difference. In the [[1999–2000 French Division 2|1999–2000 season]], Halilhodžić's club dominated the competition and finished top of table, 16 points clear of second-placed [[En Avant de Guingamp|Guingamp]], earning promotion to the French [[Ligue 1]].

Lille's strong performances on the pitch continued the following season, and they finished third in the [[2000–01 French Division 1]], only seven points behind champions [[FC Nantes|Nantes]], thus qualifying for the [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League]] for the first time in club's history. The following season, after knocking out [[2001–02 Parma A.C. season|Parma]] in qualifying, Lille finished third in group stage behind [[2001–02 Deportivo de La Coruña season|Deportivo de La Coruña]] and [[2001–02 Manchester United F.C. season|Manchester United]], progressing to the [[2001–02 UEFA Cup]] where they reached the Round of 16 before being knocked out by [[2001–02 Borussia Dortmund season|Borussia Dortmund]] on [[away goals rule|away goals]].

===Rennes===
On 14 October 2002, he was hired by another Ligue 1 club, [[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]], to save them from relegation after the club had picked up only eight points in the opening ten matches of the season under [[Philippe Bergeroo]]. Halilhodžić then managed to take the club to a 15th-place finish in the 20-club league, avoiding relegation zone by two points. After his successes with Lille and Rennes, he started to become one of the most sought after coaches in Europe, and whilst receiving offers from several German and Spanish clubs, he joined Paris Saint-Germain in June 2003.

===Paris Saint-Germain===
During his first season at the helm of PSG, the club experienced one of the greatest and unexpectedly successful seasons in its history by winning the [[2003–04 Coupe de France]] and arriving second in the [[2003–04 Ligue 1]], just three points behind [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]], qualifying for the [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League|2004–05 Champions League]].

Halilhodžić's [[2004–05 Paris Saint-Germain F.C. season|second season at the club]], however, was not a success. From their opening Champions League [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League group stage#Group H|group stage]] [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League group stage#Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea|0–3 home loss versus]] [[2004–05 Chelsea F.C. season|Chelsea]], to their [[2004–05 Ligue 1|French league]] struggles, PSG never succeeded in replicating the winning form of the previous season. Going into the final round of Champions League group stage fixtures in December 2004, Halilhodžić's team still had a chance of advancing as beating [[2004 PFC CSKA Moscow season|CSKA Moscow]] at home would have seen PSG move on to the knockout stage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/story/print/?id=107183|title=After poor start, PSG still has hope|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=6 December 2004|access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref> Even just a draw combined with group leaders Chelsea winning or drawing away at [[2004–05 FC Porto season|Porto]] would have ensured progress while a draw regardless of the other match outcome guaranteed at least a spot in the [[2004–05 UEFA Cup final phase|UEFA Cup]] round of 32. The club, however, suffered a disappointing [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League group stage#Paris Saint-German v CSKA Moscow|1–3 defeat at its home stadium]], courtesy of a [[Sergei Semak]] hat-trick, which meant straight elimination from Europe. It was a bitter loss that even prompted club president Francis Graille to publicly relay his disappointment at the "lack of pride" shown by the squad, though remaining guardedly coy when explicitly asked about Halilhodžić's future at the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/story/print/?id=107429|title=PSG boss wants answers after loss|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=8 December 2004|access-date=29 July 2014}}</ref>

Now with only domestic competition to worry about, PSG began the calendar year 2005 looking to improve its league standing. Sluggish form continued, however, and on 8 February 2005, following a 0–2 defeat at home versus [[2004–05 RC Lens season|Lens]] that saw PSG drop to 12th spot in the [[2004–05 Ligue 1]] table, the club's management decided to sack Halilhodžić.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/story/print/?id=114234|title=Halilhodzic sacked as PSG coach|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|date=8 February 2005|access-date=27 July 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.klix.ba/sport/psg-otpustio-halilhodzica/050209002|title=PSG otpustio Halilhodžića|publisher=sarajevo-x.com|date=9 February 2005|access-date=27 July 2014}}</ref> He was replaced by the coach of the reserves team, [[Laurent Fournier]], under whom the club was knocked out of [[2004–05 Coupe de France]] by [[2004–05 AJ Auxerre season|Auxerre]] in March and eventually finished ninth in the league.

===Trabzonspor===
On 2 October 2005, Halilhodžić was signed by Turkish [[Süper Lig]] side [[Trabzonspor]]. Although he led the club to fourth place in the [[2005–06 Süper Lig]], just behind [[Istanbul]]'s "[[Big Three (Turkey)|Big Three]]", thus qualifying for the [[2006–07 UEFA Cup]], Halilhodžić decided to leave Turkey in June 2006 after just one season with the club.

===Ivory Coast===
[[File:Le Président de la Côte d'Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo et Vahid Halilhodzic, Sol Beni, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, 30.05.'08 (8932).jpg|thumb|Halilhodžić with President of Ivory Coast [[Laurent Gbagbo]] in May 2008]]

In May 2008, Halilhodžić was hired to train the [[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast national team]], captained by [[Didier Drogba]] and including the likes of [[Yaya Touré|Yaya]] and [[Kolo Touré]], [[Salomon Kalou]], [[Emmanuel Eboué]] and the young [[Gervinho]]. In a two-year unbeaten run in African qualifiers, the team qualified for both the [[2010 Africa Cup of Nations]] tournament in Angola and the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] in South Africa. In January 2010 in the [[2010 Africa Cup of Nations#Quarter-finals|quarter-finals]] of the continental championship against [[Algeria national football team|Algeria]], however, the Ivory Coast were eliminated after [[Madjid Bougherra]] scored a 2–2 equaliser in [[injury time]], with [[Hamer Bouazza]] adding Algeria's third goal in the opening minutes of extra time.

The defeat came as a huge disappointment for many Ivorians, for whom the national football team played a central social role and a source of national pride and unity, especially as the country was recovering from the [[First Ivorian Civil War|2002–07 civil war]] and preparing for its first post-war elections [[Ivorian presidential election, 2010|in October that year]]. As a consequence, Halilhodžić was fired on 27 February 2010, less than four months before the 2010 World Cup finals tournament in South Africa.

===Dinamo Zagreb===
Back in Europe, Halilhodžić was announced as the new manager of Croatian champions [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]] on 16 August 2010, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract to take over from club legend [[Velimir Zajec]] who had been fired after the team's [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round|Champions League qualifying]] [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round#Sheriff Tiraspol v Dinamo Zagreb|elimination]] on penalties by the Moldovan side [[FC Sheriff Tiraspol|Sheriff Tiraspol]]. Although failing to qualify for the Champions League, Dinamo still had the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] to compete in, and Halilhodžić was tasked with guiding the club's European campaign while being expected to continue their dominance in the national championship.

Club fans immediately took to Halilhodžić, as [[2010–11 GNK Dinamo Zagreb season|Dinamo]] started playing an attractive and more attacking style of football. At the start of the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League group stage#Group D|Europa League group stage]], on 16 September 2010, exactly one month after signing on, he led Dinamo to a somewhat improbable [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League group stage#Dinamo Zagreb v Villarreal|2–0 victory]] over favoured Spanish side [[2010–11 Villarreal CF season|Villarreal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gol.hr/clanak/hnl/vaha-uoci-gradskog-derbija-tesko-se-vratiti-nakon-emocionalnog-praznjenja.html|title = Vaha brzo 'stao na loptu': Nedjeljna utakmica je zamka}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nk-dinamo.hr/vijest/prikaz/2522/Default.aspx |title=NK Dinamo Zagreb - Vahid Halilhodžić novi trener Dinama! |access-date=16 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818234102/http://www.nk-dinamo.hr/vijest/prikaz/2522/default.aspx |archive-date=18 August 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite some encouraging results early in the competition, Dinamo eventually failed to progress past the group stage, losing the deciding match in December 2010 at home against Greek club [[2010–11 PAOK FC season|PAOK]]. Despite the setback, Halilhodžić stayed on due to support of both the fans and club management.

In the [[2010–11 Croatian First Football League|2010–11 Croatian First League]], the club was a runaway leader without any real competition, managing to clinch the domestic league title months prior to season's end. Simultaneously, issues arose over the renegotiation of terms of Halilhodžić's contract and, on 6 May 2011 two matches short of the end of the season, he abruptly left the club following a vicious shouting incident with Dinamo's president [[Zdravko Mamić]] in the team dressing room at [[Stadion Maksimir|Maksimir]] during half-time of the league match versus [[NK Inter Zaprešić|Inter Zaprešić]].<ref>[http://www.sarajevo-x.com/sport/nogomet/clanak/110507042 "Mamić mi je spomenuo majku, a to ne opraštam"]; sarajevo-x.com, 7 May 2011</ref>

===Algeria===
[[File:Algeria NT training 2013 AFCON.jpg|thumb|[[Algeria national football team|Algeria]] players training with Halilhodžić in January 2013]]

On 22 June 2011, the [[Algerian Football Federation]] announced that Halilhodžić would take over the vacant [[Algeria national football team|Algeria national team]] manager position starting on 1 July.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dzfoot.com/news-9367|title=Vahid Halilhodzic, sélectionneur des Verts|publisher=DZFoot|date=22 June 2011|access-date=27 January 2013|language=fr}}</ref> On 2 July, the deal was made official with Halilhodžić signing a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dzfoot.com/news-9430/faf-halilhodzic-signe-son-contrat-de-selectionneur/|title=Halilhodzic signe son contrat de sélectionneur|author=TO|publisher=DZFoot|date=2 July 2011|access-date=27 January 2013|language=fr|archive-date=14 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214103822/http://www.dzfoot.com/news-9430/faf-halilhodzic-signe-son-contrat-de-selectionneur/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He successfully led Algeria through the [[2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualification]] and in preparation for the finals tournament to be held in January 2013 in South Africa, the team invited [[Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team|Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (Halilhodžić's country of birth) for a friendly match in November 2012. Algeria lost 0–1 in injury time on a rainy night in [[Algiers]].

Despite arriving at the [[2013 Africa Cup of Nations|final tournament]] with plenty of confidence and with the emergence of young stars [[Islam Slimani]] and [[El Arbi Hillel Soudani]], as well as the addition to the squad of talented [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] winger [[Sofiane Feghouli]], Algeria finished bottom of their group, losing their opening two matches to [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]] and [[Togo national football team|Togo]] without scoring a single goal. Although the result was widely regarded as a disappointment, the Algerian Football Federation decided to keep Halilhodžić in charge and allow the team to gain more experience.

Now focusing on the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]] qualifiers, Algeria under Halilhodžić secured a spot at the finals tournament on 19 November 2013 having beaten the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations runners-up [[Burkina Faso national football team|Burkina Faso]] in a two-legged tie on [[away goals rule]] following a 3–3 aggregate score in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF third round#Matches|African qualifying play-offs]]. This was only the fourth time the country qualified for a World Cup in 32 years.

Algeria's performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was a significant surprise as they beat [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] 4–2 and drew with [[Russia national football team|Russia]] 1–1 to progress past the group stage for the first time in the team's history. In the round of 16, ''Les Fennecs'' had to face a very strong [[Germany national football team|Germany]] side. Although Algeria put up a very spirited resistance, they lost the game after a goalless 90 minutes, followed by extra time in which Germany scored twice through [[André Schürrle]] and [[Mesut Özil]], with substitute [[Abdelmoumene Djabou]] pulling back one in the dying moments of the game to make it 1–2. Germany later went on to deliver a [[Brazil v Germany (2014 FIFA World Cup)|historic 7–1 thrashing of hosts Brazil]] and win their fourth [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] title.

Despite the exit, Algeria's performance was the team's biggest success in history and Halilhodžić was frequently praised for his strategic counter-attacking tactics, calm yet motivating influence on the players, and skillful game management. Although he was offered a contract extension after the tournament, on 7 July 2014 he left the team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28189755|title=Halilhodzic quits as Algeria boss|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Japan===
On 7 March 2015, in the wake of Halilhodžić being shortlisted for and eventually—following two November 2014 meetings with the [[Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnian Football Association]] (FSBiH) representatives—rejecting the Bosnia and Herzegovina manager job offer,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://reprezentacija.ba/17201-celnici-fnsbih-uskoro-na-sastanku-sa-vahidom-halilhodzicem |work=Reprezentacija.ba|author=Reprezentacija.ba |title=Čelnici F/NSBIH uskoro na sastanku sa Vahidom Halilhodžićem|date=19 November 2014 |access-date=19 November 2014 |language=bs}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.radiosarajevo.ba/novost/171890/vahid-halilhodzic-za-radiosarajevoba-nazalost-politika-vlada-u-bih-bilo-bi-tesko-raditi |work=Radiosarajevo.ba |author=Radiosarajevo.ba |title=Vahid Halilhodžić za Radiosarajevo.ba: Nažalost, politika vlada u BiH, bilo bi teško raditi |date=19 November 2014 |access-date=19 November 2014 |language=bs |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141122071022/http://radiosarajevo.ba/novost/171890/vahid-halilhodzic-za-radiosarajevoba-nazalost-politika-vlada-u-bih-bilo-bi-tesko-raditi |archive-date=22 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.turkish-football.com/vahid-halilhodzic-rejects-bosnia-job/ |work=Turkish-Football.com|author=Eren Sarigul |title=Vahid Halilhodzic rejects Bosnia job |date=19 November 2014 |access-date=19 November 2014 }}</ref> press reports appeared about Halilhodžić being set to take over as the [[Japan national football team|Japan national team]]'s new manager.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/03/12/japan-confirm-appointment-halilhodzic-head-coach |work=sbs.com.au|author=sbs.com.au |title=Japan confirm appointment of Halilhodzic as head coach|date=12 March 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015 }}</ref> He was officially appointed on 12 March 2015, thus replacing [[Javier Aguirre]] who had been sacked by the [[Japan Football Association]] (JFA) over his involvement in a 2011 match-fixing investigation in Spain.

In June 2016, Halilhodžić's Japan hosted Bosnia and Herzegovina in a [[Kirin Cup Soccer#Kirin Cup Soccer 2016|Kirin Cup]] friendly, losing 1–2. In September 2016, the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|2018 World Cup qualifying]] final round kicked off with six teams including Japan, [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] and [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] fighting for two direct qualifying spots. In their opening match, Japan were unexpectedly beaten 1–2 by the [[United Arab Emirates national football team|UAE]], a contest that featured a controversially disallowed Japanese goal. Nevertheless, the Japanese media raised a number of questions regarding Halilhodžić's squad selection.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/11964935/|title=ハリルホジッチ｢なぜこの選手を選んでしまったのか｣|publisher=[[livedoor]] news|date=2 September 2016}}</ref>

Since then, media criticism of Halilhodžić's strategy and squad selection continued, and would follow him throughout his time at the job. He abandoned the decade-long Japanese traditional playing style of short passes, instead, he emphasized intense fighting for the ball (as he called it in French, "duel") and quick pace football. His most controversial decision was to drop [[Keisuke Honda]] (AC Milan), [[Shinji Kagawa]] (Dortmund) and [[Shinji Okazaki]] (Leicester). Another controversial call was to put [[Hotaru Yamaguchi]], a player in the domestic second division, to his starting lineup.

Finishing the group with 6 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses with 7 conceded goals, Japan's performance was inconsistent, yet it secured crucial victories at critical moments to earn itself the top spot. The two critical moments was first, winning 2–1 against Saudi Arabia in November 2016 to end the first half of the group matches in the first place; second, beating Australia 2–0 in August 2017 to secure top spot and qualified to the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]. It is at these two moments the Japanese media temporarily admitted Halilhodžić is right on his strategy and his selection of squad. Yet they were called into questions once again after Japan's poor performance in the international friendlies in October and November against Haiti, Brazil and Belgium.

In December, Halilhodžić summoned his second and third team to [[2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship|2017 East Asian Cup]]. Half of the team were uncapped. This unconventional inexperienced Japan team lost to South Korea 1–4. The Japanese media saw this as a humiliating defeat.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/760649/japans-eaff-e-1-campaign-leaves-questions-answers/ | title=Fox Sports | work=FOX Sports Asia | date=18 December 2017 | access-date=30 December 2017 | archive-date=30 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115056/http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/760649/japans-eaff-e-1-campaign-leaves-questions-answers/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Without realizing the [[Japan–South Korea football rivalry]], Halilhodžić comments "I was amazed by South Korea's explosiveness of power, technique and control of the game. South Korea dominated us in every way."<ref>{{cite news|title=Vahid Halilhodzic looks to bright side after Japan fails to capture E-1 Football Championship title|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/12/17/soccer/vahid-halilhodzic-looks-bright-side-japan-fails-capture-e-1-football-championship-title/#.Wkgakd-WbnM|publisher=Japan Times|author=McKirdy, Andrew|date=17 December 2017}}</ref> His comments made himself under siege by the Japanese media for weeks.<ref name="Halilhodžić"/> Halilhodžić was dismissed in early April 2018, following friendlies with non-World Cup teams—last minute draw with Mali and 1–2 loss to Ukraine, with former international [[Akira Nishino (footballer)|Akira Nishino]] named the new head coach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Japan coach Halilhodzic still baffled over firing|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/former-japan-coach-halilhodzic-still-baffled-over-firing/2018/04/27/f7be96ca-49fa-11e8-8082-105a446d19b8_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|author=Armstrong, Jim|date=27 April 2018}}</ref> At a news conference, [[Japan Football Association|JFA]] President [[Kozo Tashima]] told reporters that poor results and a lack of "communication and trust with the players" were the reasons for Halilhodžić's dismissal.<ref name="Halilhodžić"/>

Halilhodžić's spiky personality frequently ruffled feathers after arriving in Japan to take over from Javier Aguirre in March 2015, and rumors of his impending dismissal swirled throughout his three-year reign.<ref name="Halilhodžić">{{cite web|last1=McKirdy|first1=Andrew|title=Japan names Akira Nishino to replace Vahid Halilhodzic just two months before World Cup|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/04/09/soccer/international-soccer/vahid-halilhodzic-axed-helm-japan-soccer-team-two-months-world-cup-finals/|website=The Japan Times Online|date=9 April 2018|access-date=26 May 2018|archive-date=26 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526190700/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/04/09/soccer/international-soccer/vahid-halilhodzic-axed-helm-japan-soccer-team-two-months-world-cup-finals/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Vahid Halilhodžić Vs Shinji Okazaki|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92rpXSXn9kQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/92rpXSXn9kQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|date=5 September 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=サッカー日本代表ハリル監督猛抗議！通訳さんをも突き飛ばす！|website = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHuCsRpIz0A |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/UHuCsRpIz0A |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|date=1 September 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Soon after Halilhodžić's dismissal, Japan's midfielder [[Keisuke Honda]], who had had an increasingly fractious relationship with the Bosnian throughout 2017 over the head coach's rigid tactics, came out publicly against the fired coach by saying: "To submit myself to the kind of football Halilhodžić played in order to get picked, that would be shameful for me. I'm proud that I've stayed true to myself".<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Japan coach Halilhodzic still baffled over firing|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20180515-honda-puts-boot-fired-japan-coach-halilhodzic|publisher=[[France 24]]|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]|date=15 May 2018}}</ref> On 24 May 2018, Halilhodžić launched a lawsuit in a Tokyo district court against the JFA president Kozo Tashima, contending he was [[Wrongful dismissal|dismissed wrongfully]]—specifically that Tashima failed to consult the JFA board when deciding to fire Halilhodžić.<ref>{{cite news|title=Soccer-Halilhodzic launches JFA law suit, thinks Japan soccer boss...|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-japan-halilhodzic/soccer-halilhodzic-launches-jfa-law-suit-thinks-japan-soccer-boss-acted-illegally-idUKL5N1SU093|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526163626/https://uk.reuters.com/article/soccer-japan-halilhodzic/soccer-halilhodzic-launches-jfa-law-suit-thinks-japan-soccer-boss-acted-illegally-idUKL5N1SU093|archive-date=26 May 2018|website=uk.reuters.com|date=24 May 2018|last1=Tarrant|first1=Jack}}</ref>

In July 2018, Halilhodžić made a 4-man shortlist for the vacant Egyptian national team manager job alongside [[Quique Sánchez Flores]], [[Jorge Luis Pinto]], and [[Javier Aguirre]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44951260|title=Egypt announces four-man coaching shortlist|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Aguirre ended up getting hired.

===Nantes===
In October 2018, Halilhodžić became the new manager of [[FC Nantes]], a club he had played for as a striker.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/zvanicno-vahid-halilhodzic-novi-trener-nantesa/181001106|title=Zvanično: Vahid Halilhodžić novi trener Nantesa|date=2 October 2018|access-date=2 October 2018|language=bs|author=E.B.|publisher=Klix.ba}}</ref> His first win came on 22 October when Nantes beat [[FC Toulouse|Toulouse]] 4–0 at the [[Stade de la Beaujoire]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sala continues scoring run as Nantes climbs up table |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/sala-continues-scoring-run-as-nantes-climbs-up-table/2018/11/04/81225824-e060-11e8-ba30-a7ded04d8fac_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105012129/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/sala-continues-scoring-run-as-nantes-climbs-up-table/2018/11/04/81225824-e060-11e8-ba30-a7ded04d8fac_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2018 |access-date=4 November 2018 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=4 November 2018}}</ref>

On 5 May 2019, Nantes beat [[Dijon FCO|Dijon]] at home 3–0 and Halilhodžić made a club record, winning five [[Ligue 1]] matches in a row, a venture which was not done in over 18 years in the club. Halilhodžić's Nantes beat [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]], [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]], [[Amiens SC|Amiens]], [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] and at the end Dijon to capture that record.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/halilhodzic-u-nantesu-oborio-rekord/317904|title=Halilhodžić u Nantesu oborio rekord|date=5 May 2019|access-date=8 May 2019|language=bs|author=A. Pašić|publisher=sportsport.ba}}</ref>

On 2 August 2019, Halilhodžić decided to leave Nantes after disagreements with the club's owner and president [[Waldemar Kita]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/zvanicno-vahid-halilhodzic-vise-nije-trener-nantesa/190802116|title=Zvanično: Vahid Halilhodžić više nije trener Nantesa|date=2 August 2019|access-date=2 August 2019|language=bs|author=E.B.|publisher=Klix.ba}}</ref>

===Morocco===
[[File:Vahid Halilhodžić1.jpg|thumb|Halilhodžić with [[Morocco national football team|Morocco]] in 2022]]

In August 2019, it was confirmed that Halilhodžić would take over as the [[Morocco national football team|Morocco national team]]'s new manager. His first win came on 10 September when Morocco beat [[Niger national football team|Niger]] 1–0 at the [[Stade de Marrakech]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://northafricapost.com/32968-morocco-frmf-to-name-former-fennec-manager-as-new-coach-of-atlas-lions.html|title=Morocco: FRMF to name former Fennec manager as new coach of Atlas Lions|website=The North Africa Post|date=2 August 2019}}</ref> On 29 March 2022, Halilhodžić qualified Morocco for the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022 World Cup]], eliminating [[DR Congo national football team|DR Congo]] in the [[2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF third round|CAF Third round qualifiers]].

On 11 August 2022, Halilhodžić was officially sacked by the [[Royal Moroccan Football Federation]] over disagreements with its president on how the team should move forward.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/halilhodzic-cetvrti-put-izborio-plasman-na-mundijal-senegalci-ponovo-rastuzili-salaha/220329192|title=Halilhodžić četvrti put izborio plasman na Mundijal, Senegalci ponovo rastužili Salaha|date=29 March 2022|access-date=29 March 2022|language=bs|author=N.K.|publisher=Klix.ba}}</ref> This marked the third time—the other two being Ivory Coast and Japan—Halilhodžić was sacked before a World Cup tournament after prior successful qualification.

==Personal life==
During the [[Bosnian War]] in 1992, Halilhodžić was wounded in Mostar but recovered within a few months.<ref>{{YouTube|id=3SbZt-XVDkc#t=86}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sarajevo-x.com/sport/nogomet/clanak/100112010 Vahid Halilhodžić u Angoli "Ne bojim se, proživio sam gore u ratu u Mostaru"]</ref><ref name="bhdani.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bhdani.com/arhiva/259/t25904.shtml |title=Vahid Halilhod?i?, moja ?ivotna pri?a (II) |access-date=7 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823063417/http://www.bhdani.com/arhiva/259/t25904.shtml |archive-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> He acquired [[French nationality law|French nationality]] by [[naturalization]] on 13 June 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JORF n° 0138 du 15 juin 1997 - Légifrance |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/1997/06/15/0138 |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=legifrance.gouv.fr |page=9465 |language=fr |format=PDF}}</ref>

When visiting [[Mostar]] with a [[France 3]] crew in 2001, he said:
{{Blockquote|text=It will never be the same as before. It's impossible. There are people with such hatred in their blood{{nbsp}}... I could never imagine this, that people could possibly hate each other in such a way.{{nbsp}}... For years, when I come here I stay for a day or two, and then I leave, because I can't. I become sick. [When I visit] It's 2-3 days, a little bit, to reconcile with myself.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sur les traces de Vahid Halilhodzic | date=20 November 2017 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuLy7tE8AXQ |publisher=[[France 3]] Nord-Pas-de-Calais |access-date=7 December 2022}}</ref>}}

On 23 July 2004, during his tenure as the manager of PSG, Halilhodžić was named a [[Knight of the Legion of Honour]] of the French Republic.<ref name=Chevalier>{{cite web|title=The Legion of Honor for Vahid|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/sports/la-legion-d-honneur-pour-vahid-15-07-2004-2005140621.php|work=Le Parisien|publisher=leparisien.fr-sport|access-date=5 January 2014|date=15 July 2004}}</ref> Halilhodžić is married and has two children. His primary residence is in [[Lille]], where his family lives.

He speaks [[Bosnian language|Bosnian]] and [[French language|French]], the result of spending most of his time in France.

==Career statistics==
===International goals===
:''Scores and results table. Yugoslavia's goal tally first.''
{| class="wikitable collapsible"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1
| 4 October 1978
| [[Stadion Maksimir]], [[Zagreb]], Yugoslavia
| {{fb|Spain}}
| '''1'''–2
| 1–2
| [[UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying Group 3|UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying]]
|-
| 2
| rowspan ="3" | 15 November 1978
| rowspan ="3" | [[Gradski stadion (Ruse)|Gradski Stadion]], [[Skopje]], Yugoslavia
| rowspan ="3" | {{fb|Greece}}
| '''1'''–1
| rowspan ="3" | 4–1
| rowspan ="3" | [[1977-80 Balkan Cup]]
|-
| 3
| '''3'''–1
|-
| 4
| '''4'''–1
|-
| 5
| 25 March 1981
| [[Subotica City Stadium|Gradski Stadion]], [[Subotica]], Yugoslavia
| {{fb|Bulgaria}}
| '''1'''–0
| 2–1
| Friendly
|-
| 6
| 29 April 1981
| [[Stadion Poljud]], [[Split, Croatia|Split]], Yugoslavia
| {{fb|Greece}}
| '''2'''–0
| 5–1
| [[1982 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 5|1982 FIFA World Cup qualification]] 
|-
| 7
| rowspan ="2" | 21 November 1981
| rowspan ="2" | [[Karađorđe Stadium]], [[Novi Sad]], Yugoslavia
| rowspan ="2" | {{fb|Luxembourg}}
| '''1'''–0
| rowspan ="2" | 5–0
| rowspan ="2" | 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification
|-
| 8
| '''2'''–0
|-
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|match played 13 June 2022}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sofascore.com/manager/vahid-halilhodzic/53687|title=Vahid Halilhodžić|access-date=13 June 2022|website=Sofascore}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Nat
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="9"|Record
|-
!G!!W!!D!!L!!Win %
|-
|align=left|[[AS Beauvais Oise|Beauvais]]
|{{flagicon|France}}
|align=left|1 July 1993
|align=left|30 June 1994
{{WDL|44|11|19|14}}
|-
|align=left|[[Raja Casablanca]]
|{{flagicon|Morocco}}
|align=left|1 October 1997
|align=left|30 June 1998
{{WDL|45|28|14|3}}
|-
|align=left|[[Lille OSC|Lille]]
|{{flagicon|France}}
|align=left|1 September 1998
|align=left|30 May 2002
{{WDL|160|80|40|40}}
|-
|align=left|[[Stade Rennais F.C.|Rennes]]
|{{flagicon|France}}
|align=left|14 October 2002
|align=left|30 June 2003
{{WDL|34|13|8|13}}
|-
|align=left|[[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]]
|{{flagicon|France}}
|align=left|1 July 2003
|align=left|8 February 2005
{{WDL|80|37|24|19}}
|-
|align=left|[[Trabzonspor]]
|{{flagicon|Turkiye}}
|align=left|7 October 2005
|align=left|30 May 2006
{{WDL|30|15|5|10}}
|-
|align=left|[[Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]] 
|{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}}
|align=left|5 June 2006
|align=left|1 August 2006
{{WDL|8|5|1|2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Ivory Coast national football team|Ivory Coast]]
|{{flagicon|Ivory Coast}}
|align=left|13 May 2008
|align=left|27 February 2010
{{WDL|22|10|10|2}}
|-
|align=left|[[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]]
|{{flagicon|Croatia}}
|align=left|16 August 2010
|align=left|24 May 2011
{{WDL|32|24|4|4}}
|-
|align=left|[[Algeria national football team|Algeria]]
|{{flagicon|Algeria}}
|align=left|22 June 2011
|align=left|7 July 2014
{{WDL|30|18|5|7}}
|-
|align=left|[[Trabzonspor]]
|{{flagicon|Turkiye}}
|align=left|14 July 2014
|align=left|10 November 2014
{{WDL|12|3|7|2}}
|-
|align=left|[[Japan national football team|Japan]]
|{{flagicon|Japan}}
|align=left|12 March 2015
|align=left|9 April 2018
{{WDL|38|21|9|8}}
|-
|align=left|[[FC Nantes|Nantes]]
|{{flagicon|France}}
|align=left|2 October 2018
|align=left|2 August 2019
{{WDL|37|17|6|14}}
|-
|align=left|[[Morocco national football team|Morocco]]
|{{flagicon|Morocco}}
|align=left|15 August 2019
|align=left|11 August 2022
{{WDL|30|20|7|3}}
|-
!colspan="4"|Career Total
{{WDLtot|602|302|159|141}}
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Velež Mostar''' 
*[[Yugoslav Cup]]: [[1980–81 Yugoslav Cup|1980–81]]

'''Nantes''' 
*[[Ligue 1|Division 1]]: [[1982–83 French Division 1|1982–83]]

'''Yugoslavia U21''' 
*[[UEFA European Under-21 Championship]]: [[1978 UEFA European Under-21 Championship|1978]]

'''Individual'''
*UEFA European Under-21 Championship Golden Player: 1978
*[[Ligue 1]] Foreign Player of the Year: 1984, 1985<ref name="rsssf.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/franpoy.html|title = France - Footballer of the Year}}</ref>

===Manager===
'''Raja Casablanca''' 
*[[CAF Champions League]]: [[1997 CAF Champions League|1997]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wiki.acervolima.com/1997-caf-champions-league/ | title=1997 CAF Champions League – Acervo Lima }}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*[[Botola]]: [[1997–98 Botola|1997–98]]
*[[CAF Super Cup]] runner-up: 1998

'''Lille''' 
*[[Ligue 2|Division 2]]: [[1999–2000 French Division 2|1999–2000]]

'''Paris Saint-Germain''' 
*[[Coupe de France]]: [[2003–04 Coupe de France|2003–04]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match-direct/coupe-de-france/2003-2004/psg-chateauroux-live/59653|title=Résultat et résumé Paris-SG - Châteauroux, Coupe de France, Finale, Samedi 29 Mai 2004 |publisher=lequipe.fr|access-date=26 February 2021 }}</ref>

'''Dinamo Zagreb''' 
*[[Croatian First Football League|1. HNL]]: [[2010–11 Croatian First Football League|2010–11]]

'''Individual'''
*Division 2 Trainer of the Year: 1999<ref name="rsssf.com"/>
*[[France Football#Manager of the year|French Manager of the Year]]: 2001

===Orders===
*[[Knight of the Legion of Honour]]: 2004<ref name="Legion"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://sport.becka-raja.at/legende/vaha.php Vahid Halilhodžić] at sport.becka-raja.at {{in lang|bs}}
*{{Reprezentacija|halilhodzic-vahid}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120525103901/http://www.reprezentacija.rs/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1082&Itemid=12 archive])
*{{FIFA player}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|bg = gold
|list1 =
{{UEFA European Under-21 Championship awards}}
{{Ligue 1 top scorers}}
{{Coupe de France winning managers}}
}} 
{{Navboxes
| title = International tournaments
| list1 = 
{{Yugoslavia squad UEFA Euro 1976}}
{{Yugoslavia squad 1982 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Ivory Coast squad 2010 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Algeria squad 2013 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Algeria squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Morocco squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Raja Casablanca managers}}
{{Lille OSC managers}}
{{Stade Rennais F.C. managers}}
{{Paris Saint-Germain F.C. managers}}
{{Trabzonspor managers}}
{{Al-Ittihad managers}}
{{Ivory Coast national football team managers}}
{{GNK Dinamo Zagreb managers}}
{{Algeria national football team managers}}
{{Japan national football team managers}}
{{FC Nantes managers}}
{{Morocco national football team managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Halilhodzic, Vahid}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Footballers from Herzegovina-Neretva Canton]]
[[Category:Footballers from Mostar]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina Muslims]]
[[Category:Bosniaks of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina men's footballers]]
[[Category:Yugoslav men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:NK Neretva players]]
[[Category:FK Velež Mostar players]]
[[Category:FC Nantes players]]
[[Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC players]]
[[Category:Yugoslav Second League players]]
[[Category:Yugoslav First League players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Yugoslavia men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Yugoslavia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1976 players]]
[[Category:1982 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Yugoslav expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Yugoslav expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of France]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina football managers]]
[[Category:French football managers]]
[[Category:AS Beauvais Oise managers]]
[[Category:Raja CA managers]]
[[Category:Lille OSC managers]]
[[Category:Stade Rennais FC managers]]
[[Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC managers]]
[[Category:Trabzonspor managers]]
[[Category:Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah) managers]]
[[Category:Ivory Coast national football team managers]]
[[Category:GNK Dinamo Zagreb managers]]
[[Category:Algeria national football team managers]]
[[Category:Japan national football team managers]]
[[Category:FC Nantes managers]]
[[Category:Morocco national football team managers]]
[[Category:Botola managers]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 managers]]
[[Category:Süper Lig managers]]
[[Category:Saudi Pro League managers]]
[[Category:Croatian Football League managers]]
[[Category:2010 Africa Cup of Nations managers]]
[[Category:2013 Africa Cup of Nations managers]]
[[Category:2014 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations managers]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:French expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Morocco]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Croatia]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Japan]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina expatriate sportspeople in Algeria]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Morocco]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Croatia]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Japan]]
[[Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Algeria]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Morocco]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Ivory Coast]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Croatia]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Algeria]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Japan]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:20th-century Bosnia and Herzegovina sportsmen]]