Edin Dzeko’s emotional farewell: Bilino Polje honoured Bosnia’s legendary captain

After the final whistle, a spectacular drone show lit up the sky above the stadium. The drones displayed the messages “73 goals”, “152 appearances” and “Thank you, Captain”, while also forming an image of Dzeko.

The Bosnia players and coaching staff then lined up to give their captain another farewell and thank him for everything he had done for the national team.

The scenes proved too emotional for Dzeko himself. The striker was visibly moved and broke down in tears as supporters repeatedly chanted his name from the stands.

But Dzeko wanted one more memory from his final night in the Bosnia and Herzegovina shirt.

After the guard of honour and the emotional farewell, the captain called his teammates together for a final group selfie. He insisted that the entire team gather around him, creating a photograph that will hold a special place in the memories of the generation that shared his final international moments.

His teammates then lifted Dzeko into the air and tossed him several times as Bilino Polje erupted in applause once again for the legendary number 11.

By then, there was little attempt to hide the emotion. Tears could be seen on the faces of several Bosnia players as they celebrated, for the final time on the pitch, a man who had been their captain, teammate and one of the defining symbols of the national team for so many years.

Dzeko’s final international appearance brought the curtain down on a remarkable career in which he made 152 appearances for Bosnia and Herzegovina and scored 73 goals.

Bilino Polje said goodbye to its captain. It did so with tears, applause and a sky full of his name.