Bosnian football manager (born 1969)
Tomislav Piplica (born 5 April 1969) is a Bosnian football manager who formerly played as goalkeeper. His nickname is "Pipi" and he is considered to be a cult-goalkeeper, in Germany as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1]
Playing career
Club
Piplica has played in his career for NK Iskra Bugojno, NK Zagreb, NK Istra 1961, HNK Segesta, NK Samobor and FC Energie Cottbus.[1][2]
He is famous not only as a cult-goalkeeper.[1] but also for well known goalkeeping blunders.[3] He is especially well remembered for his own goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2002, in which he appeared to head the ball into his own net, after standing rooted to his line.[4] In this particular game Energie Cottbus was leading 3–2, but with four minutes to go, Piplica's howler leveled the game at 3–3, and it finished that way.
Nevertheless, Piplica has a cult status with Energie fans, who nicknamed him "Pipi", and for the club president Ulrich Lepsch who claims that he was always special with special status in Cottbus.[1]
Until the end of 2012, Piplica held the post of sports director of SC Hartenfels Torgau 04 and he also helped as a coach.[5] On 9 November 2012, Piplica announced at the age of 43 years his playing comeback as a goalkeeper in the sixth division side FC Eilenburg,[6] as their goalkeeper had broken his arm in an accident.
International
As a teenager Piplica was part of the Yugoslavian squad that won the 1987 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. However, as a backup goalkeeper to Dragoje Leković, he didn't get a single minute of action throughout the six matches.
Piplica made his senior debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina in a March 2001 World Cup qualification match against Austria in Sarajevo and has earned a total of 8 caps. His final international was an August 2002 friendly match against Serbia and Montenegro.[7]
Coaching career
After retiring he was named as scout and goalkeeper coach of his last club FC Energie Cottbus on 24 June 2009.[8] On 12 February 2010, he was additionally named as the new goalkeeper coach of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.[9] On 15 October 2013, Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for FIFA World Cup 2014.
On 5 January 2010, Piplica received his UEFA Pro Licence in Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina's educational facility in Jablanica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.[10]
Besides Bosnia, as a head coach, he coached FC Eilenburg, SC Hartenfels Torgau 04, FSV Wacker 90 Nordhausen as well as the reservers of SpVgg Bayreuth.[11] In February 2024, he became caretaker manager of 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig.[12]
Personal life
He holds dual Bosnian and Croatian citizenship. His son Zak Paulo Piplica is footballer and plays for 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig.[13]
Honours
Player
Iskra Bugojno
Zagreb
Yugoslavia Youth
References
External links