Igor Bià ¡ÃÂan (; born 4 May 1978) is a Croatian professional football manager and former player who last coached Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli. In his playing career, he was a versatile player and could play almost every position in defence or midfield, but featured mostly as a central midfielder, or as a central defender in his latter years.
Bià ¡ÃÂan played for his hometown club Dinamo Zagreb, English club Liverpool, with whom he won a Champions League winners medal, Greek club Panathinaikos, and represented the Croatia national team internationally, debuting in UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying match against North Macedonia on 13 June 1999.
At the start of his career, Bià ¡ÃÂan began to amass an impressive level of playing experience, representing Croatia at youth football level and then captaining his club, Dinamo Zagreb, in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup. He was part of what is considered the most successful era of Dinamo in the Prva HNL, winning two consecutive league titles in 1999 and 2000 and participating in two consecutive group stages of Champions League (Group A, 1998âÂÂ99 and Group D, 1999âÂÂ2000). During his four seasons in Croatia, Bià ¡ÃÂan scored 11 goals in 84 appearances in domestic leagues, which brought attention of foreign clubs to the promising midfielder.
On 8 December 2000, Bià ¡ÃÂan contract was bought-out by Liverpool for ã5.5 million at the behest of its manager, Gérard Houllier, having been sought by Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax and Milan. His debut came in a Premier League match against Ipswich Town, which Liverpool lost 1âÂÂ0, with Bià ¡ÃÂan coming off the bench to replace Christian Ziege in 71st minute. One week later, he played full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford, with Liverpool breaking 3,240 minutes of United's undefeated run at their home ground by defeating them 1âÂÂ0. He made an impressive start to his Liverpool career, briefly displacing Dietmar Hamann from the starting 11 as the defensive midfielder. He made 21 appearances by the end of the 2000âÂÂ01 season, 15 of which he started and six of which he came off the substitutes' bench in. He scored his first goal for Liverpool on 14 January 2001, converting in the 18th minute of the 2000âÂÂ01 League Cup match against Crystal Palace in a 5âÂÂ0 victory. Unfortunately for Bià ¡ÃÂan, he was cupâÂÂtied and therefore ineligible to play for Liverpool in their UEFA Cup-winning season.
Although Bià ¡ÃÂan was originally signed as a central midfielder, Gérard Houllier felt he was more useful as centre back and often played Bià ¡ÃÂan out of his natural position, sometimes even as a winger or full back. Bià ¡ÃÂan fell out of favour after his first year at Liverpool, making only 23 appearances in the next two seasons. During this time, he made few starts and spent a total of 37 matches on the bench without being used as a substitute. A major injury crisis of the team in 2003âÂÂ04 season gave Bià ¡ÃÂan a comeback chance, and by the start of the new Premier League season, he had returned into the starting 11, featuring regularly as a centre-back in the absences of Stéphane Henchoz and Jamie Carragher. By the end of the season, Bià ¡ÃÂan featured in 39 matches, 30 of which he played the entire 90 minutes. He was sent-off in 36th minute of Liverpool's UEFA Cup second leg match against Marseille, which turned things around for Liverpool as they were eliminated from the competition, after which he struggled to regain his place.
In the 2004âÂÂ05 season, Bià ¡ÃÂan returned to a central midfield role and played a vital part in Liverpool's run to the finals of the UEFA Champions League and was notable particularly for his marauding runs from midfield during matches against Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea. He was an unused substitute against Milan in the final. His last official match for the Reds was on 15 May 2005 in a Premier League clash against Aston Villa. During his last season Bià ¡ÃÂan scored two more goals (against Fulham and Bolton Wanderers) and made a total of 35 appearances. Although Bià ¡ÃÂan failed to live up to expectations, he is fondly remembered by Liverpool fans after his impressive final year at the club.
As a Liverpool player, he also made a cameo appearance in the film Goal!, scoring a header in the final match of the film when Liverpool were playing Newcastle United.
Following the termination of his contract with the Reds, on 15 June 2005, Bià ¡ÃÂan signed for major Greek club Panathinaikos. During his two years in Athens, he made 36 appearances and scored 3 goals. Bià ¡ÃÂan had a major decline in his game, disappointing both fans and the club owners. On 1 June 2007, Bià ¡ÃÂan's contract expired and the club showed no interest in renewing his contract, making him a free agent again.
Bià ¡ÃÂan spent the next six months resting from football and mostly avoiding the high public interest shown in him. During this time, he was regularly approached by Dinamo Zagreb director Zdravko MamiÃÂ, who was interested in bringing Bià ¡ÃÂan back to his home club. After months of negotiations, Bià ¡ÃÂan finally signed contract on 3 December 2007. Although he was criticized for his lacking performances by the fans, Bià ¡ÃÂan rose to become the captain of the club after the departure of Luka Modriàto Tottenham Hotspur. Following his return, Dinamo played for two consecutive seasons in UEFA Cup group stages, also winning two domestic league titles and two Croatian Cup titles.
On 19 April 2011, it was announced by unconfirmed reports that Bià ¡ÃÂan has been scheduled for an operation on a joint that could spell the end of his career. Luckily, Bià ¡ÃÂan opted to continue playing football and end his career at Dinamo. In April 2012, he terminated his contract with the club.
Bià ¡ÃÂan's debut appearance for the Croatia national team came on a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying match against Macedonia in Skopje on 5 June 1999. He scored his first and only international goal against Mexico on 16 June 1999. He also collected yellow cards on three occasions. Eleven out of fifteen Croatia's matches Bià ¡ÃÂan featured in finished in a draw. His last official match was against Scotland on 1 September 2001.
After leaving the national team camp in 2003, Bià ¡ÃÂan was suspended by Croatian Football Federation and refused to play for the national team ever since. He also represented Croatia at under-21 level and was capped in the Croatia B team on one occasion.
Bià ¡ÃÂan started his managerial career as an assistant coach at second-tier Druga HNL club Rudeà ¡ in 2016. Soon he was named head coach of the club, winning the 2016âÂÂ17 Druga HNL title.
One month later, Bià ¡ÃÂan signed with Slovenian PrvaLiga club Olimpija Ljubljana to be their head coach. In his inaugural season at Olimpija, he won the Slovenian PrvaLiga title and the Slovenian Cup, but in June 2018 club president, Milan MandariÃÂ, unexpectedly sacked him.
On 9 October 2018, Bià ¡ÃÂan was named head coach of first-tier Prva HNL club Rijeka.
Immediately after coming to the club, Bià ¡ÃÂan faced criticism by the club's supporters, Armada, because of his former acts as a player of Dinamo Zagreb. He debuted at Rijeka bench in a 2âÂÂ1 away win against Inter Zapreà ¡iàon 10 October. After a slew of good results, Bià ¡ÃÂan ended the 2018âÂÂ19 season in the second place in the championship, and won the Croatian Cup defeating Dinamo 3âÂÂ1 in the final.
On 13 July 2019, he lost the Super Cup game 1âÂÂ0 to Dinamo. In August the same year, Bià ¡ÃÂan led the team to two victories in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League over Scottish side Aberdeen. He later failed to take the club to the group stage, losing to Gent 3âÂÂ2 on aggregate in the play-offs.
Bià ¡ÃÂan resigned from his position as Rijeka head coach on 22 September 2019, after a 3âÂÂ0 win against Istra 1961.
After Croatia U21 lost a Euro 2021 qualifier 2âÂÂ1 against Scotland, head coach Nenad GraÃÂan resigned on 11 September 2019 and was succeeded by Bià ¡ÃÂan on 1 October. Bià ¡ÃÂan made his debut in a friendly 4âÂÂ1 victory over Hungary on 11 October.
On 14 October, Croatia broke the record for their biggest victory in history, beating San Marino 7âÂÂ0 in Serravalle. On 18 November, Croatia compromised their qualification for the Euro 2021 after losing another qualifier, this time 2âÂÂ1 against the Czech Republic. In August 2020, Bià ¡ÃÂan tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to lead the team to a 5âÂÂ0 victory over Greece from isolation. However, after drawing 0âÂÂ0 with the Czech Republic four days later, on 7 September, Croatia were forced to win all their remaining games to have a chance to qualify directly. On 8 October, Croatia once again broke the record for their biggest victory in history, beating San Marino 10âÂÂ0 in Zagreb. On 12 November, Croatia failed to win their crucial qualifier against Scotland away, drawing 2âÂÂ2. However, thanks to a high 7âÂÂ0 win over Lithuania and Scotland losing to Greece away on 17 November, Croatia secured the second place in their qualifying group. Subsequently, they qualified for the tournament as one of five best ranked second-placed teams. Upon qualification, Bià ¡ÃÂan received widespread national praise for his approach and utilization of the qualities of the national team, which had turned into a synonym for failure in Croatian football throughout the years.
Bià ¡ÃÂan named his 23-man squad for the group stage of the tournament on 9 March 2021. However, during the month, several important players were ruled out, mostly due to injuries, such as Josip Brekalo, Boà ¡ko à  utalo, Joà ¡ko Gvardiol, Luka SuÃÂiàand Borna Sosa. After the opening match, the 1âÂÂ0 loss to Portugal on 25 March, Bià ¡ÃÂan was criticized for his catenaccio tactics that were deemed uncharacteristic for Croatian football, which is best known for its midfielders. Three days later, Bià ¡ÃÂan led Croatia to their first ever victory at the European Under-21 Championships, beating Switzerland 3âÂÂ2. However, despite losing 2âÂÂ1 to England in the final group game on 31 March, Croatia qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time in their history due to a better goal difference. In the quarter-final against reigning champions Spain on 31 May, Croatia lost 2âÂÂ1 after extra time.
On 6 April 2023, a day after à  ibenik unexpectedly eliminated Dinamo Zagreb in the semi-finals of the national cup, Dinamo parted ways with head coach Ante ÃÂaÃÂiàand appointed Bià ¡ÃÂan as the new head coach. He was sacked on 21 August of the same year after Dinamo were eliminated by AEK Athens in the third qualifying round of the 2023âÂÂ24 UEFA Champions League season.
On 18 October 2023, Bià ¡ÃÂan was appointed as manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab. He was sacked on 27 December 2023 after a 1âÂÂ0 defeat to Al-Okhdood.
On 7 June 2024, Bià ¡ÃÂan was appointed as manager of Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli SC (Doha). He was named coach of the month twice in a row (August and September).
In 2007, Bià ¡ÃÂan married his wife, Marija, whom he started dating three years earlier. The couple have four daughters: Nina Marija, Bruna, Lena, and Borna.
Samobor
Dinamo Zagreb
Liverpool
Rudeà ¡
Olimpija Ljubljana
Rijeka
Dinamo Zagreb