10 things you need to know about Edin Dzeko, plus watch him scoring goals for fun

By Dan Silver in Football Spy

Published 15:10 11/01/11

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Edin Dzeko has completed his switch to Manchester City and says he can't wait to get started.  

But what do we know about the man hailed by Wolfsburg fans as the new Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

1) Edin Dzeko was born on March 17, 1986 in Sarajevo. He and his family had to cope with the Bosnian war rampaging through the country when he was only six. Dzeko recalled: "It was a hard time for everyone in the country. There wasn't much to eat, not really enough for three meals a day. I was very afraid every day. We were always having to hide when shots rang out or bombs fell. You could get shot at any time. I cried a lot in those days. Thank God the war is in the past."

2) Despite now being one of the most highly rated strikers in Europe, he actually began his playing career at local side FK Zeljeznicar as a midfielder.

3) His big break came playing for FK Teplice in the Czech league, where Dzeko finished top scorer for the 2006-07 season with 13 goals from 30 appearances.

4) He moved to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2007 for €4million and made an immediate impact, bagging five goals in 11 games and earning the accolade of best striker in the division at the half-way point of the 2007-08 season.

5) If his first season at Wolfsburg was good, then his second was exceptional. Dzeko formed a lethal understanding with Brazilian hitman Grafite, scoring 26 out of the duo's record-breaking 54 goals and helping his side land their first ever league title. Unsurprisingly Wolfsburg fans consider him something of a hero, as this fan compilation attests:

6) He scored a further 10 goals in domestic and European cup competitions and was rewarded with the 2008-09 German Footballer of the Year award. Dzeko was also nominated for the 2009 Ballon d'Or, although he eventually finished well behind winner Lionel Messi in 13th place.

7) He scored his first Champions League goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford during Wolfsburg's narrow 2-1 defeat in September 2009.

8) He has represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at all levels, but particularly impressed on his senior debut against Turkey in June 2008. Dzeko netted the excellent half-volley you can see at 1.36 in this clip.

9) He has gone on to score 17 times in his 31 international appearances, and although Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup after losing in the play-offs to Portugal, Dzeko still finished the qualifying campaign as joint second top scorer with nine goals - the same number as a certain Wayne Rooney.

10) A prolific goal scorer at all levels, Dzeko has amassed a career total of 93 goals from 209 club games. Here are five of his very best:

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