Edhem Šljivo joined FK Sarajevo as a kid from elementary school, passed through all club's age categories, and made his first senior team debut at the age of 18. He played 424 games for the club in all competitions, counting friendlies. In Yugoslav First League and Yugoslav Cup he played for the club 268 games scoring 37 times. In 1978, he joined Belgian side RFC de Liège, whom he represented for three seasons. He then made a move to the French Ligue 1 and joined OGC Nice. From Nice he moved to 1. FC Köln on personal insistence of Rinus Michels, and after winning German cup he moved back to Liège. There he concluded his career in 1987 after traffic collision on 7. December 1986, in which he was severely injured. Šljivo barely survived a life threatening spinal injuries after 40 days of doctors' struggle to save him.
Šljivo debuted for the Yugoslavia national team on 18 February 1976. He was capped in 12 official games and scored 2 goals, while also featuring in 2 unofficial exhibition-friendlies, 14 games overall. He was first-team regular at play-making midfielder position under Miljan Miljanić, and featured in the same role in 1982 World Cup in Spain.
National team statistic
Life and legacy
Šljivo lives and works in Liege, Belgium, where he opened a restaurant "Taverne 8", in reference to a number he used to wear on his shirt as a midfielder. The place is a popular meeting place for :Category:Yugoslav expatriate footballers|Yugoslav expatriate footballers in Belgium and surroundings countries.
Challenge Šljivo Tournament
The Indoor tournament, largest of its kind in Europe, carrying his name, "Challenge Šljivo", with seniors Futsal competition as a main event, is organized in his honor in Marche-en-Famenne, during pre-New Year Eve week for over three decades. Tournament comprises several competitions in Indoor varieties of Association football, for all categories and age. It takes place at Wallonie Expo S.A. venue, in Marche-en-Famenne, on eight pitches. Qualifying rounds of the competitions including more than 400 teams and 5.000 football players, while games are followed up to 40.000 spectators in attendance. In final round 72 qualified teams take part. Tournament is very popular, with final game being in live broadcast in Belgium by public TV service.
