After one season with the youth team, Kolašinac was promoted to the second team, Schalke 04 II, in one of the German lower leagues, Regionalliga West. After scoring two goals in seven matches, he was promoted to the first team. On 15 September 2012, he made his Bundesliga debut in a 2–0 win over Greuther Fürth. In December 2012, he played in his first game in European competitions, a 1–1 draw against Montpellier, in the UEFA Champions League. In June 2013 Kolašinac extended his contract with Schalke to June 2017, but at the beginning of the following season Kolašinac tore the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee and was out for approximately six months. He scored his first goal for Schalke 04 on 13 December 2015, in a 1–1 draw against FC Augsburg. In May 2017, Kolašinac made the decision not to renew his contract with Schalke 04, thus ending his six-year spell at German club. At the end of the 2016–17 season, he was voted in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.
Arsenal
On 6 June 2017, Premier League club Arsenal confirmed the signing of Kolašinac on a free transfer, pending the "completion of all regulatory processes." Kolašinac scored on his debut against Chelsea in the 2017 FA Community Shield, which Arsenal won on penalties. He made his Premier League debut on the opening day, providing an assist in a 4–3 win over Leicester City. For his performances in August, he was voted as Arsenal's Player of the Month, earning more than half of the votes. On 14 September, Kolašinac scored on his UEFA Europa League debut against 1. FC Köln, which Arsenal won 3–1. He scored his first goal in the Premier League on 28 October against Swansea City, and also provided an assist for his team's other goal in a 2–1 victory. Kolašinac was once again voted as Arsenal's Player of the Month, in October, earning half of the votes.
International career
Kolašinac has German nationality. After playing on various youth levels for Germany, he switched allegiance to his parents' homeland Bosnia and Herzegovina and received a call-up for the country's senior national team in 2013. Kolašinac's father stated in an interview that Kolašinac always intended to opt for the Bosnian national team. On 18 November 2013, Kolašinac made his debut for Bosnia in a 2–0 friendly loss against Argentina. He was named in Bosnia's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In the third minute of the team's opening group match, Kolašinac scored an unfortunate own goal, the fastest in World Cup history, as Argentina ran out 2–1 winners at the Maracanã Stadium.
Style of play
Kolašinac is regarded as a versatile defender who can slot into all defensive positions as needed. At Schalke 04 II he was deployed mostly as a centre back or defensive midfielder. Schalke 04 head coachJens Keller used Kolašinac mainly as a left back, a position in which Kolašinac has distinguished himself. Physically strong and tactically clever, he consistently wins one-on-one duels against his opponents.
Personal life
Kolašinac was born in Karlsruhe, in Germany, to Bosniak parents. He attended the Gesamtschule Berger Feld. His father, Faik, who works at a Mercedes-Benz factory, was born in Nikšić, Montenegro, to parents from Plav. The family moved to Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in 1969, where Faik met his wife. Kolašinac and his family practice Islam. As well as having a German passport, Kolašinac was given a Bosnian passport in 2013 so that he could play for the Bosnian national team. Kolašinac is often referred to by fans as "The Destroyer", "The Tank", or "The Bosnian Hulk", due to his robust, muscular frame and aggressive playing style. In July 2019 Kolašinac and Arsenal teammate Mesut Özil were the victims of an attempted carjacking.
