Tomislav Piplica


Tomislav Piplica is a Bosnian-Herzegovinian 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.

Club career

Piplica has played in his career for NK Iskra Bugojno, NK Zagreb, NK Istra 1961, HNK Segesta, NK Samobor and FC Energie Cottbus.
He is famous not only as a cult-goalkeeper. but also for well known goalkeeping blunders. 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. 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.
Until the end of 2012, Piplica held the post of sports director of SC Hartenfels Torgau 04 and he also helped as a coach. 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, as their goalkeeper had broken his arm in an accident.

International career

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 has also played internationally for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team between 2001 and 2002, making 9 caps for the nation.

Coaching career

After retiring he was named as scout and goalkeeper coach of his last club FC Energie Cottbus on 24 June 2009. On 12 February 2010, he was additionally named as the new goalkeeper coach of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team. 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.
Besides Bosnia, as a head coach, he coached FC Eilenburg and SC Hartenfels Torgau 04.

Personal life

He holds dual Bosnian-Herzegovinian and Croatian citizenship.

Honours

Player

Iskra Bugojno
Zagreb
Yugoslavia Youth