Spotlight Interview with Italy’s Serie A Top Goal scorer — AS Roma’s Edin Dzeko
The goal scoring force on AS Roma is Edin Dzeko — a striker with an amazing future. Dzeko has a deep respect for his teammates, a lifelong passion for the beautiful game and an amazing love for getting the ball in the back of the net.
Soccer News: The top goal scorer in Italy’s Serie A is AS Roma‘s Edin Dzeko.
With a record 29 goals scored with 9 assists, AS Roma‘s Edin Dzeko — according to the BBC — scores a goal every 105 minutes and has played 3,053 minutes. With 52% of his attempts on goal finding the back of the net, Dzeko is revered when he steps on the field as an unstoppable force.
While Alexis Sánchez, Diego Costa, Sergio Agüero and Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have achieved a few more goals so far in their lifetime — Dzeko is quietly making his mark and climbing towards the top of this prestigious who’s who list of top strikers. Though FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, holds the record of scoring 50 goals in one single season — 2011/12 in La Liga — Dzeko is making a major impact in the world of soccer as a goal-scoring machine.
Born in Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1986, Dzeko grew up in a country that was at war and did not play organized soccer until he was 9 years old when his dad signed him up with a club. Dzeko has played in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg, the EPL for Manchester City and since 2015, in Serie A for AS Roma.
This #9 is easy to talk to and — in remarkably fluent English — opened up about his life, goals and the relentless pressure of being a pro — plus Dzeko shared his advice for youth soccer players who want to become professional soccer players.
But what is this scoring machine like? SoccerToday’s Diane Scavuzzo chatted with Dzeko to find out what it takes to be such a prolific goal scorer.
Here is the exclusive SoccerToday interview with Edin Dzeko:
Diane Scavuzzo: Congratulations on being the #1 goal scorer in Italy’s professional soccer league, Series A.
Edin Dzeko: Thank you — this has been one of my best seasons in my career – I have scored so many goals and played good.
Diane Scavuzzo: This was your second year with AS Roma —
Edin Dzeko: Yes, after a difficult first year, this second season was much better. I am very thankful to my teammates and the AS Roma technical staff — without them, nothing would be possible.
Diane Scavuzzo: Why was your first season hard?
Edin Dzeko: My first season was tough — the first season is always hard, the first season in England at Manchester City was hard too.
Maybe I just needed a little longer to get used to the new opponents, my new teammates and the new league — everything is different. Maybe it takes me a little longer than expected – but my second season was worth it.
Diane Scavuzzo: How does it feel to play in Italy?
Edin Dzeko: It feels good, all leagues are different. I have played in Germany and in England, — soccer in Italy is more about tactics. All the teams in Italy’s Serie A are tactically prepared — especially in the back — and that makes it more difficult for a striker like me.
Diane Scavuzzo: How do you rate soccer in Italy?
Edin Dzeko: In terms of the technical aspect, this is the best league in the world. The things I have learned in the last two years, I could never have learned elsewhere.
Diane Scavuzzo: What was your favorite team when you were young?
Edin Dzeko: My first team in Bosnia was Željezničar. This is my hometown team — the place where I grew up and the place I started to play football.
I was just turning 9 – when the war in Bosnia ended — and my father took me to the football club and I started to play. I remember my first training — the pitches were destroyed and we had to start training in the school. I signed my first pro contract in 2003 with Željezničar and then in 2005, I moved to Teplice.
Diane Scavuzzo: What was it like growing up in Bosnia?
Edin Dzeko: It was difficult growing up during the conflict in Bosnia, kids want to go out and play but it was dangerous to go outside —but, in the end, we came out stronger for it.
Everything I am today, I have my past to thank.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your goal?
Edin Dzeko: My goal is always to be better.
My goal is to help my team reach the target – now our goal is to do well in the Champions League, and Serie A is always a priority.
Diane Scavuzzo: How do you deal with the pressure of your success?
Edin Dzeko: The pressure is always there. After my first year — which wasn’t my best year — the second year was full of pressure. If you don’t succeed, then you are down and all eyes are on you. Even after my good second season, there is pressure. You can never be calm and say ok, I will be able to take it easy. Now, the 3rd season is going to start and every year you have to work even more.
You can never relax.
Diane Scavuzzo: What do you love most about soccer?
Edin Dzeko: Playing football is all about goals and for me, to score a goal is something amazing — goals are my life.
Every time I score, it is amazing.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you have a favorite goal?
Edin Dzeko: The goal I remember the most was my first international cap in 2007 vs Turkey — when we beat them 3-2 and it was my first national team goal for Bosnia.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you have a favorite food?
Edin Dzeko: My mother’s chicken is my favorite food. Professional soccer players have to avoid so many foods and drinks — when you are on the top level, it is hard sometimes — sometimes you just want to have a Coke.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who is your favorite player?
Edin Dzeko: Andriy Shevchenko — he played center forward for AC Milan, he was always special and the best.
Diane Scavuzzo: What advice can you share with our readers — for youth soccer players who dream of following in your footsteps and becoming professionals?
Edin Dzeko: My advice is always the same. Whoever thinks it is easy to get somewhere — they are wrong.
You have to work hard always, give up things and believe in yourself.
If you think you have talent, it is not enough.
With talent and hard work, everything is possible.
