Just when you thought this past Tuesday couldn’t have gotten any better, Union Omaha upped the ante and gave fans another reason to be excited about the return of soccer in Omaha: the return of Emir Alihodžić.
The Bosnian midfielder was a regular inclusion to the lineup in 2021, amassing 29 appearances with 14 starts. While his presence was valuable in the middle of the field, Alihodžić also showed plenty of qualities while playing in other positions ranging from forward to left midfielder. His flexibility also enabled him to score three goals and support his teammates with four assists. Alihodžić’s growth in 2021 paid off in the playoffs, as he scored a goal and earned an assist in the 6-1 semifinal victory against FC Tucson. With just 24 minutes of play gifted to him, Alihodžić wasted little time in making the most of his opportunity.
It wasn’t just Union Omaha fans that took notice of Alihodžić’s value on the field. His first goal of the 2021 season was a game-winning header in Union Omaha’s 2-1 victory over Forward Madison in Week 9. Days later, the league awarded him a spot on the USL League One Team of the Week. In the next week of play, Alihodžić earned his first assist of the season in the club’s 4-2 victory over New England Revolution II.
With his inclusion to the roster, Alihodžić becomes the eighth member from the 2021 USL League One-winning roster to rejoin the club in 2022. Búhos Nation didn’t have to wait long to see him play again, either. Just hours after the announcement of his return to the club, he started and played 90 minutes in Union Omaha’s first-ever appearance in the US Open Cup, a 2-1 victory over the Des Moines Menace.
In the press release from the club, it was clearly evident that Union Omaha manager Jay Mims was happy with the signing, saying:
“It is great to have Emir returning. Having a player with seven years of professional experience will really help our young team. Emir had some big goals for the club last year, and his versatility will be a huge asset to have this season.”
Alihodžić could hardly contain his excitement, as well. In the same press release, the club included a statement from him saying, “I’m excited to be back in Omaha to continue building our winning culture. Can’t wait to play in front of the best crowd in League One again!”
Emir joins the club just as the Owls return to USL League One action. The Owls kick off their 2022 season against Forward Madison in Madison, Wisconsin on Saturday, April 9th. The match marks the beginning of Union Omaha’s title defense. Before the Owls and Flamingos kick off, Union Omaha will have already learned the details of their next opponent in the third round of the US Open Cup, which performs their draw on Friday, April 8th. Stay tuned to Who Gives A Hoot for all of the latest Union Omaha news and related content. As always…¡Viva Búhos!
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