Sports · Full coverage
From Poker Tables to the World Cup Bench: Bosnia Coach Sergej Barbarez
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
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First reported by N12 · Jun 12, 2026
What happened
Bosnia and Herzegovina coach Sergej Barbarez is leading the team at its second World Cup finals, after an unusual post-playing career in professional poker. He earned more than $100,000 in official live tournaments, including notable finishes in Las Vegas and WSOP Europe. The article says poker helped shape his coaching style, especially his patience and reading of opponents.
- 01Bosnia and Herzegovina are appearing at only their second World Cup finals.
- 02Coach Sergej Barbarez previously played professional poker after retiring in 2008.
- 03He finished 19th in a 2015 WSOP Las Vegas event and fifth in WSOP Europe in 2017.
- 04His official live poker winnings exceed $100,000.
- 05Barbarez says poker taught him psychology, patience, and decision-making under pressure.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
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