My name is Zećira Mušović, and I am 29 years old. Persistence and a strong will have always come naturally to me. When my purpose is clear, I know I will achieve the outcome I desire. For that, I have my family - and their journey - to thank.
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My parents fled the Yugoslavian war in the 1990s with my three siblings: one brother and two sisters. After a long and difficult journey, they arrived in Sweden, a country that welcomed them with open arms. Although they left everything behind, Sweden offered them what they had longed for: safety, stability, and a future full of opportunity rather than fear. My parents had a clear purpose - to secure a better life for their children - and today, they are a well-integrated part of Swedish society.
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A few years after their arrival in Sweden, I was born - largely thanks to my brother, who insisted he wanted a younger sibling to play soccer with. He got what he wished for, though in a female version. My brother became my biggest role model. I started chasing the ball because of him, pursued a bachelor’s degree in Economics just like him, and to this day, the similarities between us are striking. He has also been one of the few people who always supported my love for football, never seeing it as a passing phase or a hobby unfit for a girl.
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Growing up, I faced a lot of resistance when it came to playing football and dreaming big. Many around me questioned my passion and often asked when I would quit and choose something “more appropriate” for a girl. But every summer, when we returned to Bosnia, the first thing I packed was always my football boots. I played with the boys - not because I wanted to prove something, but because I genuinely loved it. And when I truly want something, nothing can stop me.
”To me, it is not how good I am, it is how hard I am willing to work to become the best.”
The older I get, the clearer my purpose becomes as a professional athlete. I want to inspire the next generation and lead the way - showing them that anything is possible if you truly believe in it. I've never been one to sit in the passenger seat. I want to be a force for positive change, to create opportunities for others, and to take the lead in the areas I’m passionate about.
My career has given me the chance to be a role model and a platform that people pay attention to - something I never take for granted. I’m deeply grateful for it, and that’s exactly why I feel a strong responsibility to use it wisely - to stand up for what I believe in and fight for meaningful change.
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After eight successful seasons with, then, Sweden’s top team, FC Rosengård, I took the next step to one of the best clubs in the world: Chelsea FC. Now, almost five years later I'm back in Malmo, but this time in Malmo FF. Over the past eight years, I’ve also proudly represented the Swedish national team. But I haven’t reached my final destination as a goalkeeper nor a person. I know it will take hard work, relentless dedication, and resilience to reach the very top.
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My goal is crystal clear, and I believe wholeheartedly that my efforts will lead me there.
I want to be number one - to live up to the number on the back of my jersey.
