‘I become a striker’ – Tarik Muharemović explains what makes Leeds United different

Tarik Muharemović has quickly established himself as an important figure at Leeds United, with the Bosnian defender’s impressive start to life in the Premier League earning him a second consecutive Hero of the Month award.

The 23-year-old claimed the club’s monthly prize for both August and September, underlining the impact he has made since arriving at Elland Road, where his defensive performances and growing influence at set pieces have helped Leeds make a positive start to the 2026/27 campaign.

Having previously experienced football across Austria and Italy, Muharemović has already discovered the demands of English football, but the centre-back has embraced the challenge and believes the Premier League’s intensity suits the way he wants to play.

Speaking to Leeds United’s official website, Muharemović admitted he had initially questioned how quickly he would adapt to the top flight, having heard so much about the difference in quality and tempo.

“When I arrived, I was a bit, in my thoughts, ‘How is the league gonna be? How would I adapt here? Because I know everyone’s talking about the Premier League being a different world in football,” he explained.

“Also, the tempo is high. That’s all true. The tempo is really high, but I mean, thank God I settled in. Still, I’ve just played a few games. It’s just a start. I have to continue like this, even better if I can, till the end, but Premier League is something different.”

The defender’s early performances suggest he has adapted comfortably, with Leeds benefiting from his physical presence, composure and willingness to contribute at both ends of the pitch.

Muharemović has previously played in Austria’s first and second tiers, as well as Italy’s Serie C, Serie B and Serie A, giving him experience of several different footballing environments.

However, he has been particularly impressed by the relentless nature of the Premier League, where opportunities can emerge at any moment.

“You enjoy playing every game,” he said. “There’s not one boring game. Like in every game, something happens. In every game, every 20 seconds there’s a chance. So there’s no rest time, really. You’re running the whole time, pressing the whole time, and obviously with the atmosphere as well. It’s good.”

The difference between English and Italian football has been especially noticeable for the Leeds defender, who explained how his responsibilities have changed since arriving in West Yorkshire.

“In Italy it’s more tactical football. I think there’s more defending than in the Premier League. You can’t compare because it’s two different types of football, and in Italy if you watch the matches back, I was never over halfway, I was never 20 metres away from the opposition goal.

“Here I become a striker, but I like it. It’s the style I love to play and I want to play.”

Muharemović’s growing threat from set pieces

That attacking contribution has already become a valuable part of Muharemović’s game, with the centre-back proving particularly dangerous when Leeds deliver the ball into the penalty area.

Whether it is Ethan Ampadu’s long throws or Anton Stach’s deliveries from set pieces, the Bosnian has developed into a significant aerial threat, offering Daniel Farke’s side another route to goal when matches become difficult to break open.

According to data specialists Gradient Sports, Muharemović ranks third among Premier League players for heading ability, behind Erling Haaland and Thierno Barry.

His six efforts with his head have also highlighted the danger he poses when Leeds get the ball into the box.

The foundations of that strength were laid long before his arrival in English football, with Muharemović crediting his father, Rasim, for helping him develop his aerial ability from a young age.

“I think I learned it from my dad because he was also in the family or with his friends, always the best at heading,” he revealed.

“So every time we trained together, it was him saying, ‘You have to be better with the headers.’ So I used to concentrate more on the headers. It’s important.”

The defender explained that he was often the youngster who would attack corners and compete for headers, even before he began to develop the physical attributes required to make an impact in professional football.

As his career has progressed, he has continued working on the finer details of attacking and defending set pieces, although he believes there is still room for improvement.

“I think there’s still the possibility to be even better, but I’m quite happy right now,” he added.

That ambition should be encouraging for Leeds, particularly given the defender’s age and the immediate impact he has already made.

His aerial ability provides an additional dimension to the side’s attacking play, while his performances at the other end have contributed to an encouraging start defensively.

Elland Road atmosphere leaves Leeds United defender amazed

Muharemović’s development at Leeds has not been limited to his performances on the pitch, with the defender also speaking enthusiastically about the welcome he has received from supporters and the atmosphere at Elland Road.

His family were present for the recent 1-1 draw against Manchester United, when Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored Leeds’ equaliser after Bryan Mbeumo had given the visitors the lead.

Muharemović played a part in the goal, using his aerial presence to help create the opportunity for Calvert-Lewin to bring Leeds level.

The result ultimately left the defender disappointed that his side had been unable to claim all three points, but the occasion itself made a lasting impression.

“Amazing – I think it was the best atmosphere so far that I’ve seen,” he said.

“I’ve obviously played in games that had a lot of atmosphere for Bosnia, but I can’t compare it because this was something really special. I felt the support. I felt how important this game is for the fans and for the whole club. I would just say I’m sad that we didn’t get all three points.”

The experience was equally memorable for his family, who have embraced life at Leeds since his arrival.

His father has become a familiar face among the travelling support, following the defender to away matches and making the most of the opportunity to watch his son compete in the Premier League.

“My dad loves it, he comes to every game, every away game. I know the away fans saw him at Forest,” Muharemović explained.

“In Italy he also went to all the home games and some of the away games, but I think this year he said he can’t miss any of the Premier League games. He’s really enjoying it, and he also knows that Premier League is the best league in the world.”

The defender also revealed that the conversation with Calvert-Lewin before the corner that led to Leeds’ equaliser was not quite what supporters might have expected.

Rather than discussing a rehearsed set-piece routine, the striker had asked Muharemović to look up when he had possession and attempt a longer pass towards him.

However, when the opportunity arose, Stach was already preparing to deliver the corner.

“He said to look up when I have the ball to play a chip ball to him, like a long ball to him,” Muharemović said. “Then I saw Anton is already taking the corner, so I had to go.”

Leeds United’s defensive unit helping Muharemović settle

Another important factor behind Muharemović’s strong start has been the defensive unit around him, with the centre-back quick to praise his team-mates for helping him settle into life at Elland Road.

Leeds have benefited from the contributions of several defenders, with Muharemović offering an insight into the qualities that make the group effective.

He described James Justin as “a train” because of his ability to maintain his intensity throughout a match, while praising Nico Elvedi’s intelligence and composure when defending.

Joe Rodon, meanwhile, earned the description “flash” because of his pace and willingness to throw himself into challenges, while Jaka Bijol was compared to “a tank” because of his physical presence.

Those comments illustrate the different attributes within Leeds’ defensive options, with Muharemović himself providing a combination of aerial dominance, aggression and the ability to contribute when the team pushes forward.

The defender was also keen to acknowledge the welcome he received when he first joined the squad during pre-season in the United States, singling out captain Ethan Ampadu for making an immediate effort to help him feel at home.

“When I arrived in America and saw all the players, the first who came up to me was Ethan Ampadu. He came straight to me to welcome me, tell me who the boys are and wish me good luck,” he said.

Muharemović added that he found it difficult to single out only one or two team-mates because so many players had taken the time to speak to him and make the transition easier.

His own personality has also helped him integrate, with the defender revealing that he enjoys bringing energy to the dressing room and making his team-mates laugh.

His initiation song, a German rap performed in front of the squad and shared on Stach’s YouTube channel, offered an early glimpse of that character.

“I mean, to sing songs in front of the whole team is not the best thing, to be honest, for a player. But I’m a guy who loves it, who loves to make some atmosphere, to make some jokes,” he said.

“So I felt it was again a nice moment and the perfect moment to make the whole team laugh.”

With five languages at his disposal - Bosnian, German, English, Italian and Slovenian - Muharemović has plenty of ways to communicate with those around him, although he admits he is generally more vocal on the pitch than inside the dressing room.

His performances, however, have already done much of the talking.

At just 23, the Bosnian has considerable scope to develop further, but his consecutive Hero of the Month awards demonstrate how quickly he has won over the Leeds fanbase.

His defensive contribution, aerial threat and enthusiasm for the club’s style of football have made him an increasingly influential presence.

There is still plenty of the season to play, and Muharemović himself has stressed that his Premier League career is only just beginning.

Nevertheless, his early performances have provided Leeds with plenty of reasons to be optimistic about what he can achieve in West Yorkshire.