Safet "Pape" Sušić (born 13 April 1955) is a Bosnian former footballer and current manager of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.[1] In his playing days, he operated as playmaking attacking midfielder. In 2010, he was voted PSG's best player of all time by French sport magazine France Football 's readers.[2]
[edit] Playing career
Sušić began his career with the football club Krivaja in his hometown Zavidovići. In 1973, he was transferred to FK Sarajevo, where he was to become a legendary figure by the late 1970s. During the 1979–80 season, he was top scorer in the Yugoslavian league with 17 goals. In 1979, he was honoured as the best football player in Yugoslavia, also being selected as the best athlete hailing from the republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In 1982, Sušić signed with French outfit of Paris Saint-Germain, where he became a star on the European stage. Hardly ever injured, he performed at a high level well past his 30s. The Yugoslav international was never injured nor suspended, thus allowing him to score 85 goals and make a record 61 assists for PSG between 1982 and 1991. On 22 September 1984, in a 7–1 home drubbing of Bastia, he assisted on five of the side's goals. At 36, Sušić left the capital for a final year with Red Star Saint-Ouen.
During a 13-year span, Sušić appeared 54 times with the Yugoslav national team, netting 21 goals, in spite of the fact that he was always in the role of midfield playmaker. He represented the nation at the 1982 and 1990 World Cups, and at Euro 1984. On 19 June 1990, Sušić opened the score in Yugoslavia's 4–1 World Cup win against the United Arab Emirates, aged 35.
In 2004, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina as their most outstanding player of the past 50 years.[3] "If you were to rank Safet Sušić with the all-time greats, you would have to put him in at least the top 40," German Gerd Müller (one of the greatest goal scorers in history) said.
Footballer Darko Pančev declared:
"It's well known how much I valued and still do value Safet Sušić. For me he's unsurpassable, the best Yugoslavia had. Probably one of the best in the world. I was often known to say that us other players should have to pay to play in the same team as Pape. At least I always talked and thought like that. Pape was a treasure for every forward. His crosses were unbelievable. Sometimes his ball would hit me without me even being aware of it. A wonderful player."[4]
On 5 February 2010, France Football choose Sušić as the best player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain, ahead of players such as Carlos Bianchi, Mustapha Dahleb, Ronaldinho, George Weah, Joël Bats, Raí and Luis Fernández.[5][6]
[edit] Coaching career
Sušić coached Cannes, also in France, where he retired as a player, briefly in 1994–95. Between 1997–1999, he managed İstanbulspor, returning to that country during 2003–04, with Konyaspor, and in the first half of 2006–07, taking charge of Çaykur Rizespor (12 matches).[7]
After he was sacked by Rizespor, another Turkish side, in February 2008,[8] Sušić was hired by Ankaraspor in March.[9]
On 28 December 2009, Sušić was named coach of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team.[10] His debut was a friendly match against Ghana in Sarajevo. Bosnia and Herzegovina won the game 2:1 after goals from Vedad Ibišević and Miralem Pjanić. After only 2 wins in Sušić's 6 first matches in charge of the national team, including an important 2:0 loss to France in the qualification for Euro 2012, Sušić came under a lot of criticism from several journalists and columnists who called for his head.[11][12]
Sušić recorded a 1:1 draw with France during a second game in Paris and ensured Bosnia qualified for their second consecutive qualification play-off birth for EURO 2012 to be played against Portugal in November. [13][14]
As at 11 November 2011, Sušić's Bosnia national football side was on a seven game unbeaten streak run. [15] Safet Sušić will remain as Bosnia's manager through the qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2014.[16]
[edit] Honours (player)
[edit] Individual
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Player of the 20th Century (2004)[17]
- Best Player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain - in the selection of France Football on 5. February 2010[18]
[edit] Personal life
Sead Sušić, a former footballer, is his older brother. His nephew, Tino Sušić, is also a footballer.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Susic, Safet |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
|
| Date of birth |
13 April 1955 |
| Place of birth |
Zavidovići, SFR Yugolslavia |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
