Safet Sušić
Who was Safet Sušić?
Legendary Bosnian midfielder who starred for Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star Belgrade, later coaching the Bosnia national team.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Safet Sušić (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Safet "Pape" Sušić, born on April 13, 1955, in Zavidovići, Bosnia and Herzegovina, was one of Europe's most talented midfielders during the 1970s and 1980s. He started his professional career at FK Sarajevo in Yugoslavia, quickly gaining recognition for his outstanding dribbling and creative play. This caught the eye of European scouts, leading to his move to Paris Saint-Germain in 1982, where he became a legend.
From 1982 to 1991 at PSG, Sušić was the main playmaker and key player in the team's attack, primarily operating as an attacking midfielder. His skill and ability to control the match's tempo made him essential to PSG. Fans and the club's management honored his remarkable contribution, with France Football later naming him PSG’s greatest player and the best foreign player in Ligue 1 history. His partnership with fellow Bosnian Vahid Halilhodžić further boosted his reputation.
Internationally, Sušić played for Yugoslavia in major tournaments, including the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cups and UEFA Euro 1984, showing he could perform at the top international level. After his success in France, he returned to Yugoslav football with Red Star Belgrade, continuing to showcase his playmaking skills before retiring.
After retiring as a player, Sušić moved into management, working with clubs in France, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. His biggest success came with the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team, leading them to their first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification for the 2014 tournament in Brazil. This achievement was a major moment for Bosnian football, underscoring Sušić's impact on the sport in his country. In his coaching career, he showed tactical skill, managing clubs like Cannes, Al Hilal, and several Turkish teams, and winning the 2018 Turkish Super Cup with Akhisarspor.
Before Fame
Sušić grew up in Zavidovići during the time of socialist Yugoslavia, when the country's football system was producing talented players who would later gain international recognition. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Yugoslav football infrastructure focused on technical development and tactical awareness, giving young players like Sušić a solid grounding in the basics of the game.
He developed as a player when Yugoslav clubs were starting to make an impact in European competitions, giving top talents chances to play at higher levels. The domestic league system let promising players from smaller towns move up through youth systems and eventually reach the top, allowing Sušić to hone his skills at FK Sarajevo before catching the eye of international scouts.
Key Achievements
- Named Paris Saint-Germain's greatest player of all time by France Football
- Represented Yugoslavia in two FIFA World Cups (1982, 1990) and UEFA Euro 1984
- Qualified Bosnia and Herzegovina for their first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2014
- Selected as Bosnia and Herzegovina's greatest ever player by the national football association
- Won the 2018 Turkish Super Cup as manager of Akhisarspor
Did You Know?
- 01.France Football named him both Paris Saint-Germain's greatest player of all time and the best foreign player in Ligue 1 history in 2010
- 02.The Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina selected him as the nation's greatest ever player as part of UEFA's Jubilee Awards in 2004
- 03.He earned the nickname 'Pape' during his playing career
- 04.His managerial career spanned clubs in six different countries including France, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 05.He was the first manager to qualify Bosnia and Herzegovina for a FIFA World Cup tournament