Safet Sušić

Bosnian midfield maestro and PSG legend who led his nation to their first World Cup.

Safet "Pape" Sušić (born 13 April 1955) is a Bosnian former professional football manager and player. A gifted midfielder known for his dribbling skills and technical ability, he is strongly reputed to have been one of the finest European players of his generation. Sušić played for Yugoslavia in two FIFA World Cups, 1982 and 1990, and at UEFA Euro 1984. As a manager, he notably qualified the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Quick Facts

Born: 13 April 1955
Birthplace: Zavidovići, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia
Height: 1.74 m / 5 ft 9 in
Position: Attacking midfielder, Second striker
Total caps: 525
Total goals: 155

Lore & Background

Sušić played as an attacking midfielder, often in a role of trequartista or fantasista and rarely as a second striker for Sarajevo, Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star, and internationally for Yugoslavia. Later during his career, he was utilized more in a role of a deep-lying playmaker. In 2010, France Football voted Sušić as Paris Saint-Germain's best player of all time and the best foreign player of Ligue 1 of all time. As part of the UEFA Jubilee Awards in 2004, the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina chose Sušić as the nation's greatest ever player. He scored his only World Cup goal in the team's 4–1 win against the United Arab Emirates during the group stage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Reader's Guide

Sušić made his senior debut for Sarajevo in 1973. During the 1979–80 season, he was the top scorer in the Yugoslav First League with 17 goals. In December 1982, he joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he helped PSG win the 1982–83 Coupe de France and the 1985–86 Ligue 1 title. He scored 85 goals and made a record 95 assists for PSG between 1982 and 1991. He is fifth in the club's all-time appearance list with 344 appearances. After his playing career, he managed clubs including Cannes, İstanbulspor, Al Hilal, Konyaspor, Ankaragücü, Çaykur Rizespor, Ankaraspor, Évian, Alanyaspor, Akhisarspor and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. He led Bosnia and Herzegovina to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, their first major tournament as an independent nation.

Did You Know?

Sušić scored a hat-trick in a 6–4 victory against Romania during the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification.
He scored his second international hat-trick as Yugoslavia beat Italy 4–1 in a friendly in June 1979.
On 22 September 1984, in a 7–1 home drubbing of Bastia, he assisted on five of PSG's goals.
He won his only trophy as manager with Akhisarspor, the 2018 Turkish Super Cup.