Safet Susic

Bosnian former footballer and manager, PSG legend and Bosnia's greatest ever player.

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Safet "Pape" Sušić (pronounced [sǎfet sûʃitɕ]; 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 (i.e. a creative playmaker) 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, both for club and national team. 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, with his compatriot and friend who also had a spell with PSG, Vahid Halilhodžić, being voted seventh. 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.

Reader's Guide

Following his retirement from playing, Sušić started working as a manager. He worked for a number of club sides: Cannes, İstanbulspor, Al Hilal, Konyaspor, Ankaragücü, Çaykur Rizespor, Ankaraspor, Évian, Alanyaspor, Akhisarspor and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. After losing in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs, Sušić led Bosnia and Herzegovina to the top of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, earning the country its first-ever World Cup appearance. He won his only trophy as manager with Akhisarspor, the 2018 Turkish Super Cup.

Did You Know?

Sušić scored 85 goals and made a record 95 assists for PSG between 1982 and 1991.
He is fifth in PSG's all-time appearance list with 344 appearances, tied with Paul Le Guen.
On 5 February 2010, France Football chose Sušić as the best player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain.
He scored a hat-trick in a 6–4 victory against Romania during the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Sušić was selected as the Golden Player of Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2004.