Ivica Šurjak
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ivan Šurjak | ||
Date of birth | 23 March 1953 | ||
Place of birth | Split, FPR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1971–1981 | Hajduk Split | 272 | (52) |
1981–1982 | Paris SG | 33 | (11) |
1982–1983 | Udinese | 29 | (2) |
1984–1985 | Real Zaragoza | 22 | (4) |
National team | |||
1973–1982 | Yugoslavia | 54 | (10) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Ivan "Ivica" Šurjak (born 23 March 1953) is a former Croatian footballer. He was the driving force behind the success of Hajduk Split as it became a force in the Yugoslav First League in the 1970s. He started his career as a left-back, but with time learned total football, according to which all players can, during the ebb and flow of the match, slot into every position as needed.
He played 54 games for the Yugoslav national team. He continued his career at Paris Saint-Germain and Udinese, but turned down offers by the New York Cosmos and Real Madrid. He concluded his playing career in Spain at Real Zaragoza.
He served as sports director at Hajduk Split of the Croatian First League from 1999 to 2003.
Speedboat incident
In July 1999, Šurjak killed a swimmer while driving a speedboat near the coast of Trogir (Croatia). The swimmer, Miroslav Didak, died a few days after the accident, while in a coma in the intensive care unit of the Firule hospital. Šurjak was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing.[1]
Accomplishments
- Champion of Yugoslavia – 1974, 1975 and 1979
- Co-champion of Yugoslavia – 1976 and 1981
- Cup winner of Yugoslavia – 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1977
- Coupe de France – 1982
- 54 caps for Yugoslavia, 10 goals scored between 1973 and 1982
- Yugoslav Footballer of the Year – 1976
References
- ↑ "Ivica Šurjak gliserom naletio na kupača" (in Croatian). Retrieved 21 May 2011.