Safet Sušić

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Safet Sušić

| image = Safet Susic 2013.JPG

| caption = Sušić as manager of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2013

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|04|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Zavidovići, PR Bosnia and Herzegovina, FPR Yugoslavia

| height = 1.81 m

| position = {{hlist|Attacking midfielder|Second striker}}

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1971–1972

| youthclubs1 = Krivaja

| youthyears2 = 1972–1973

| youthclubs2 = Sarajevo

| years1 = 1973–1982

| clubs1 = Sarajevo

| caps1 = 221

| goals1 = 86

| years2 = 1982–1991

| clubs2 = Paris Saint-Germain

| caps2 = 287

| goals2 = 67

| years3 = 1991–1992

| clubs3 = Red Star

| caps3 = 17

| goals3 = 3

| totalcaps = 525

| totalgoals = 155

| nationalyears1 = 1977–1990

| nationalteam1 = Yugoslavia

| nationalcaps1 = 54

| nationalgoals1 = 21

| manageryears1 = 1994–1995

| managerclubs1 = Cannes

| manageryears2 = 1996–1999

| managerclubs2 = İstanbulspor

| manageryears3 = 2001

| managerclubs3 = Al Hilal

| manageryears4 = 2004–2005

| managerclubs4 = Konyaspor

| manageryears5 = 2005–2006

| managerclubs5 = Ankaragücü

| manageryears6 = 2006–2007

| managerclubs6 = Çaykur Rizespor

| manageryears7 = 2007–2008

| managerclubs7 = Çaykur Rizespor

| manageryears8 = 2008

| managerclubs8 = Ankaraspor

| manageryears9 = 2009–2014

| managerclubs9 = Bosnia and Herzegovina

| manageryears10 = 2015–2016

| managerclubs10 = Évian

| manageryears11 = 2017

| managerclubs11 = Alanyaspor

| manageryears12 = 2018

| managerclubs12 = Akhisarspor

}}

Safet "Pape" Sušić ({{IPA|sh|sǎfet sûʃitɕ|pron}}; born 13 April 1955) is a Bosnian professional football manager and former player. He was a gifted midfielder known for his dribbling skills and technical ability, and 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 qualified the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team to the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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,{{cite news|title=Safet SUSIC|url=https://histoiredupsg.fr/safet-susic|work=Histoire du #PSG|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-date=30 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930151826/https://histoiredupsg.fr/safet-susic|url-status=live}} and internationally for Yugoslavia. Even more 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.{{cite web|title=PAPE SUŠIĆ ZA SB: Velika je čast biti najbolji stranac u historiji francuskog nogometa|url=https://www.slobodna-bosna.ba/vijest/2123/pape_susic_za_sb_velika_je_chast_biti_najbolji_stranac_u_historiji_francuskog_nogometa.html|website=slobodna-bosna.ba|access-date=25 March 2019|language=bs|archive-date=26 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326041713/https://www.slobodna-bosna.ba/vijest/2123/pape_susic_za_sb_velika_je_chast_biti_najbolji_stranac_u_historiji_francuskog_nogometa.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/susic-velika-cast-za-mene-i-bih-halilhodzic-potpuno-zasluzeno/120829122|title=Sušić: Velika čast za mene i BiH; Halilhodžić: Potpuno zasluženo|website=Klix.ba|date=29 August 2012|access-date=13 June 2017|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101431/https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/susic-velika-cast-za-mene-i-bih-halilhodzic-potpuno-zasluzeno/120829122|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mondo.rs/s160052/Sport/Fudbal/Pape_Susic_najbolji_igrac_u_istoriji_PSZ-a.html|title=Pape Sušić najbolji igrač u istoriji PSŽ-a | Mondo Sport|website=Mondo.rs|date=6 February 2010|access-date=13 June 2017|archive-date=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325090859/http://www.mondo.rs/s160052/Sport/Fudbal/Pape_Susic_najbolji_igrac_u_istoriji_PSZ-a.html|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=bih/news/newsid=141549.html|title=Sušić a safe bet for goals|website=UEFA|access-date=13 June 2017|archive-date=5 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905135419/https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=bih/news/newsid=141549.html|url-status=dead}}

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. Sušić won his only trophy as manager with Akhisarspor, the 2018 Turkish Super Cup.

Club career

=Early career=

Born in Zavidovići, FPR Yugoslavia, present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sušić started playing football in the youth team of his hometown club Krivaja. In 1972, he joined the youth team of Sarajevo.

=Sarajevo=

Sušić made his senior debut for Sarajevo in 1973, one year after joining the youth team. During the 1979–80 season, he was the top scorer in the Yugoslav First League with 17 goals. In 1979, he was honoured as the Yugoslav Footballer of the Year, also being selected as the best athlete hailing from SR Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1981, Sušić was awarded the Sixth April Award of Sarajevo.

=Paris Saint-Germain=

In 1982, Sušić signed with Paris Saint-Germain, where he became a star on the European stage. During his first season with the club, Sušić helped PSG to win the 1982–83 Coupe de France, scoring three goals over two legs in the semi-final against Tours, and once in 3–2 victory over Nantes in the final. During the 1985–86 season, Sušić scored ten goals as the Parisiens won their first ever national league title.

Overall, Sušić 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, tied with Paul Le Guen. On 22 September 1984, in a 7–1 home drubbing of Bastia, he assisted on five of the side's goals. At 36, Sušić went to the second Paris-based club for a final year with Red Star.

On 5 February 2010, France Football chose 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.dnevniavaz.ba/dogadjaji/licnost-dana/parizani-mu-se-i-danas-klanjaju |title=DNEVNIAVAZ.BA - Dogadjaji - Parižani mu se i danas klanjaju |access-date=2010-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208222417/http://www.dnevniavaz.ba/dogadjaji/licnost-dana/parizani-mu-se-i-danas-klanjaju |archive-date=8 February 2010 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2010/20100202_114950_susic-joueur-de-l-histoire-du-psg.html |title=Susic, joueur de l'Histoire du PSG : France Football |access-date=2010-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205193826/http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2010/20100202_114950_susic-joueur-de-l-histoire-du-psg.html |archive-date=5 February 2010 |df=dmy-all }}

=Red Star=

In his only season with Red Star, he played in Ligue 2, the second division of French Football. He played in 17 league games for the club in that season campaign, scoring 3 goals in the process. Shortly after leaving Red Star, Sušić announced his retirement from football in 1992.

International career

During Sušić's playing career, Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of SFR Yugoslavia and thus he represented the Yugoslavia national team at international level.

Between 1977 and 1990, Sušić appeared 54 times for Yugoslavia, scoring 21 times.[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/joeg-recintlp.html Yugoslavia (Serbia (and Montenegro)) - Record International Players] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127154643/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/joeg-recintlp.html |date=27 November 2022 }} - RSSSF He debuted for his country in 1977 and scored his first goals for the team against Hungary in October of that year. A month later, he scored a hat-trick in a 6–4 victory against Romania during the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification. However, this was Yugoslavia's only victory of their group and they failed to qualify for the tournament finals.

In June 1979, Sušić scored his second international hat-trick as Yugoslavia beat Italy 4–1 in a friendly match held in Zagreb. In September, he again scored three times in a 4–2 win over world champions Argentina.

Sušić was a member of the Yugoslav team that qualified for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, scoring once in a 5–0 win against Luxembourg.

Sušić was top scorer of Yugoslavia in qualification for UEFA Euro 1984. His two goals in a 3–2 win over Bulgaria in the final qualification fixture helped Yugoslavia to finish three points ahead of the Bulgarians and one point ahead of Wales and advance to the tournament finals. Yugoslavia ultimately finished bottom of their group in France, losing all three matches.

At the age of 35, Sušić made his second appearance at a World Cup finals as a member of Yugoslavia's squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. He scored his only World Cup goal in the team's 4–1 win against the United Arab Emirates during the group stage. He played 61 minutes before being substituted for Dejan Savićević in the penalty shootout loss to eventual runners-up Argentina at the quarter-final stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1990/qf_arg_v_yug.html|title=ARGENTINA – YUGOSLAVIA|access-date=23 January 2016|work=Planet World Cup|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213205017/http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1990/qf_arg_v_yug.html|url-status=live}} His final international was a November 1990 European Championship qualification match away against Denmark.{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=20434|title=Player Database|website=eu-football.info|accessdate=2021-05-24|archive-date=24 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524191823/https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=20434|url-status=live}}

In 2004, to celebrate UEFA's Jubilee, Sušić 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.[http://www.uefa.com/uefa/news/Kind=256/newsId=130150.html Golden players take center stage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102162300/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/news/Kind=256/newsId=130150.html |date=2 January 2008 }}; UEFA.com, 29 November 2003{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1913986.html |work=UEFA |title=Sušić hoping for Bosnian breakthrough |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=30 January 2013 |archive-date=14 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514103657/http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1913986.html |url-status=dead }}

His former international teammate, Darko Pančev declared: {{quote|"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."[http://sportin.ba/tekst.aspx?id=9825 Pančev interview on Sportin] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302203841/http://sportin.ba/tekst.aspx?id=9825 |date=2 March 2008 }} {{in lang|bs}}, 24 February 2008}}

Managerial career

=Early career=

Sušić first managed French club Cannes during the 1994–95 season and the beginning of the 1995–96. From 1996 until 1999, he managed İstanbulspor, then Al Hilal in 2001, Konyaspor from 2004 to 2005, Ankaragücü from 2005 until 2006, Çaykur Rizespor on two occasions, first in 2006 and the second time from 2007 to 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=652184.html|title=Sušić pays for Rizespor slump|date=1 February 2008|access-date=2008-03-03|website=UEFA|archive-date=2 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202054930/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=652184.html|url-status=dead}} Sušić was then hired by Ankaraspor in March 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=666621.html|title=Ankaraspor turn to Sušić|date=3 March 2008|access-date=3 March 2008|website=UEFA|archive-date=14 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514233655/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=666621.html|url-status=dead}} He left Ankaraspor in June 2008.

=Bosnia and Herzegovina=

==UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying==

On 28 December 2009, Sušić was named head coach of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-12-29-1927934499_x.htm | title=Safet Sušić named new Bosnia football coach | work=USA Today | date=29 December 2009 | access-date=23 May 2010 | archive-date=12 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312105741/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2009-12-29-1927934499_x.htm | url-status=live }} 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 against France in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying, Sušić came under a lot of criticism from several journalists and columnists who called for his head.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarajevo-x.com/sport/nogomet/euro2012/clanak/100908109 |title=Oprosti mi, Pape, za sve grube ri'či, al' ipak, otiđi! – Klix.ba |website=Sarajevo-x.com |access-date=2017-06-13 |archive-date=11 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911045726/http://www.sarajevo-x.com/sport/nogomet/euro2012/clanak/100908109 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://scsport.ba/bs/tekst.php?ID=7571 |title=SPORT CENTAR || smiješ da znaš sve o sportu || Sušiću, čučnuli smo! |access-date=2010-09-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911050009/http://www.scsport.ba/bs/tekst.php?ID=7571 |archive-date=11 September 2010 |df=dmy-all }} Sušić recorded a 1–1 draw against France during a second game in Paris and ensured Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for their second consecutive qualification play-off berth for UEFA Euro 2012 which was played against Portugal in November of that year.{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7d37b52520-0429e8098110-1000--draw-for-the-uefa-euro-2012-play-offs/ |title=Draw for the UEFA EURO 2012 play-offs – UEFA EURO – News |website=UEFA |access-date=2017-06-13 |archive-date=5 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605225023/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid=1695932.html#draw+uefa+euro+2012+play+offs |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7d35a6c890-860e77125685-1000--susic-and-bento-expect-to-be-pushed-all-the-way/ |title=Sušić and Bento expect to be pushed all the way – UEFA EURO – News |website=UEFA |access-date=2017-06-13 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606133806/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid=1696025.html |url-status=live }}

==2014 FIFA World Cup==

File:Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Iran, 2014 FIFA World Cup march 2014-06-25 06.jpg in a match against Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup]]

From August 2012 to August 2013, Sušić's Bosnia and Herzegovina side was on a nine-game unbeaten streak run. On 8 August 2013, the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team achieved their highest ever FIFA ranking, 13th place.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport.ba/istaknuto/hrvati-upozoravaju-zmajevi-sve-blize-vatrenima/ |title=Hrvati upozoravaju: Zmajevi sve bliže Vatrenima |website=Sport.ba |date=2017-05-23 |access-date=2017-06-13 |archive-date=11 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811153320/http://www.sport.ba/istaknuto/hrvati-upozoravaju-zmajevi-sve-blize-vatrenima/ |url-status=live }} On 15 October 2013, the country qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, their first major tournament in the country's history as an independent nation.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27294645 World Cup 2014: Dzeko & Begovic in Bosnia-Hercegovina squad] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820164712/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27294645 |date=20 August 2015 }}, BBC Sport. Sušić's side fared well in their first World Cup match against Argentina despite losing 2–1. An unlucky own goal and some brilliance from football legend Lionel Messi saw them to a defeat. However, highs taken from the match were the good play the team demonstrated and the materialisation of their first World Cup goal scored by Vedad Ibišević. The team however controversially exited the competition at the group stage of the tournament after their second game against Nigeria having an equaliser scored by Edin Džeko wrongly disallowed for offside. This revitalised the calls for reformation of the FIFA governing body and the replacement of linesmen with technology so as to remove human error from lines decisions. Bosnia and Herzegovina won their last game in the competition against Iran with a healthy 3–1 victory which would've seen them through instead of Nigeria, who incidentally failed to defeat Iran, to a round of 16 match with France.

==Contract extension and sacking==

In July 2014, Sušić signed a two-year contract to continue as head coach, after he withdrew his resignation.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28248243|title=Bosnia-Hercegovina coach Safet Susic signs two-year deal|date=10 July 2014|access-date=9 June 2017|website=Bbc.co.uk|archive-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831080311/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28248243|url-status=live}} On 17 November 2014, the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sušić parted ways after poor showing of the national team in the first four games of the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying.{{cite web |url=http://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/safet-susic-smijenjen/141116107 |title=Safet Sušić smijenjen! |website=Klix.ba |date=2014-11-17 |access-date=2017-06-13 |archive-date=18 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141118024313/http://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/safet-susic-smijenjen/141116107 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://sportsport.ba/bh_fudbal/susic-vise-nije-selektor/145694 |title=Safet Sušić više nije selektor reprezentacije BiH! |website=SportSport.ba |date=2014-11-17 |access-date=2017-06-13 |archive-date=19 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119183341/http://sportsport.ba/bh_fudbal/susic-vise-nije-selektor/145694 |url-status=live }}

=Évian=

On 13 July 2015, Sušić was named manager of French Ligue 2 club Évian. On his debut he registered a draw. After the first four rounds, his new side registered four drawn games.{{cite news | url=http://reprezentacija.ba/29271-safet-susic-bih-mora-dobiti-belgiju-za-direktan-plasman-na-europsko-prvenstvo | title=Safet Sušić: BiH mora dobiti Belgiju za direktan plasman na Europsko prvenstvo | website=Reprezentacija.ba | access-date=22 August 2015 | archive-date=1 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901233035/http://reprezentacija.ba/29271-safet-susic-bih-mora-dobiti-belgiju-za-direktan-plasman-na-europsko-prvenstvo | url-status=live }}

On 11 January 2016, Sušić was sacked by Évian due to a run of poor results at the club. After 20 rounds, the club was placed 13th on the table and were eliminated from the Coupe de la Ligue at the third round.{{cite web |url=http://www.avaz.ba/clanak/213852/zbog-losih-rezultata-evian-otpustio-safeta-susica |title=ZBOG LOŠIH REZULTATA Evian otpustio Safeta Sušića | Avaz |access-date=2016-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114061521/http://www.avaz.ba/clanak/213852/zbog-losih-rezultata-evian-otpustio-safeta-susica |archive-date=14 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }} He was replaced by Romain Revelli.

=Alanyaspor=

On 27 January 2017, Sušić signed a contract with Alanyaspor until June 2018.{{cite news | url=http://www.futbolarena.com/alanyaspor-safet-susic-ile-anlasti-transfer-haberleri-307523h/ | title=Alanyaspor, Safet Susic ile anlaştı | website=Futbolarena.com | access-date=27 January 2017 | archive-date=2 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202034606/http://www.futbolarena.com/alanyaspor-safet-susic-ile-anlasti-transfer-haberleri-307523h/ | url-status=live }} He was sacked on 25 December 2017 because of a string of poor results.{{cite news | url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/Turkey/SuperLig/emeinan-xwris-proponhth-oi-tzavellas-kai-maniaths.5003007.html | title=Έμειναν χωρίς προπονητή οι Τζαβέλλας και Μανιάτης | website=www.sport24.gr | access-date=25 December 2017 | archive-date=26 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226182136/http://www.sport24.gr/football/Turkey/SuperLig/emeinan-xwris-proponhth-oi-tzavellas-kai-maniaths.5003007.html | url-status=live }}

=Akhisarspor=

On 30 June 2018, Sušić was named new manager of Turkish Cup winner Akhisarspor.[https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/safet-susic-ozvanicio-saradnju-s-akhisarsporom-vodit-ce-ekipu-u-evropskoj-ligi/180630038 Safet Sušić ozvaničio saradnju s Akhisarsporom, vodit će ekipu u Evropskoj ligi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125030716/https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/safet-susic-ozvanicio-saradnju-s-akhisarsporom-vodit-ce-ekipu-u-evropskoj-ligi/180630038 |date=25 November 2018 }} at klix.ba, 30 June 2018

After about a month and a half, Akhisarspor as cup winners, participated in the Turkish Super Cup match against league champions Galatasaray. The result after full-time was 1–1, but Akhisar won 5–4 on penalties. That was Akhisar's second mayor trophy in the club's history and the first in Sušić's managerial career.[https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/safet-susic-srusio-veliki-galatasaray-akhisar-osvojio-turski-super-kup/180805072 Safet Sušić srušio veliki Galatasaray: Akhisar osvojio turski Super Kup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125030727/https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/safet-susic-srusio-veliki-galatasaray-akhisar-osvojio-turski-super-kup/180805072 |date=25 November 2018 }} at klix.ba, 5 August 2018

On 17 September 2018, after only collecting two points in five games in the league, Sušić was sacked.[https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/safet-susic-vise-nije-trener-akhisarspora/180917134 Safet Sušić više nije trener Akhisarspora] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073911/https://www.klix.ba/sport/nogomet/safet-susic-vise-nije-trener-akhisarspora/180917134 |date=25 November 2018 }} at klix.ba, 17 September 2018

Legacy

File:Safet Susic.jpg

Safet Sušić Pape is a bestseller novel written by Bosnian novelist Zlatko Topčić, and published in 2007. Popular Sarajevo sketch comedy and variety TV series, Top Lista Nadrealista, also on occasion treated a subject of football and popular sportsmen-women in their program, with songs dedicated to Sušić and Yugoslav national football team under management of another Sarajevan, Ivica Osim, being prominent feature of couple episodes.

Personal life

Sušić comes from a sporting family. Sead Sušić, a former footballer, is Safet's older brother. Safet's nephew, Tino-Sven Sušić, is also a footballer, formerly even a player of Sarajevo who also alongside Safet appeared at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Safet's mother Paša died on 28 April 2018 at the age of 96.[http://www.infosvijet.net/2018/04/28/preminula-majka-safeta-susica/ Preminula majka Safeta Sušića] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429093338/http://www.infosvijet.net/2018/04/28/preminula-majka-safeta-susica/ |date=29 April 2018 }} at infosvijet.net, 28 April 2018

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="11"\|Sarajevo \|1973–74 \|rowspan="10"\|Yugoslav First League \|10	2	0	0	2	0	12	2
1974–75 \|33	11	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	34	11
1975–76 \|16	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	16	2
1976–77 \|28	9	3	3	colspan="2"\|–	31	12
1977–78 \|33	8	2	0	colspan="2"\|–	35	8
1978–79 \|30	15	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	31	15
1979–80 \|34	17	4	1	colspan="2"\|–	38	18
1980–81 \|7	2	0	0	2	2	9	4
1981–82 \|17	11	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	17	11
1982–83 \|13	9	2	2	6	2	21	13
colspan="2"\|Total !221	86	13	6	10	4	244	96
rowspan="10"\|Paris Saint-Germain \|1982–83 \|rowspan="9"\|French Division 1 \|18	8					18	8
1983–84 \|38	8				1	38	9
1984–85 \|34	10				2	34	12
1985–86 \|37	10			colspan="2"\|–	37	10
1986–87 \|29	3			2	0	31	3
1987–88 \|24	3			colspan="2"\|–	24	3
1988–89 \|34	7			colspan="2"\|–	34	7
1989–90 \|36	7				1	36	8
1990–91 \|37	10			colspan="2"\|–	37	10
colspan="2"\|Total !287	67		14		4	344	85
Red Star \|1991–92 \|Division 2 \|17	3			colspan="2"\|–	17	3
colspan="3"\|Career total !525	155		20		8	605	184

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="14"\|Yugoslavia \|1977	4	5
1978	4	0
1979	5	6
1980	6	3
1981	2	0
1982	4	0
1983	5	3
1984	5	2
1985	0	0
1986	0	0
1987	0	0
1988	2	1
1989	7	0
1990	10	1
colspan="2"\|Total	54	21

=International goals=

:Scores and results list Yugoslavia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sušić goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Safet Sušić
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \| rowspan="2"\|5 October 1977 \| rowspan="2"\|Budapest, Hungary \| rowspan="2"\|{{fb\|Hungary}} \| align="center"\|1–2 \| rowspan="2" align="center"\|3–4 \| rowspan="2"\|Friendly
align="center"\|2 \| align="center"\|3–4
align="center"\|3 \| rowspan="3"\|13 November 1977 \| rowspan="3"\|Bucharest, Romania \| rowspan="3"\|{{fb\|ROU\|1965}} \| align="center"\|1–1 \| rowspan="3" align="center"\|6–4 \| rowspan="3"\|1978 World Cup qualifier
align="center"\|4 \| align="center"\|3–3
align="center"\|5 \| align="center"\|4–3
align="center"\|6 \| rowspan="3"\|13 June 1979 \| rowspan="3"\|Maksimir, Zagreb, Yugoslavia \| rowspan="3"\|{{fb\|Italy}} \| align="center"\|1–1 \| rowspan="3" align="center"\|4–1 \| rowspan="3"\|Friendly
align="center"\|7 \| align="center"\|2–1
align="center"\|8 \| align="center"\|3–1
align="center"\|9 \| rowspan="3"\|16 September 1979 \| rowspan="3"\|Marakana, Belgrade, Yugoslavia \| rowspan="3"\|{{fb\|Argentina}} \| align="center"\|1–0 \| rowspan="3" align="center"\|4–2 \| rowspan="3"\|Friendly
align="center"\|10 \| align="center"\|2–0
align="center"\|11 \| align="center"\|3–0
align="center"\|12 \| 30 March 1980 \| Belgrade, Yugoslavia \| {{fb\|ROU\|1965}} \| align="center"\|2–0 \| align="center"\|2–0 \| Balkan Cup
align="center"\|13 \| 27 August 1980 \| Bucharest, Romania \| {{fb\|ROU\|1965}} \| align="center"\|1–3 \| align="center"\|1–4 \| Balkan Cup
align="center"\|14 \| 10 September 1980 \| Luxembourg, Luxembourg \| {{fb\|Luxembourg}} \| align="center"\|1–0 \| align="center"\|5–0 \| 1982 World Cup qualifier
align="center"\|15 \| 12 October 1983 \| JNA, Belgrade, Yugoslavia \| {{fb\|Norway}} \| align="center"\|2–0 \| align="center"\|2–1 \| Euro 1984 qualifier
align="center"\|16 \| rowspan="2"\|21 December 1983 \| rowspan="2"\|Poljud, Split, Yugoslavia \| rowspan="2"\|{{fb\|BUL\|1971}} \| align="center"\|1–1 \| rowspan="2" align="center"\|3–2 \| rowspan="2"\|Euro 1984 qualifier
align="center"\|17 \| align="center"\|2–1
align="center"\|18 \| 2 June 1984 \| Lisbon, Portugal \| {{fb\|Portugal}} \| align="center"\|1–1 \| align="center"\|3–2 \| Friendly
align="center"\|19 \| 7 June 1984 \| La Línea, Spain \| {{fb\|Spain}} \| align="center"\|1–0 \| align="center"\|1–0 \| Friendly
align="center"\|20 \| 19 November 1988 \| JNA, Belgrade, Yugoslavia \| {{fb\|France}} \| align="center"\|2–2 \| align="center"\|3–2 \| 1990 World Cup qualifier
align="center"\|21 \| 19 June 1990 \| Dall'Ara, Bologna, Italy \| {{fb\|UAE}} \| align="center"\|1–0 \| align="center"\|4–1 \| 1990 World Cup

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Safet Sušić

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

| rowspan="2"|5 October 1977

| rowspan="2"|Budapest, Hungary

| rowspan="2"|{{fb|Hungary}}

| align="center"|1–2

| rowspan="2" align="center"|3–4

| rowspan="2"|Friendly

align="center"|2

| align="center"|3–4

align="center"|3

| rowspan="3"|13 November 1977

| rowspan="3"|Bucharest, Romania

| rowspan="3"|{{fb|ROU|1965}}

| align="center"|1–1

| rowspan="3" align="center"|6–4

| rowspan="3"|1978 World Cup qualifier

align="center"|4

| align="center"|3–3

align="center"|5

| align="center"|4–3

align="center"|6

| rowspan="3"|13 June 1979

| rowspan="3"|Maksimir, Zagreb, Yugoslavia

| rowspan="3"|{{fb|Italy}}

| align="center"|1–1

| rowspan="3" align="center"|4–1

| rowspan="3"|Friendly

align="center"|7

| align="center"|2–1

align="center"|8

| align="center"|3–1

align="center"|9

| rowspan="3"|16 September 1979

| rowspan="3"|Marakana, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

| rowspan="3"|{{fb|Argentina}}

| align="center"|1–0

| rowspan="3" align="center"|4–2

| rowspan="3"|Friendly

align="center"|10

| align="center"|2–0

align="center"|11

| align="center"|3–0

align="center"|12

| 30 March 1980

| Belgrade, Yugoslavia

| {{fb|ROU|1965}}

| align="center"|2–0

| Balkan Cup

align="center"|13

| 27 August 1980

| Bucharest, Romania

| {{fb|ROU|1965}}

| align="center"|1–3

| align="center"|1–4

| Balkan Cup

align="center"|14

| 10 September 1980

| Luxembourg, Luxembourg

| {{fb|Luxembourg}}

| align="center"|1–0

| align="center"|5–0

| 1982 World Cup qualifier

align="center"|15

| 12 October 1983

| JNA, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

| {{fb|Norway}}

| align="center"|2–0

| align="center"|2–1

| Euro 1984 qualifier

align="center"|16

| rowspan="2"|21 December 1983

| rowspan="2"|Poljud, Split, Yugoslavia

| rowspan="2"|{{fb|BUL|1971}}

| align="center"|1–1

| rowspan="2" align="center"|3–2

| rowspan="2"|Euro 1984 qualifier

align="center"|17

| align="center"|2–1

align="center"|18

| 2 June 1984

| Lisbon, Portugal

| {{fb|Portugal}}

| align="center"|1–1

| align="center"|3–2

| Friendly

align="center"|19

| 7 June 1984

| La Línea, Spain

| {{fb|Spain}}

| align="center"|1–0

| Friendly

align="center"|20

| 19 November 1988

| JNA, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

| {{fb|France}}

| align="center"|2–2

| align="center"|3–2

| 1990 World Cup qualifier

align="center"|21

| 19 June 1990

| Dall'Ara, Bologna, Italy

| {{fb|UAE}}

| align="center"|1–0

| align="center"|4–1

| 1990 World Cup

Managerial statistics

{{updated|15 September 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sofascore.com/hr/trener/safet-susic/104747|title=Safet Sušić|access-date=15 September 2018|language=hr|website=Sofascore|archive-date=20 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520163237/https://www.sofascore.com/hr/trener/safet-susic/104747|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable" tyle="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure !rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="8"\|Record
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
align="center"\|Cannes \|align="left"\|1 July 1994 \|align="left"\|11 September 1995 {{WDL\|52\|20\|9\|23\|for=83\|against=75\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|İstanbulspor \|align="left"\|25 September 1996 \|align="left"\|30 June 1999 {{WDL\|102\|45\|25\|32\|for=178\|against=148\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Al Hilal \|align="left"\|1 February 2001 \|align="left"\|30 June 2001 {{WDL\|6\|2\|2\|2\|for=9\|against=8\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Konyaspor \|align="left"\|1 October 2004 \|align="left"\|30 June 2005 {{WDL\|28\|10\|8\|10\|for=58\|against=53\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Ankaragücü \|align="left"\|23 September 2005 \|align="left"\|9 February 2006 {{WDL\|13\|5\|4\|4\|for=19\|against=18\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Çaykur Rizespor \|align="left"\|15 September 2006 \|align="left"\|19 January 2007 {{WDL\|5\|2\|1\|2\|for=5\|against=5\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Çaykur Rizespor \|align="left"\|31 August 2007 \|align="left"\|1 February 2008 {{WDL\|14\|6\|2\|6\|for=18\|against=24\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Ankaraspor \|align="left"\|6 March 2008 \|align="left"\|30 June 2008 {{WDL\|10\|5\|2\|3\|for=11\|against=8\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Bosnia and Herzegovina \|align="left"\|29 December 2009 \|align="left"\|17 November 2014 {{WDL\|49\|23\|9\|17\|for=83\|against=49\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Évian \|align="left"\|12 July 2015 \|align="left"\|11 January 2016 {{WDL\|23\|7\|6\|10\|for=37\|against=33\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Alanyaspor \|align="left"\|27 January 2017 \|align="left"\|25 December 2017 {{WDL\|35\|13\|5\|17\|for=62\|against=64\|diff=yes}}
align="center"\|Akhisarspor \|align="left"\|30 June 2018 \|align="left"\|17 September 2018 {{WDL\|6\|1\|2\|3\|for=10\|against=13\|diff=yes}}
colspan="3"\|Total {{WDLtot\|343\|139\|75\|129\|for=573\|against=498\|diff=yes}}

class="wikitable" tyle="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

!rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

align="center"|Cannes

|align="left"|1 July 1994

|align="left"|11 September 1995

align="center"|İstanbulspor

|align="left"|25 September 1996

|align="left"|30 June 1999

align="center"|Al Hilal

|align="left"|1 February 2001

|align="left"|30 June 2001

align="center"|Konyaspor

|align="left"|1 October 2004

|align="left"|30 June 2005

align="center"|Ankaragücü

|align="left"|23 September 2005

|align="left"|9 February 2006

align="center"|Çaykur Rizespor

|align="left"|15 September 2006

|align="left"|19 January 2007

align="center"|Çaykur Rizespor

|align="left"|31 August 2007

|align="left"|1 February 2008

align="center"|Ankaraspor

|align="left"|6 March 2008

|align="left"|30 June 2008

align="center"|Bosnia and Herzegovina

|align="left"|29 December 2009

|align="left"|17 November 2014

align="center"|Évian

|align="left"|12 July 2015

|align="left"|11 January 2016

align="center"|Alanyaspor

|align="left"|27 January 2017

|align="left"|25 December 2017

align="center"|Akhisarspor

|align="left"|30 June 2018

|align="left"|17 September 2018

colspan="3"|Total

Honours

=Player=

Paris Saint-Germain

Individual

Sport Ideal European XI: 1979{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1980/01/05/pagina-13/1043229/pdf.html |website=Mundo Deportivo|title=Sport 1979|access-date=4 June 2024 }}
ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season: 1979, 1984{{cite web|url=http://ukrfootball.ua/news/albert-dzhayich-blohin-stoyichkov-levandovski-shcho-spilnogo |website=WebArchive |title=Eastern European Footballer of the season|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200112/http://ukrfootball.ua/news/albert-dzhayich-blohin-stoyichkov-levandovski-shcho-spilnogo |access-date=5 July 2024 |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}
Ligue 1 Foreign Player of the Year: 1982–83{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |title=France – Footballer of the Year |first1=Erik |last1=Garin |first2=José Luis |last2=Pierrend |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) |date=18 January 2018 |access-date=10 April 2018 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905115225/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |url-status=live }}
Yugoslav Footballer of the Year: 1979
UEFA Jubilee Awards – Greatest Bosnian Footballer of the last 50 Years: 2003
Yugoslav First League Top Goalscorer: 1979–80 (17 goals)