Ivica Šurjak

Ivan "Ivica" Šurjak (born 23 March 1953) is a Croatian retired football midfielder. He was the driving force behind the success of Hajduk Split as it became a force in the Yugoslav First League in the 1970s.

Ivica Šurjak
Personal information
Full name Ivan Šurjak
Date of birth (1953-03-23) 23 March 1953
Place of birth Split, FPR Yugoslavia
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1981 Hajduk Split 272 (52)
1981–1982 Paris Saint-Germain 33 (11)
1982–1983 Udinese 29 (2)
1984–1985 Real Zaragoza 22 (4)
Total 356 (69)
International career
1973–1982 Yugoslavia 54 (10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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 continued his career at Paris Saint-Germain and Udinese,[1] but turned down offers by the New York Cosmos and Real Madrid. He concluded his playing career in Spain at Real Zaragoza.

International career

Šurjak made his debut for Yugoslavia in an October 1973 World Cup qualification against Spain, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute for Petar Krivokuća, and earned a total of 54 caps, scoring 10 goals.[2] His final international was a June 1982 FIFA World Cup match against Honduras.[3]

Post-playing career

He served as a sports director at Hajduk Split of the Croatian First Football 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.[4]

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
  1. Surjak, Zico e quei legni maledetti del “Friuli” calciobidoni.it
  2. "Appearances for Yugoslavia/Serbia National Team". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. "Player Database". EU-football. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  4. "Ivica Šurjak gliserom naletio na kupača" (in Croatian). Retrieved 21 May 2011.
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