After their takeover by Qatar, winning the French league has been a piece of cake for the club. PSG's domestic domination has been second to none over the past decade, with Monaco and Lille being the only 2 teams to overcome the French giants. This article will go back at an era when PSG didn't have the riches of Qatar, and yet had star players in their side.
The player is none other than Safet Sušić, who was widely considered to be their greatest ever star. Sušic was an attacking midfielder, who also had the ability to operate as a second striker. It was the Bosnian's outstanding dribbling skills and technical ability that made him one of the finest in Europe back then. Let us now look back at his magical football career.
Early career
Born in FPR Yugoslavia ( present-day Bosnia), Sušić started his football journey by playing for the youth team of his hometown club Krivaja. After a year at Krivaja, the Bosnian spent another year at Sarajevo's youth academy.
A memorable time at Sarajevo
After getting promoted from the Sarajevo youth setup, Sušić made his senior debut for Sarajevo in 1973. The years that followed saw him develop into a top player, and the future looked bright for the Bosnian. During the 1979–80 season, he was the Yugoslav First League top scorer with 17 goals. Further greatness followed him, as his heroics at Sarajevo saw him honoured as the Yugoslav Footballer of the Year in 1979. The continued excellence of Sušic however, meant that an eventual call from Europe was on the horizon.
PSG's Bosnian legend
It was at PSG where Sušic became one of the finest in Europe. PSG signed the Bosnian in 1982, and instantly reaped the rewards of his excellence. Sušic's magnificent abilities were instrumental in their success at the time, and PSG were able to win the 1982–83 Coupe de France. The Bosnian scored 2 goals in the semi-finals and one in the final, thus leading the club to domestic glory.
Their greatest success together was in the 1985–86 season though, as PSG made history by winning their first ever French league title. Sušic was yet again instrumental in their historical success, as he finished that season with 10 goals.
During his 9 years at the club between 1982 and 1991, Sušic scored 85 goals and made a then record 95 assists as well. He is also fifth in their all-time appearance list, tied with Paul Le Guen at 344.
One of his highlight performances for PSG came against their 7-1 thrashing of Bastia, where Sušic assisted 5 of their goals.
Safet Sušić's impact for PSG was so magical that France Football chose him as their greatest player ever in 2010.
At the age of 16, Sušic eventually left his beloved PSG. He finished his football career in yet another Paris-based club, Red Star. Sušic spent a single season at Red Star, before hanging his boots once and for all.
Conclusion
Safet Sušić heroics were not only limited to his club at Paris, but he thrived in the international scene as well. Between 1977 and 1990, Sušic scored 21 goals for the national side in just 54 appearances. He took part in the 1982 World Cup, 1984 UEFA Euro, and 1990 World cup for Yugoslavia.
The Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina named Sušić as the nation's greatest ever player as well for the 2004 UEFA Jubilee Awards.
Sušic bid farewell to the beautiful game by leaving an everlasting magical mark, both in Paris and Yugoslavia.
