Dušan Maravić (Serbian Cyrillic: Душан Маравић; born 7 March 1939) is a Serbian former midfielder who played for SFR Yugoslavia. He was part of the Yugoslav squad that won gold at the 1960 Summer Olympics.[1]

Dušan Maravić
Personal information
Date of birth (1939-03-07) 7 March 1939 (age 85)
Place of birth Injoux-Génissiat, France
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1945–1955 Radnički Bajmok
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1956–1958 Spartak Subotica 29 (5)
1958–1964 Red Star Belgrade 82 (22)
1964–1966 Racing Paris 43 (20)
1966–1968 Entente BFN
1967Béziers (loan) 9 (0)
1969–1973 Deportivo Italia
International career
1960 Yugoslavia 7 (3)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Yugoslavia
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1960 Rome Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

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Born in France, as his father were working in Injoux-Génissiat, a small village close to Swiss border. After the Second World War his family moved back to Yugoslavia, settling in Bajmok, a village close to Subotica.

Playing career

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His first football steps were taken in local club Radnički Bajmok when Maravić was six years old, ten years later he joined the more famous Spartak Subotica. In 1958, aged 19 he became a member of Yugoslavian giants Red Star Belgrade. In six years with Red Star, Maravić appeared in 232 official matches, scoring 82 goals.

Attacking midfielder has also member of Yugoslavia national football team player in 7 occasions, and scored 3 goals. Thanks to being member of gold Olympic medal squad, he was allowed to go abroad before national propositions limit of 28. Hence, he became a member of Racing Paris aged 25. He played for "The Penguins" until 1969 when he shortly moved to OFK Beograd, and then proceed to Venezuelan Deportivo Italia.[2]

Post-playing career

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After retiring as a player, he has spent some time coaching and also working in national football union administration, which led him to become an employee of UEFA and FIFA as an international instructor and delegate. He was nominated to run for FIFA president.[2]

Personal life

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He is fluent in: French, English, Spanish and Italian language. Simultaneously with his sporting career, Maravić has pursued studies, finishing University of Belgrade Faculty of Economics.[2] He has sons Antoni and Alfredo, the latter works as a sports agent.

References

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  1. ^ "Dušan Maravić". Olympedia. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "У Фифу ме увео Јозеф Сеп Блатер, лично" [I was introduced to Fifa by Joseph Sepp Blatter, personally]. Politika (in Serbian). 23 August 2008. Interview with Dušan Maravić. English translation.
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