Dušan Maravić Explained

Dušan Maravić
Birth Date:7 March 1939
Birth Place:Injoux-Génissiat, France
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1945–1955
Youthclubs1:Radnički Bajmok
Years1:1956–1958
Years2:1958–1964
Years3:1964–1966
Years4:1966–1968
Years5:1967
Years6:1969–1973
Clubs5:Béziers (loan)
Clubs6:Deportivo Italia
Caps1:29
Goals1:5
Caps2:82
Goals2:22
Caps3:43
Goals3:20
Caps5:9
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:1960
Nationalteam1:Yugoslavia
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:3

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]

Early life

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

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

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.

Personal life

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. He has sons Antoni and Alfredo, the latter works as a sports agent.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dušan Maravić . Olympedia . 10 December 2021.
  2. Web site: У Фифу ме увео Јозеф Сеп Блатер, лично . I was introduced to Fifa by Joseph Sepp Blatter, personally . Politika . 23 August 2008 . sr. Interview with Dušan Maravić. English translation.