Refik Muftić Explained

Refik Muftić
Fullname:Refik Muftić
Birth Date:28 August 1939
Birth Place:Foča, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Death Place:Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Famos Hrasnica
Years1:1962-1964
Clubs1:Famos Hrasnica
Caps1:35
Goals1:0
Years2:1964-1973
Clubs2:Sarajevo
Caps2:222
Goals2:0
Years3:1973-1974
Clubs3:WSG Radenthein
Caps3:30
Goals3:0
Years4:1974-1977
Clubs4:Sturm Graz
Caps4:44
Goals4:0

Refik "Refa" Muftić (28 August 1939  - 21 April 2019) was a Yugoslav and Bosnian footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He spent the majority of his career with FK Sarajevo.[1]

Club career

Born in Foča, Muftić moved to Sarajevo as a refugee during World War II. After starting his career with Famos Hrasnica, he arrived at the Koševo City Stadium in the summer of 1964, joining FK Sarajevo.[2] During his first season at the club, he was named starting goalkeeper. He was extremely reliable and was voted best young goalkeeper of the Yugoslav First League in 1965. In the fall of 1966, he left for his mandatory military service, hence making only five appearances in the 1966-67 championship-winning season.[3]

After returning from the Yugoslav People's Army, Muftić returned to goal in subsequent European Cup matches.[4] In the following six seasons, he was once again irreplaceable in Sarajevo's starting lineup.[5] He won the Champions Summer League with Sarajevo in the summer of 1972 before saying goodbye to the club a year later. He played his testimonial match in August 1973, when he stood between the posts for the first 15 minutes of the Summer Champions League game against city rivals, Željezničar.[6] He continued his career in the Austrian Bundesliga with WSG Radenthein, from which he moved to SK Sturm Graz just one year later, where he spent the last three years of his career.[7]

During his nine-year stay in Sarajevo, Muftić made 222 official appearances,[8] making a total of 342 appearances when including friendly matches, going on to score 3 goals. He is widely considered to be the best Sarajevo goalkeeper of all time.[9]

Personal life

His daughter Šejla is a retired women's professional basketball player and diplomat. His grandson Luka Garza is a professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[10] [11]

Death

Muftić passed away in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 21 April 2019.[12]

Honours

Sarajevo

1966–67

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Refik Muftić posjetio prostorije kluba. fksarajevo.ba. 2023-10-17.
  2. Web site: Refik Muftić. bordovremeplov.ba. 2023-10-17.
  3. Web site: Refik Muftić. bordovremeplov.ba. 2023-10-17.
  4. Web site: Man United-Sarajevo. uefa.com. 2023-10-17.
  5. Web site: Preminuo bivši golman Sarajeva Refik Muftić. nezavisne.ba. 2023-10-17.
  6. Web site: Refik Muftić. bordovremeplov.ba. 2023-10-17.
  7. Web site: Refik Muftić. worldfootball.net. 2023-10-17.
  8. Web site: Refik Muftić. bordovremeplov.ba. 2023-10-17.
  9. Web site: Refik Muftić. bordovremeplov.ba. 2023-10-17.
  10. Web site: Ko je novi Zmaj iz NBA!? Unuk legende Refika Muftića i sjajna sportska genetika. reprezentacija.ba. 2023-10-17.
  11. Web site: Garza: Uživao sam u Sarajevu, želim biti kao moj djed Refik Muftić. scsport.ba. 2023-10-17.
  12. Web site: Preminuo bivši golman FK Sarajevo Refik Muftić. Al Jazeera Balkans. 2023-10-17.