Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ivan Šurjak | ||
Date of birth | 23 March 1953 | ||
Place of birth | Split, FPR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Playing position | Midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1971–1981 | Hajduk Split | 272 | (52) |
1981–1982 | Paris SG | 33 | (11) |
1982–1983 | Udinese | 29 | (2) |
1984–1985 | Real Zaragoza | 22 | (4) |
National team | |||
1973–1982 | Yugoslavia | 54 | (10) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Ivan "Ivica" Šurjak (born 23 March 1953) is a former Croatian footballer. He was the driving force behind Hajduk Split as it led the Yugoslav First League and Europe in the old stadium (before Poljud stadium was built). He started his career as a left-back, but with time learned to play total football, the prototype for the footballer who can play every position successfully.
He played 54 games for the Yugoslav national team. He continued his career in Paris and Udine but turned down offers by the New York Cosmos and Real Madrid.
He served as sports director at Hajduk Split of the Croatian First League from 1999 to 2003.
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.