Dušan Maravić

Dušan Maravić (Serbian Cyrillic: Душан Маравић; 7 March 1939 – 6 January 2025) was a Serbian footballer who played as a midfielder. He represented the SFR Yugoslavia national team internationally and was part of the Yugoslav squad that won gold at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Early life Maravić was born in France, as his father was 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.

Maravić was also member of SFR Yugoslavia national team playing in seven occasions, and scored three 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 proceeded to Venezuelan Deportivo Italia. He played with this italo-Venezuelan team until 1974, winning the Venezuelan championship in 1972

Post-playing career After retiring as a player, Maravić 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.